Dog Bites

A person who keeps or has control of a dog may be liable for personal injury caused by the dog. California law provides that the owner or keeper of a dog is liable for the damages suffered by anyone who is bitten while in a public place or lawfully in a private place, including the dog owners' property. The fact that a dog does not have prior attacks, or that the owner has no awareness of a dog's viciousness does not determine responsibility.

California dog bite laws impose "strict liability" on the owner's of vicious dogs. Strict liability means that a person is liable for damages even if the person used ordinary care, and therefore was not negligent in keeping or controlling the dog. Even if you are not bitten the owner or keeper of a dog may be responsible to you if you are injured by a dog, for example being knocked over by the dog. Without a bite it will be necessary to establish negligence on the part of the owner or keeper of the dog. Our firm has successfully prosecuted numerous dog bite and dog injury cases.

Mr. Corwin can be emailed at scott@sjclaw.com.