Long Beach Dog Bites / Animal Attack Lawyers
Dog bites and other animal attacks can be a very scary ordeal. Being attacked by a human being can be very scary, but humans can reason with each other and can communicate feelings both verbally and nonverbally. Imagine being attacked by a sharp-toothed beast that does not have the ability to understand human emotions. Being attacked by a dog or other animal can leave the victim traumatized. Especially if the victim is a child, still in the process of shaping their world-view, an animal attack can cause serious psychological or physical injuries. In the most extreme cases, these physical injuries can be fatal to a child.
Many states have statues holding the dog owner strictly liable for the dog’s behavior if the attack is unprovoked; meaning the victim doing nothing to threaten the dog or cause it to attack in self-defense. Strict liability for the dog owner means that the owner will be responsible for any attack of their dog, including its first attack. Los Angeles animal attack lawyers are ready to handle these cases.
As an owner, here are some tips to minimize your liability when it comes to your pet:
- Spay or neuter your dog
- Do not teach your dog to play roughly
- Be sure your dog has up-to-date vaccinations
- Take your dog to obedience classes so it becomes accustomed to obeying voice commands
- Never leave babies or small children alone with a dog
- Keep your dog in a fenced yard, do not allow it to roam
A few basic safety tips for your pet include:
- Leave strange dogs alone
- Never approach any dog while it is eating, sleeping, or caring for puppies
- Never try to pet a dog until you have let it see you and smell you
- Never leave children alone with any dog
- Never be aggressive with a dog, stare it in the eye, or run from it
- If a dog does attack, stay still
- If a dog knocks you down, roll into a ball to protect yourself
If an animal attacks you, immediately seek medical attention if needed. After the injury has been stabilized, try to locate the owner to inquire about the animal’s previous behavior, up to date vaccinations, etc. Your next step should be to contact a Los Angeles dog bite lawyer.
If you or a loved one is in need of legal assistance, call Sheridan & Rund at 1-310-640-1200, toll free at 1-888-640-6789, or submit an online questionnaire. The initial consultation is free of charge, and if we agree to handle your case, we will work on a contingency fee basis, which means we get paid for our services only if there is a monetary recovery of funds. In many cases, a lawsuit must be filed before an applicable expiration date, known as a statute of limitations. Please call right away to ensure that you do not waive your right to possible compensation.