You may know that California has one of the highest rates of dog bites and animal attacks in the country, with thousands of dollars in insurance payouts every year for dog bite injuries. Given that California is a strict liability state when it comes to dog bites, it is extremely important for anyone who is considering bringing a new dog into the family to know about a new adoption law that is designed to protect potential adopters. While the new law is aimed at providing families with more information about whether a dog may have a history that could make a dog bite more likely in the future, the impetus remains on adopters to ask questions about the dog’s viciousness. A recent article in CityWatch discusses the new law and what it could mean for dog owners in dog bite cases.

California Governor Signs New Law Concerning Potential Dog Adopters

On October 2, 2019, Governor Gavin Newsom sign AB 588 into law. The new law, according to the article, “is important to anyone who adopts, or considers adopting, a dog from any animal shelter, human society, or “rescue” group in California and to anyone living in a community where an adopted dog is kept.” In short, the new law requires all animal shelters in the state to inform adopters about whether any dog that is four months old or older has bitten a person and broken the skin. Under the new law, the animal shelter is required to inform a person about this type of animal history prior to selling a dog, giving away a dog, or otherwise releasing a dog. The history of bite(s) must be disclosed in writing, along with information concerning the incident in which the dog bite occurred.

Under the bill, an animal shelter is defined as any of the following:

• Public animal control agency;
• Public animal shelter;
• Society for the prevention of cruelty to animals shelter;
• Humane society group; or
• Animal rescue group.

If any animal shelter fails to provide this information, it can be fined up to $500. However, it is important to know what the law does not require a shelter to do, as well. The legislation will not require animal shelters to inform adopters about a history of “animal aggression” that does not include a dog bite that broke the skin. Adopters will need to ask this information themselves.

Filing a Dog Bite Injury Claim Under the New Law

As the article underscores, California is a dog bite “strict liability” state under the California Civil Code Section 3342. Accordingly, dog owners are strictly liable for injuries that result from a dog bite as long as the victim is in either a public place or lawfully in a private place at the time of the dog bite.

However, the article raises a question about whether the new law could result in animal shelters being liable for dog bite injuries if a shelter fails to disclose information about a prior dog bite incident. Indeed, as the article suggests, “AB 855 could . . . place the direct responsibility for future damages by the dog with the shelter or rescue.” To be clear, both animal shelters defined as such, in addition to rescue groups, will be bound by the terms of the new law.

Contact an Encinitas Dog Bite Attorney

Do you need assistance filing a dog bite claim? An Encinitas dog bite injury lawyer can discuss your case with you today. Contact the Walton Law Firm to learn more about our services.

See Related Blog Posts: California Ranks First in Dog Bite Injury Claims How YouTube Might Reduce Encinitas Dog Bite Injuries

How often do dog bite injuries in Poway happen? Whether you are in Poway or in another part of Southern California, it is important to know that California routinely leads the nation in the highest rate of dog bites, and this year is no different. According to a recent report in the Insurance Journal, California ranked first in dog bite injury claims based on data in a new report. While dog bite claims across the nation did decrease slightly, California continued to have more dog bite claims than any other state by hundreds of incidents. What else should San Diego residents know about the report, and what can we do to prevent dog bite injuries?

Report Says California Had More Than 400 Dog Bite Claims in 2018

The Insurance Information Institute (III) and State Farm conduct a report each year on dog bite injury claims. For the 2017 year, the report showed California ranking first in the total number of dog bite injury claims with a total of 488 claims. Across the country, the report for 2017 showed a total of about 3,600 claims, meaning that dog bite injury claims in the state of California accounted for nearly 14% of all dog bite injury claims in the country. A total of $18.7 billion was paid out in 2017.

How does 2018 compare? As we said, California again ranks highest in number of dog bite injury claims. At the same time, however, the figure decreased. The recent III and State Farm report listed a total of 409 claims out of California, with a country-wide total of 3,280 dog bite claims. Those figures means that California had approximately 12.5% of all dog bite injury claims in 2018, suggesting that prevention tactics are working in some capacity both in California and nationwide. The total payout in 2018 was $123, which was a 7% decrease from the previous year. Despite the fact that dog bite injury claims have decreased, they still remain much too high.

Risk Factors for Dog Bite Injuries

The report emphasizes that young children between the ages of 5 and 9 are at greatest risk of suffering a serious dog bite injury, and elderly persons also are at higher risk. In addition to these age-related risk groups, the report also notes that certain jobs can place a person at higher risk of sustaining injuries in a dog attack, including postal carriers, delivery service providers, and meter readers. In effect, jobs that require people to go to individual homes and into yards may be at greater risk of suffering dog bite injuries.

According to the ASPCA, there are currently about 78 million dogs in the U.S. that are owned as pets, and around 44% of all American households have a dog. It is extremely important for families with young children to recognize that any dog can bite, and that a majority of dog bite injuries happen in a household with a dog that is known to the family.

Contact a Poway Dog Bite Attorney

If you or your child recently sustained a dog bite injury, you may be eligible to file a claim for compensation. An experienced Poway dog bite lawyer can speak with you today about your case. Contact the Walton Law Firm for more information about how we can help.

See Related Blog Posts: How YouTube Might Reduce Encinitas Dog Bite Injuries Can Your Personality Increase Your Risk of a Dog Bite Injury?

When Encinitas residents think about ways to reduce the rate of dog bite injuries and animal attacks, they will likely think about types of both animal and human behavior. However, there are other ways to assess dog bite incidents and to find new ways to reduce serious attacks, particularly among young children. According to a recent article in Tech Times, researchers are turning to YouTube videos in order to study dog attacks and, ultimately, to prevent dog bite injuries.

Can YouTube Provide Information About Dog Attacks?

It is often difficult for researchers to study dog bites by observing the behavior of the dog during the attack. After all, these incidents happen quickly, and the victims rarely have photographic evidence of them. However, dog attacks do often get filmed by witnesses, and many of those videos end up on YouTube. As the article explains, researchers have turned to YouTube in order to “conduct direct observation and analyses of dog bites.”

While most researchers up to this point have relied on dog attack evidence that was collected after the incident—such as interviews with the victims or a study of the victim’s hospital records—videos on YouTube may “provide a better understanding of why bites happen, which can contribute to the development of strategies for preventing bites.” Why is it so important to find new ways of preventing dog bite injuries? Dog bites occur more often in California than in most other states, and children often are the victims of these attacks.

Recent Dog Bite Injuries in Southern California

Two recent dog attacks in Southern California should put parents on notice about the particular risks of dog bite injuries in young children. A recent report in the Patch describes an incident in early June in which a 5-year-old hound mix attacked a 4-year-old girl, sending the child to the hospital. According to reports, the child had to receive emergency treatment after the dog “charged the girl.” Witnesses indicated that the attack was “unprovoked” and occurred while the child was near the porch on her grandfather’s property. The dog belonged to her grandfather. In many dog attack cases, the dog is known to the victim—either the dog is part of the victim’s family or belongs to a friend or family member. The dog bit the child multiple times.

Shortly thereafter, two Rottweiler dogs attacked a mother and a toddler while the mother was pushing a stroller with the child inside. According to a report from NBC News, the mother had been pushing a stroller with her 2-year-old child inside in the early morning “when two female Rottweilers escaped their backyard kennel, jumped multiple gates, and ran toward the family.” The report indicated that “both dogs began biting the toddler on his head, face, and arm as he sat in the stroller.” Both the mother and the child suffered severe injuries, and the child is expected to require surgery.

Contact an Encinitas Dog Bite Attorney

Was your child attacked by a dog? You should discuss your case with an Encinitas dog bite attorney as soon as you can. Contact the Walton Law Firm for more information.

See Related Blog Posts: Dog Bites and Anxious Victims in San Marcos What Should Vista Residents Know About Dog Bites?

(image courtesy of Duffy Brook)

Are you more likely to suffer a dog bite injury in Poway if you have a certain type of personality? On the surface, the idea might seem ridiculous. After all, dogs bite for many different reasons and often bite unprovoked. However, according to a recent article in Psychology Today, the notion that certain personality characteristics could place individuals at greater risk of sustaining a dog bite injury might not be so far-fetched. Of course, a dog bite victim’s personality traits are not sufficient to get the owner off the hook in the event a dog does bite. Yet, understanding the relationship between an individual’s personality characteristics and the risk of sustaining a dog bite injury might help residents of Southern California to better protect themselves.

Body Language can Affect the Likelihood of a Dog Attack

According to the article, people who experience anxiety and distress, or more colloquially, those who display the personality characteristic of “neuroticism,” could be more likely to get bitten by a dog. The article cites a previous study on the issue published in the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health, and it seeks to assess whether the research findings in that study are legitimate based on our knowledge of clinical psychology. Can a certain level of neuroticism, which can lead an individual to appear nervous or on edge, increase the likelihood that a dog may bite that person?

Neuroticism, according to psychologists, typically results in one or more of the following additional characteristics:

• Irritability;
• Anger;
• Fearfulness;
• Sadness;
• Anxiety;
• Worry;
• Hostility;
• Self-consciousness; and
• Vulnerability.

These tendencies often lead to certain types of body language, such as fidgeting, which can be disconcerting to a dog. In addition, the article suggests the possibility that people who are especially nervous or fearful might emit a pheromone that could make dogs uncomfortable. Unlike humans who are uncomfortable (and know how to control their responses), fearful humans—even if they are not scared of the dog—may lead a dog to become more fearful and to attack.

On the whole, however, it seems difficult to say with certainty whether your personality can actually play a role in assessing your risk of being injured in a dog attack.

Strict Liability Law for Dog Bites in Poway

Regardless of whether you were fearful or anxious around a dog, California is a “strict liability” state when it comes to dog bites. This means that the dog’s owner does not have to be negligent in order to be liable for a dog attack injury. Instead, mere ownership of the dog—regardless of the lengths the owner might go to in order to prevent a dog bite—can result in liability. Under California’s strict liability statute:

“The owner of any dog is liable for the damages suffered by any person who is bitten by the dog while in a public place or lawfully in a private place, including the property of the owner of the dog, regardless of the former viciousness of the dog or the owner’s knowledge of such viciousness.”

In other words, to win a dog bite injury claim, a plaintiff needs to prove the following:

• Plaintiff was bitten by the dog; and
• Plaintiff either was on public property or was lawfully on private property when the dog bite occurred.

Learn More from a Poway Dog Bite Lawyer

Do you have questions about filing a dog bite claim? A Poway dog bite attorney can help. Contact the Walton Law Firm today.

See Related Blog Posts: What Should Vista Residents Know About Dog Bites? Increase in California Dog Bite Insurance Claims

(image courtesy of Duffy Brook)

For anyone who owns a dog in Encinitas and does not have insurance protection through a homeowners’ policy, it is important to consider renter’s insurance or other forms of coverage that could protect you in the event of a dog attack, or in the event that a person gets hurt in an accident as a result of a “dog fright,” according to a recent article in Reuters. In other words, dog bite injuries and accidents connected to dog attacks occur more often than you might think, and it is important for injury victims to be able to obtain compensation.

For many dog bite victims, the easiest and quickest way to obtain financial compensation for hospital bills and psychological injuries is to file an insurance claim. When the dog owner does not have insurance, the injury victim often will file a dog bite lawsuit.

Increase in Dog Bite Insurance Claims and Payouts Across the Country

Dog bite injuries and attacks are always frequent in California, but according to a recent article in Claims Journal, dog bite insurance claims rose by 2.2% nationwide in 2017, which resulted in payouts totaling approximately $700 million. In all, “dog bites and other dog-related injuries accounted for more than one-third of all homeowners liability claim dollars paid out in 2017,” or more than 33%.

National Dog Bite Prevention Week runs from April 8-14, and it is important for dog owners to be aware of risks in order to prevent an attack or a dog-related injury to happen in the first place. However, when dog bites or “dog frights” do occur, dog owners really should be prepared with an insurance policy that can provide adequate coverage. Most homeowners’ insurance policies, according to the Reuters article, provide coverage of about $100,000 in the event of a dog bite or dog-related injury case on the homeowner’s property. This is typically sufficient to cover a dog bite claim, but many renters do not pay for renters’ insurance. As such, those renters can have significant financial problems if they face a lawsuit after their dog attacks. When injuries are particularly severe, a typical homeowners policy may provide inadequate coverage.

Dog bite injury claims last year resulted in an average payout of more than $37,000, which represented an 11.5 percent rise in the average cost per claim. Claims have risen significantly each year, and the Insurance Information Institute (III) expects that the average cost per claim will continue to rise. When dog bite lawsuits ultimately go to juries to decide, the Claim Journal article emphasizes that jury awards have also been on the rise.

Highest Rate of Dog Bite Claims in California

California, along with Florida and Pennsylvania, had the highest number of dog bite insurance claims in the country. There were 2,228 dog bite injury claims in 2017, which represented a significant increase from the 1,934 claims in 2016. In addition, the average cost per claim was highest in California, totaling more than $90 million in claims in 2017 alone.

The average cost per claim in California was more than $40,500. To put those numbers in perspective, California payouts represented more than 13% of all dog bite claims nationwide in terms of cost. Moreover, claims in California accounted for more than 12% of all claims filed nationwide.

Contact a Dog Bite Lawyer in Encinitas

Were you injured in a dog attacked or a dog-related injury? An experienced Encinitas dog bite injury attorney can assist you. Contact the Walton Law Firm to discuss your options.

See Related Blog Posts: What Should Vista Residents Know About Dog Bites? Increase in California Dog Bite Insurance Claims

(image courtesy of Duffy Brook)

If you find yourself to be more anxious than the average person in San Marcos, are you more likely to sustain injuries as a result of a dog bite? According to a recent report from CBS News, a study published in the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health contends that “people with an emotionally anxious personality appear to be the likeliest recipients of dog bites.” Moreover, those people also tend to be the least likely to report a dog attack, suggesting that dog bite numbers could be higher than many statistics suggest.

Anxiousness and Likelihood of a Dog Bite Injury

Can dogs really discern when a person is anxious? The authors of the study sought to control for other factors that could play a part in determining the likelihood of a dog bite injury. For instance, in studying almost 700 people in nearly 400 households, the researchers looked at:

• Victim’s age at the time of the dog bite;
• Victim’s relationship to the dog (i.e., whether the dog lived in the same household, lived in the household of a friend, or belonged to a stranger); and
• Whether the victim sought medical attention after the dog attack.

But that information was not the only data that helped the authors of the study to report that personal anxiety could play a significant factor in determining whether a person is more likely than not to be bitten by a dog in a given circumstance. In addition to the factors listed above, those 700 people filled out a personality test that had 10 different questions designed to elucidate “the so-called Big Five personality traits,” or “extroversion, conscientiousness, openness to new experiences, agreeableness, and emotional stability.” Here is what they found:

• Males are twice as likely as females to be bitten by a dog;
• Around 44% of dog bites occur in childhood;
• Approximately 55% of dog bites occurred when the victim did not know the dog; and
• Victims with lower emotional stability are more likely to be bitten.

According to one of the authors of the study, “Our findings suggest that the less anxious, irritable and depressed a person is, the less likely they are to have been bitten.” While the study is only one assessment, it suggests a new line of inquiry for determining dog bite risks.

Dog Bite Prevention: Safety Tips

Whether you are anxious or not, the ASPCA provides some helpful safety tips for avoiding dog bites:

• Know the signs of an aggressive dog, which can include ears that are up and forward, puffed up fur on her back, a tail standing straight up and sometimes even wagging, teeth baring, growling, lunging, and barking;
• Be able to recognize the difference between the scared dog and an aggressive dog, since scared dogs are less likely to attack without further contact;
• Do not approach any dog when it is sleeping, eating, chewing (on anything) or caring for puppies;
• Do not approach any dog that shows signs of being aggressive or scared;
• Prohibit children from petting unfamiliar dogs without getting the permission of the dog’s owner;
• Teach your child to approach a new dog by letting the dog sniff a closed fist and then petting the dog first on the top of its head;
• Never try to pet a dog that is behind a fence or in a car;
• Do not approach a dog that is off-leash and alone;
• If a dog knocks you to the ground, curl up in a ball and interlock your fingers behind your neck to protect your neck and ears; and
• Do not attempt to outrun a dog.

If you or your child recently suffered injuries in a dog attack, you should discuss your case with a San Marcos dog bite lawyer as soon as possible. Contact the Walton Law Firm for more information.

See Related Blog Posts: What Should Vista Residents Know About Dog Bites? Increase in California Dog Bite Insurance Claims

(image courtesy of Duffy Brooks)

Are there certain breeds of dogs that pose greater risks of dog bite injuries in Vista, California, than other breeds? According to a recent news release from the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA), there are breed-specific laws in place throughout the country, including in California, yet these breed-specific laws might not always result in the desired outcome of fewer dog attacks.

Should you change your behavior if you encounter a neighborhood dog that makes the “bully breed” lists, or are there other indicators that you could be at risk of a dog bite incident?

Learning More About Breed-Specific Laws

What are breed-specific laws, and how do they work? In short, breed-specific laws “ban or restrict ownership of dog breeds believed to be responsible for the most serious attacks on people.” Most frequently, “pit bulls” make the top of the list of dogs that are banned through breed-specific laws, but other breeds often are included, as well. For instance, these laws tend to apply to large breeds such as Rottweilers and Doberman Pinschers. According to the American Kennel Club, using the term “pit bull” is problematic in itself because it usually refers to dogs of mixed breeds. In other words, a “pit bull” is not a recognized, registered breed. More problematically, the news release suggests, breed-specific laws do not always work to identify dog bite risks.

Breed restrictions began largely in the 1980s in response to increased news about the dangers posed by pit bulls and other specific dog breeds. Florida was the first state to enact a breed-specific law, and others soon followed. California law prohibits cities or municipalities from enacting breed-specific laws. As the news release explains, however, even states like California in which breed-specific laws are not permitted, some types of regulations pertaining to certain breeds have been “grandfathered in or are part of a home-rule exemption.”

While DogsBite.org alleges that a majority of dog bites in the country can be attributed to pit bulls and other so-called “bully breeds,” numerous groups have disputed these findings. At the same time, some data suggests that locations with breed-specific legislation have lower incidents of dog attacks. Even if we cannot know for certain if breed-specific legislation works, what are some of the key facts that Vista residents should know about dog bite injuries?

Dog Bite Injury Facts

The following facts and figures come from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to help people prevent dog bite injuries:

• Around 4.5 million people sustain dog bites each year;
• Approximately 20% of all dog bite injuries get infected;
• Children are at highest risk of a dog bite injury, especially kids between the ages of 5 and 9;
• More than 50% of dog bite injuries occur at home with family dogs;
• When an unfamiliar dog approaches you, it is best to stay still, curl into a ball if the dog knocks you over, and immediately report strange behavior to the dog’s owner; and
• If you are bitten, you should immediately seek medical care for deep wounds and properly clean minor wounds.

If you have questions about filing a dog bite claim in California, a Vista dog bite lawyer can assist with your case. Contact the Walton Law Firm to speak with an advocate today.

See Related Blog Posts: Dog Bite Injuries on the Rise in California Increase in California Dog Bite Insurance Claims

(image courtesy of Duffy Brook)

According to a recent article in Bloomberg, the year 2016 saw a noticeable increase in dog bite insurance claims across the country, including in places like San Marcos. Data from the Insurance Information Institute (III) and other industry groups indicates that “insurance claims for dog bites jumped 18% to 18,123 last year in the U.S.” On average, the cost for insurance companies of a dog bite is $33,230. While that single figure showed a slight decrease from 2015, it nonetheless represents a 70% increase from 15 years ago. Why has the average cost of a dog bite injury continued to remain so high? In short, the III suggests that medical costs are higher and injury victims are receiving larger settlements.

Since National Dog Bite Prevention Week is in April, now is a good time to think carefully about dog bite risks in San Marcos and steps we can take to prevent animal attack injuries.

Total Costs of Dog Bite Injuries Soar in California and Other U.S. States

The rates of dog bite injuries are particularly high. The III’s interactive map shows that the highest number of dog bite claims came from California. The numbers in California are not remaining stagnant. Between 2015 and 2016, California saw an increase in dog bite claims by 250—there were 1,684 claims in 2015 and 1,934 in 2016. In total, California also had the highest amount of payouts for dog bite cases, totaling $76 million.

Dog bite injury claims are on the rise across the country. Other states with notable increases in the sheer number of dog bite claims, as well as insurance payouts, were Florida and New York. In the latter, the average payout was over $55,000. To be clear, 2016 had the highest number of dog bite claims on record, according to the III’s figures.

Children are Often Victims of Animal Attacks

Who is getting hurt in animal attacks? The article highlights the high risk of dog bite injuries among children. In total, children are victims of dog bites in more than 50% of the claims in the U.S. from 2016. One of the problems may be that parents do not teach their kids how to be safe around dogs. While we should not have to worry about a dog attacking a child, it is always important to ensure that children know how to behave around a dog. According to Loretta Worters, the vice president of the III, “kids should be taught to ask permission before petting a dog, and not to run away, because such behavior can encourage pets to chase.” In addition, if kids try to approach a litter of puppies, the adult dogs can become protective and lash out.

Yet the duty really is on dog owners to ensure that animal attacks do not occur. Owners “should make sure they socialize puppies, helping them learn appropriate behaviors when they’re young,” according to the III, “and have the dogs spayed or neutered.” In addition to children, postal workers are also at great risk of a dog bite injury. Between 2015 and 2016, the rate of animal attacks rose by about 200 incidents, and California again was ranked among the states with the highest number of bites.

Seek Advice from a San Marcos Dog Bite Lawyer

When it comes to dog bite injuries, California is a strict liability state. Under California law, a dog owner can be liable for injuries even if she or he was not negligent. If you or someone you love got hurt in a dog attack, you should seek advice from a dog bite injury attorney in San Marcos as soon as possible. Contact the Walton Law Firm today.

See Related Blog Posts: Dog Bite Injuries on the Rise in California USPS Dog Bite Rankings Released

(image courtesy of Manu Adan)

Many Southern California residents know that they live in a part of the country where dog bites and animal attack injuries tend to occur with some frequency. A recent report from CBS News alerted readers to a pit bull attack that occurred in Van Nuys. The victim sustained serious injuries, including cuts and bite marks to his hands and face. As a result of his injuries, the victim required hospitalization. According to the report, the incident occurred shortly before 5:15 p.m. on a Thursday evening in a local business parking lot. This is not the only dog attack in recent memory. A recent article in the Castro Valley Patch reported that a woman was attacked by a dog late last month, and she required hospitalization to treat the multiple bite wounds she sustained. That incident occurred just before 10:00 a.m. on a Monday morning near a local golf course.

Are dog attacks actually this common in Southern California? What can we do to prevent them?

Recalling a Deadly Dog Bite Incident in San Diego Last Spring

For a number of San Diego residents, these recent animal attack reports may bring back startling memories of an incident that happened last spring in which an infant was attacked and killed by a dog. As an article in Reuters explains, a three-day-old infant boy was killed during a dog attack in his parents’ bedroom last April in San Diego. The family, including the parents and the infant, had been laying in bed with their dog just prior to the incident. The dog, an American Staffordshire terrier-Great Dane mix weighing 97 pounds had been lying near the three-day-old child. The dog was startled when the infant’s mother coughed unexpectedly, and it “bit the baby, causing traumatic injury,” according to the article.

While the parents were able to remove the dog and were able to rush the infant to a nearby hospital, the young child died as a result of the injuries. A sergeant with the San Diego police described the incident as a “tragic accident.”

The dog was taken into quarantine, and a subsequent autopsy, according to a report in CBS News, confirmed that the boy died as a result of dog bites to his dead. The San Diego County medical examiner ruled the death an accident.

Preventing Dog Bite Injuries

According to a fact sheet from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), around 4.5 million dog bites happen every year in the United States. Of these dog bites, about 20% get infected. Anytime a dog bite occurs, the attack can result in serious and sometimes even fatal injuries. The CDC emphasizes that young children are at greatest risk of serious injuries from dog bites, particularly those in between the ages of five and seven years old. The CDC also underscores that about 50% of dog bite injuries happen in the household where the dog lives, just like in the incident that happened in San Diego with the three-day-old boy.

Preventing dog bites can have more to do with what you should not do than what you should do. The CDC highlights the following safety tips:

• Do not approach a dog you do not know;
• Do not run from a dog;
• Do not panic or make any loud noises when you encounter a dog;
• Do not disturb a dog when it is eating, sleeping, or caring for its puppies;
• Do not reach to pet a dog before allowing it to sniff you and see you;
• Do not encourage aggressive play with dogs; and
• Do not allow dogs to play unsupervised around small kids.

If you or someone you love sustained injuries in an animal attach, a dedicated dog bite lawyer in San Diego can assist you. Contact the Walton Law Firm today to discuss your case.

See Related Blog Posts: USPS Dog Bite Rankings Released Dog Bites and Blacklisted Pets

(image courtesy of Andraz Muljavec fotomorgana)

Have you ever been attacked by a dog? According to an article in the Los Angeles Times, California sees more dog bite claims than any other state in the U.S. In fact, in 2013 alone, California insurance companies received a total of 1,919 claims for dog bite injuries that ended up costing them $64.7 million. Based on data collected by the Insurance Information Institute and State Farm in a recent report, that’s the highest cost of claims in America.

And dog bite insurance claims are on the rise everywhere. Across the country, insurance companies ended up paying out a total of $484 million for dog bite injury claims in 2013, and the total number of claims actually rose by 5.5 percent from 2012. According to the article, “encounters with Fido account for more than one-third of liability costs for homeowners insurance.” A spokesperson for the Insurance Information Institute indicated that the average claim cost has risen “more than 45 percent in the last decade.”

Why are costs rising? It’s not just that more dog bites are happening each year. Rather, medical costs are going up. And when dog bite cases go to court, judgments and jury awards have also been on the rise for plaintiffs in recent years.

The report from the Insurance Information Institute and State Farm did explain that some of the claims may be dog-related injuries, but not necessarily dog bite injuries: “the increase in the number of claims may be attributable to non-bite injuries that are being captured in the analysis, which can include scratching, tripping, knocking down or frightening a person.”

Dog Bite Statistics in San Diego

How often do dog bite injuries occur in the San Diego area? According to ScoopSanDiego.com, residents of San Diego sustain serious injuries from animal attacks each year. In 2011 and 2012, there were approximately 3000 dog bites reported each year. Are dog bites specific to certain breeds? In general, it’s very important to remember that any dog can bite, and that dog breeds are not foolproof predictors of whether a dog will attack a human. However, some breeds are responsible for more injuries than others based on statistics from 2012:

· In 640 reported dog bites, the breed was unknow; · 399 bites were attributed to pit bull; · 196 bites were attributed to Labrador retrievers; and · 172 bites were attributed to Chihuahuas.

DogsBite.org indicates that Rottweilers, German shepherds, bullmastiffs, and boxers are also responsible for a high number of fatal dog bite injuries each year, but the American Humane Association (AHA) emphasizes that dog bites are reported more frequently when certain breeds—such as pit bulls or Rottweilers—are involved in the attacks. And according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), a majority of dog bites happen at home and are attributed to dogs that are family pets. In other words, dog bite injuries aren’t only an issue with stray dogs or unknown dogs.

Have you been injured in a dog attack? Did your child sustain severe or fatal injuries from a dog bite? You may be able to file a claim for compensation. Contact an experienced San Diego dog bite attorney at the Walton Law Firm today.

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