There are extreme circumstances where one is attacked by a dog who is specifically trained to fight and attack. You’ll remember that Michael Vick, who is still a quarterback for the NFL, was involved in a ring of dogs trained to fight for sport. So, if you’re attacked by a… CONTINUE
Dog Bite: What is Your Advice to Those People Who Have Been Injured by a Friend’s Pet But Don’t Want to Harm the Friendship by Pressing Charges?
Responsible people purchase insurance for a reason. We want to be insured in the event that something accidental happens on our property. Just as we are insured for negligent driving and possible defects on our property, we are insured in the even our dog, for whatever reason, bites a guest… CONTINUE
Dog Bite: Is There an Insurance Company Who Covers Known Dangerous Animals? Who Pays in a Successful Settlement or Verdict?
Normally homeowners’ insurance covers dog bite activity. Oftentimes renters’ insurance covers dog bite activity. In fact, another statistic from the San Francisco Chronicle article that I cited earlier, “Dog bites accounted for one third of all homeowner’s liability claims in 2015.” ** I think this subject is really important because… CONTINUE
Dog Bite: Have You Had Any Cases Where a Dog Has a History of Having Bitten Others?
We have had many dog bite cases where, during the process of investigation and discovery, we learned that the dog who bit our client had also victimized others. We learn this information by reading police reports, animal control reports, by taking depositions and by demanding production of documents. Even if… CONTINUE
Cat Bite: Cats and Other Domestic Animals
I have had cat bite cases. This was a long time ago, and the question is: Is it strict liability? I think the answer is no. I don’t think there is a statute that speaks to a negligence standard. Anecdotally, my client was house-sitting for a friend who owned a… CONTINUE
Dog Bite: When I am Bitten by a Dog Owned by a Private Party, How Much Time Do I Have to File Suit?
If you are suing a private party, the statute of limitations is two years from the date of the dog bite, so you have more time. (With a government entity, such as the circumstance when you are bitten by a police dog, you must file a government claim within six… CONTINUE
Dog Bite: How Does the Case Change if You Are Bitten by a Police Dog?
If you are bitten by a police dog, Civil Code Section 3342 still applies: The police will not be liable if the police dog is acting in the normal course of its’ duties in providing some law enforcement function. For example, if you are a felon fleeing a crime scene… CONTINUE
Dog Bite: If There Are Separate Cases, Might Both Parties Successfully Argue to Their Jurors That the Other One Caused It?
Very early on in the claims process or the litigation, we determine whether there might possibly be more than one owner. When that is the case, the owners are joined in the same case. Learn more about dog bite injuries.
Dog Bite: When Two People Co-own the Dog, do you Sue Them Together as Doe’s 1 and 2?
If the registered owner of the dog makes a credible assertion that he is not the only owner, then we will likely bring claims against other viable owners to make sure that we don’t have an empty chair at trial. Learn more about dog bite injuries.
If I Was Bitten by a Stray Dog, Can I Sue?
No, you cannot sue if a stray dog bites you. The dog has to have an identifiable owner. We do have situations where the dog is possessed and controlled by more than one person, so for example, maybe a couple of roommates purchase a dog, and that dog ends up… CONTINUE