Filing a Claim When Another Dog Bites Your Dog
If a dog attacks you, a personal injury claim can allow you to receive compensation for your medical bills and other losses. However, what if it is your dog that is attacked by someone else’s dog? Now the claim changes from personal injury to property damage. Even though your dog feels like part of the family, it is property for legal purposes.
That does mean that you may still be entitled to damages. For example, there may be expensive medical bills for your beloved pet. According to California, you need to be compensated for all damages that result from dog attacks.
Unfortunately, property damage claims do not include pain and suffering as a personal injury case would. For example, if your dog is permanently injured, you may receive compensation for future medical care. However, you won’t be compensated for the hardship your pet may face if it should experience lasting harm (for example, the loss of a limb).
Dog Bite Injury Attorneys in Southern California
If you or a family member has been injured by someone else’s dog, Petrov Law Firm is here to help. And while we specialize in personal injury cases, if your family pet stepped in to try and save and the day and experienced harm, you should receive compensation for veterinary bills as well.
Give us a call today at 619.344.0360, so we can discuss the particulars of your case. Our experienced attorneys are just who you want in your corner when seeking compensation from an insurance company.
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Dog Bite Prevention for Delivery Persons
Delivery persons have always been a target for dog attacks, and with more deliveries than ever before, thanks to the pandemic, you need to know how to stay safe. Whether you are a long-time delivery person or starting a new job, here are some tips to help.
- Don’t make deliveries with headphones on – We understand that music can help the day go faster, but stick to listening while in the truck. When you are approaching a door, you need to be aware of your surroundings.
- Be wary of interactions with the owner – Handing a package to the owner in the presence of a dog may be seen as an aggressive act. Be careful not to make any sudden moves toward a pet owner in the presence of the animal. Plus, during the pandemic, you want to keep your distance anyway.
- Don’t try to interact with the dog – Even if a dog seems friendly, that may change when you make an approach. Even if you really like dogs, it is best not to try and pet dogs you meet on your route.
- Back away – If a dog seems threatened, don’t turn your back on it. It is always best to back away. If you feel it is not safe to make a delivery, you can report it.
Help for Victims of Dog Bites in California
If you do end up experiencing a dog bite, medical bills, missed workdays, and other expenses can add up quickly. Petrov Law Firm can help you to receive the settlement you deserve from the owner’s insurance. Contact us today at 619.344.0360 to learn more.
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6-Year-Old Boy Recovers After Saving His Sister from a Dog
You may have heard the reports last summer of a 6-year-old boy in Cheyenne, Wyoming, who became a hero when he protected his sister from a German shepherd. In the boy’s own words, he just put himself between the dog and his sister and kept moving to keep himself in between. Unfortunately, the dog eventually attacked, biting the young boy’s face.
Fortunately, Bridger is recovering well and recently thanked doctors and nurses in a heart-warming video on the news. Just a word of caution before you go and try to find the video – Bridger’s injuries from the attack were extensive, and seeing the before and after (including 90 stitches) will be disturbing for most people.
The fact is that dog attacks occur every day, and many children don’t have a hero like young Bridger to take the bite for them. Since a child’s face is often at bite level for dogs, injuries are far more severe than when a dog attacks an adult. This leads to extensive medical bills. If you or a loved one has been injured in a dog attack, you may wonder how you will be able to pay for the mounting medical expenses. If you live in California, Petrov Law Firm can help.
Dog Bite Attorneys in San Diego
If you are in need of an attorney to help your family maximize your dog bite settlement in California, Petrov Law Firm is here for you. Get in touch with an experienced attorney today by calling 619.344.0360.
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Are Dog Bites Covered By Rental Insurance?
If you are bit by someone else’s dog, your medical expenses and other losses should be covered by that person’s homeowner’s insurance (unless you were trespassing or provoking the attack). However, more and more people are renting instead of owning the place in which they live. So if the owner of the dog has renter’s insurance, will that cover your losses? Here is what you need to know.
According to the CDC, there are more than four million dog bites that occur each year in the United States. The Insurance Information Institute provides another revealing fact. When the attack is covered by insurance, the average payout is more than $40,000. It is important to realize that only about 20% of people who are attacked by a dog require medical care. So most of the time, there are no significant losses incurred.
As far as renter’s insurance is concerned, it should cover a dog bite, just as homeowner’s insurance would. However, it is up to the owner to know what the policy covers. Some policies do not cover larger dogs (which are likely to do more damage), or they may exclude certain breeds.
Getting the Help You Need Following a Dog Attack
If the owner of the dog is liable for the attack, you may be due compensation for medical bills, missed workdays, emotional distress, and more. However, whether the owner is insured or not, you need the help of a personal injury attorney. If you live in southern California, then Petrov Law Firm can help. Call us today at 619.344.0360 to get your case started.
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Why Don’t Dogs Like Me?
Are you the type of person who would love to pet every dog you pass on the sidewalk, but you can’t because they always seem to get aggressive with you on sight? Here are a few things that may be at the root of the problem if most dogs are immediately on guard in your presence.
- Your voice – Dogs care more about the tone of your voice than the actual words you are using. They interpret high-pitched voices as happy but may have a negative reaction to a deeper voice, which comes across as angry.
- Your actions – Dogs feel threatened when you hold their gaze for too long or when you lean in over them.
- Your interaction with the owner – Dogs seem to be able to recognize if you have a pleasant interaction with their owner or if you are perceived as rude. The dog is always going to side with their owner, so start by greeting them with a big smile.
- Your scent – If you smell like a dog they don’t know (perhaps because you have a dog at home or were just petting another dog), that can put a canine on edge.
- The dog’s history – If a dog has been abused, anyone who reminds them of the abuser will cause instant anxiety. If the abuser was a male, the dog might be wary around any unknown man.
If You Have Been Injured By a Dog Bite
Sometimes a dog will become so agitated that it attacks despite being unprovoked. If this has happened to you, the owner’s insurance should cover your medical expenses or other losses. Contact Petrov Law Firm today to get the assistance that you need by calling 619.344.0360.
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Myths About Rabies You Need to Know
Unless a dog attack causes a serious injury, the next immediate concern after a bite is rabies. Unfortunately, many people in the United States believe various myths about this condition. We will dispel just a few in our article today.
- Myth 1: The is no rabies in the US – This is definitely not true. In fact, Hawaii is the only state that is completely rabies-free. However, 95% of deaths from rabies occur in Africa or Asia because death from rabies is highly preventable if you can get to a medical facility immediately after a bite.
- Myth 2: You can wait until you see signs of rabies to seek medical attention – Again, this is absolutely false. Once symptoms appear, it is too late to treat this disease. There are fewer than 10 cases on record where a human survives rabies after showing symptoms. This is why you need immediate treatment after a bite.
- Myth 3: If the dog isn’t foaming at the mouth, it doesn’t have rabies – Foaming at the mouth is possible, but not all animals will have this symptom. More likely, symptoms are those similar to a flu virus.
Dog Bite Attorneys in San Diego
Following a dog bite, the number one priority is making sure that you are safe. After you have received the proper medical attention, then it is time to contact a personal injury attorney so that you can determine if you deserve compensation due to the negligence of the owner. Petrov Law Firm has experienced dog bite attorneys at our San Diego office. Call 619.344.0360 to get your case started today.
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Facts You Need to Know About Dog Bites in California
As a nation, Americans are estimated to own nearly 77 million dogs! More than one out of every three US households has at least one dog, according to the American Veterinary Medical Association. It shouldn’t be a surprise that about 4.5 million dog bites occur annually (according to the CDC). Dog bite settlements are usually handled by the owner’s homeowners or renters insurance. Here are three things you should know about dog bites in California.
- There is a dog bite statute in the state of California – This means that as long as you were not trespassing or intentionally provoking the dog, the owner is always liable for the attack.
- California does not go by the “one bite rule” that some other states use. Such a rule would mean that the owner is only liable for an attack if the dog has bitten someone in the past. In California, the owner is potentially liable from the very first attack.
- California law does not require proof of negligence on the part of the owner. However, if you can prove that the owner was negligent when it came to protecting others from being attacked, this may provide you with a basis for requesting a larger settlement.
Help for Dog Bite Victims in Southern California
Insurance companies always want to pay as little as possible on a claim, so you need the help of an experienced personal injury attorney to make sure that you don’t get stuck covering your own medical bills or any other losses. Contact Petrov Law Firm today at 619.344.0360 to speak with an experienced attorney in San Diego.
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5 Tips to Help Your Child Avoid Dog Bites
When a dog bite occurs, it leads to medical care about one in five times. However, the odds are far more likely for a child to need medical assistance after a dog attack. The reason is that a child’s head, face, and neck are closer to a dog’s mouth, so the bites are more likely to take place in a dangerous area. Here are five tips to help prevent dog bites for your family.
- Teach your child to let the dog sniff them before petting.
- Teach your child to avoid dogs that are caring for pups, sleeping, or eating – Dogs are more likely to attack during these vulnerable times.
- Encourage your child to ask the dog’s owner for permission before attempting to pet it – Even if the dog seems friendly, the owner can alert you if it is prone to snap at strangers.
- Don’t leave your child alone with a dog, even if it is your family pet.
- Help your child know what to do around a threatening dog – If a child gets scared when a dog growls, this will only encourage the animal to get more aggressive. It is important to remain calm, back away, and avoid eye contact.
Help if a Member of Your Family Has Been Bitten
If you are accumulating medical bills due to a dog bitting a member of your family, Petrov Law Firm can help. This is one of the forms of personal injury law that we specialize in. Just call 619.344.0360 to speak with one of our San Diego based lawyers, and we can get your California injury settlement started today.
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Dog Attack Prevention Tips for Families
Millions of dog attacks occur each year across the US, resulting in hundreds of thousands of dollars in compensation. However, you would obviously prefer to avoid an attack on a member of your family then have to seek a settlement, so here are a few tips to help prevent dog bites, particularly when it comes to children.
- Don’t approach chained dogs – Teach your kids to avoid dogs that are chained up. Clearly, the owner knows the dog is high-risk for an attack, so getting close to the dog is asking for trouble. It is unlikely that an insurance company will cover an attack by a dog that has been provoked.
- Be careful about certain breeds – Pitbulls and any sort of pitbull mix are known to be an issue when it comes to dog attacks. However, you also need to be careful with several other breeds. One that may surprise you is the German shepherd. They are very protective of their own family, so their kids will be safe, but you may not be.
- Have your family dog neutered or spayed – Statistics show that this will decrease the risk of your household pet attacking a member of the family.
San Diego Personal Injury Attorneys for Dog Attacks
The lawyers at Petrov Law Firm can handle any personal injury claim. However, one of our specialties is dog bites. So if you or a loved one has experienced an attack in southern California, we’re here to help. Call 619.344.0360 to get your case started today.
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Families – Review These Important Dog Bite Reminders
Millions of dog bites occur every year across America. While there are many other more present dangers, you still want to remind your family of how to act around dogs to avert disaster. Here are a few important tips.
- Avoid dogs that are chained up – The owner has the dog chained for a reason. It is probably a watchdog and is very dangerous. In fact, 25% of dog attacks that turn fatal occur when a chained dog is provoked.
- Watch out for dangerous breeds – Pit bulls are the most well-known biters. However other breeds can also be very protective, especially German shepherds.
- Always neuter or spay family pets – It is far more common for animals that have not been neutered or spayed to bite.
- Compensation may be available – If a family member receives an injury from someone else’s dog, you may be able to receive compensation for medical bills. Insurance companies paid out more than $500,000,000 in 2017 for dog bite claims. You just need help in order to receive the maximum settlement that you deserve.
Dog Bite Lawyers in Southern California
If you or a member of your family has been injured by some else’s dog, give the dog bite lawyers at Petrov Law Firm a call at 619.344.0360. We can help keep the insurance company honest and make sure that they are offering everything that you deserve. From medical bills and missed wages to pain and suffering, we can help you calculate the right settlement.
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