Who is at fault in a dog fight? Simple and Effective Tips

What is California’s Dog Bite Statute?

California is one of the many states in the US that has a strict liability dog bite statute. Simply put, this means that dog owners are responsible for nearly all injuries their dog causes. If a victim sues a pet owner in order to seek compensation for the injuries they’ve suffered, it doesn’t matter whether or not the dog’s owner knew their dog had ever bitten someone before. Pet owners will not be able to defend themselves by saying they did not know their dog was dangerous.

Dog bite cases are complex. It’s essential that you consult with a dog bite lawyer in California in order to get quality legal counsel regarding what happened to you. You deserve to speak with a lawyer and get legal advice that fits your unique situation. At the Accident Network Law Group, we offer a no-obligation consultation for anyone who’s suffered a dog bite.

No dog owner wants their dog to attack another pet or person, but hundreds of attacks happen every year despite the best efforts of many pet owners. The severity of dog attacks can vary from a minor bite to a severe injury or even death of the victim. Determining who was at fault for the dog attack is often a necessary part of dealing with the aftermath of an incident.

Once the dogs past behavior has been assessed by the authorities in charge of determining fault, the owners actions in preventing an attack will be brought into consideration. An owner who is found to have been negligent in caring for their dog or protecting the public from their dog may be found at fault for their dogs attack.

Several key factors come into play when determining fault for a dog attack. Obviously, the dog who did the attacking must come under scrutiny. The dogs past behavior is often brought up as a way of determining whether the attack could have been anticipated by a reasonable owner. Dogs who have a history of aggressive behavior, have previously attacked other animals or humans or have otherwise been labeled as aggressive need to be cared for differently than dogs who are not considered aggressive.

Every dog attack is an individual situation and fault can lie with any party who is involved in the attack. The unique circumstances that caused the attack play a large part in determining who is actually at fault. Fault must be determined on a case-by-case basis. In an incident where the owners of the dog and the victim cannot agree who is at fault, the determination may be made by authorities such as the police or judge.

Sometimes a dog attack victim is found to have caused the attack. Individuals who trespass on private property, intentionally tease or aggravate a dog or behave in a manner that provokes aggressive behavior from a dog may be found at fault. Individuals who fail to take reasonable measures to protect themselves or their animals from a dog attack — for example, trying to break up a dog fight at a dog park and being bitten in the process — may also take some of the blame if things turn out badly.

When a dog hurts someone, its owner might be able to avoid legal responsibility based on the victim’s actions.By

Dog owners are usually legally responsible when their pets bite people or hurt them another way (such as by knocking them over). That means an injured person may file an insurance claim or sue the animals owner to seek compensation for dog bite-related harm, including medical expenses.

But the animal owners liability could be reduced or eliminated altogether if the person making the claim:

  • provoked the dog
  • was trespassing or breaking the law at the time of the injury
  • voluntarily risked getting hurt by the dog
  • cant show that they were actually bitten, or
  • contributed to the injury by being unreasonably careless.
  • STOPPING A DOG FIGHT (Cesar911 Shorts)