San Diego County has become a dog-friendly area where off-leash dogs are common. Dogs are able to roam freely off-leash while they are in designated dog parks. Unfortunately, dogs are everywhere and may become vicious and attack whether they are on or off a leash.

Unfortunately, with the rise of dog and pet friendly areas, there has been an increase in the number of people that have experienced the painful injury of a dog bite. According to the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there are over 4.7 million dog bite attacks that occur across the United States every year. The second highest reason for emergency room visits is for an animal attack or a dog bite. Thousands of victims in Southern California will have to experience some type of injury that will require medical attention. Statistics show that about 800,000 people in the United States will end up needing emergency medical treatment from a dog bite. Dozens of people in the United States end up being killed by a dog bite every year.

Dog and other animal bites can cause deep emotional and physical scars. Children are the most vulnerable due to their strength and size and become the most common dog bite victims. When you or a loved one gets injured by a dog or another animal, you need to know your rights. HHJ Trial Attorneys will make sure that you get compensated for your injuries and are protected from any costs that you had to incur as a result of the animal attack.

What Should You Do After a Dog or Animal Attack?

Are the Pet Owners Responsible for the Attack?

Dog owners and pet owners are responsible for maintaining and controlling their pets. However, it is not uncommon for pet owners to refuse to deal with a victim that has been bit by the owner’s dog. Most people do not like admitting that their dog/pet is violent or that their animal may have injured another person. It is important to know your rights in a dog bite situation. The owner and the homeowner’s insurance company could be responsible for the attack and the resulting injuries. California follows a specific law and doctrine called strict liability when it comes to dog bites. If someone is bit by another person’s dog, the injured person only needs to prove that the defendant owned the dog, the bite took place on public or private property where the victim was lawfully allowed to be, and the victim was in fact injured by the dog bite.

A person may still be held responsible even if the person’s dog has never bitten anyone in the past. Contact HHJ Trial Attorneys today so that you can be compensated for your injuries, medical bills, missed work days, and pain and suffering.

Testimonial from Enrique, dog bite victim in San Diego

 In April of this year I was attacked by a pit bull while walking my dog. The dog bit my hand and I had to go to the emergency hospital. My dog also had to go to the vet. After the hospital charges we went to the owners of the dog to take responsibility for the expenses, but they denied the payment. Then we went with Elliott who did us the favor of representing us. Your service was excellent. He was responsible for investigating whether dog owners were insured to cover our expenses. Although it is not the most serious case for Elliott, he understood that it was important for us to recover what we had spent. Elliott treated us with respect and gave us the attention of a professional and experienced lawyer. 

Testimonial from Irma, San Diego dog bite victim

I had a dog bite incident and needed a personal injury attorney I chose HHJ to help me . Adam Hepburn was my attorney he’s great explained everything answered all my questions kept me up to date on my case and was just a phone call away .This was the first time I ever needed a personal injury attorney and am glad I went with HHJ highly recommended.