San Diego Personal Injury Lawyers Blog

The statistics on dog attacks are startling. There are an estimated 75 million dogs living in the United States today. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), almost 900,000 people seek medical attention for dog bite injuries each year and thousands of dog attacks are unreported.

In 2009, 32 people were killed in dog attacks nationwide. Nearly half of all American children are bitten by the time they turn 18. In fact, attacks on children account for nearly fifty percent of all reported bite-related injuries and seventy-nine percent of all bite-related fatalities.

Dog attacks are responsible for some of the most gruesome personal injuries, particularly when children are involved. Dog bite injuries frequently result in infection, permanent scarring, disfigurement, and lasting nerve damage, in addition to the substantial psychological harm caused by an encounter with a vicious dog. Dog bite injuries can have a devastating impact on the victim's quality of life for years to come, often resulting in the following:

• Wound infection


• Sepsis


• Cosmetic deformity requiring reconstructive surgery


• Loss of limbs


• Loss of motor function


• Nerve damage


• Death

Dangerous Breeds Of Dogs

The most dangerous breeds of dogs include labradors, pit bulls, shar peis, german shepherds, rottweilers and dobermans. In fact, pit bulls and labradors are responsible for nearly half of the dog attacks in the United States each year. Even the most docile breeds can attack without warning, however. Dogs that are unaltered are far more likely to bite than animals that have been spayed or neutered.

Compensation For Victims

When dog attacks occur, the victims are entitled to compensation for their pain and suffering, medical expenses, and time missed from work while recovering from their injuries. The majority of dog bite injury claims are paid by the dog owner's insurance company, because most attacks occur on the owner's property. In fact, dog bite claims account for 33% of homeowners' insurance policies.

It is not a good idea to attempt to negotiate a fair settlement with an insurance company without the assistance of an experienced dog bite injury attorney. An attorney can fight to ensure that you receive the highest possible compensation for your or your child's injuries. If you need advice regarding your dog bite injury, call Kerckhoff Law, APC at (866) 606-3059 today.

Continue reading "San Diego Dog Attack Injuries & How To Prevent Them ~" »

California is one of the states which has a strict liability dog bite statute. The statute states that the owner of a dog is liable for damages inflicted by his/her dog if it bites a person who is either in a public place or lawfully in a private place, including on or near the property of the owner of the dog, regardless of the former viciousness of the dog or the owner's knowledge of such viciousness (California Civil Code Section 3342).

The dog owner is liable whether or not the dog had ever been vicious before and whether or not the owner had reason to believe the dog would behave in a vicious manner ~ the dog does not get "one free bite."

In El Centro dog bite attacks, it is essential that prompt measures be taken to preserve evidence, investigate the attack in question, and enable physicians or other expert witnesses to thoroughly evaluate all of the injuries.

In the majority of dog bite cases, the law only allows for the injured party to collect damages designed to make him/her "whole"; however, in circumstances where it can be proven that a particular dog had demonstrated vicious behavior in the past, there is the possibility that the victim can also recover what are known as "punitive" damages. These damages are designed not for the purpose of making the injured party "whole," but rather, to punish the wrongful conduct of a dog owner who knowingly keeps a vicious animal which could cause harm to innocent persons. In the event that punitive damages are warranted, the amount of money that the injured party can recover would be substantially more than in the typical dog bite case.

Click here to review dog bite safety tips that were previously blogged about.

Continue reading "Imperial County Dog Bite Attacks ~" »

Dog bite injuries are unfortunately common with certain breeds of dogs - in particular, pit bulls. These dogs can cause serious injuries and attack people, often because of their aggressive nature and the power of their bite. Typically a pit bull does not bite just once, but continues to attack until its prey succumbs.

California has a strict liability dog bite statute that states that the owner of a dog is liable for damages (injuries) inflicted by his/her dog if it bites a person who is either 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 (California Civil Code Section 3342).

The dog owner is strictly liable, regardless of whether the dog has ever bitten before or shown aggressive tendencies. In California, the dog doesn't get "one bite free."

In dog bite injury cases, it is essential that measures be taken promptly to preserve evidence, investigate the incident in question, and to enable physicians or other expert witnesses to thoroughly evaluate all injuries. The injuries should be immediately photographed, in order to document the evidence.

In the majority of dog bite cases, the law only allows for the injured party to collect damages designed to make him/her "whole. However, under circumstances where a relative witnesses the attack on a loved one, the relative may also have a claim for the emotional distress suffered by observing the dog bite attack.

Also, in circumstances where it can be proven that a particular dog had demonstrated vicious behavior in the past, there is a possibility that the party can also recover what are known as "punitive" damages. These damages are designed not for the purpose of making the injured party "whole," but rather, to punish the wrongful conduct of a dog owner who knowingly keeps a vicious animal which could cause harm to innocent persons. In the event that punitive damages are warranted, the amount of money that the injured party can recover would be substantially more than in the typical case.

Continue reading "El Centro Dog Bite Attacks ~" »

Did you know that California has a strict liability dog bite statute which states that the owner of a dog is liable for damages inflicted by his/her dog if it bites a person who is either in a public place, or lawfully in a private place, including on or near the property of the owner of the dog, regardless of the former viciousness of the dog or the owner's knowledge of such viciousness (California Civil Code Section 3342)?

The dog owner is liable regardless of whether or not the dog had ever been vicious before and regardless of whether or not the owner had reason to believe the dog would behave in a vicious manner. The dog does not get "one free bite."

In dog bite cases, it is essential that prompt measures be taken to preserve evidence, investigate the incident in question, and enable physicians and other expert witnesses to thoroughly evaluate all of the victim's injuries.

In the majority of dog bite cases, the law only allows for the injured party to collect damages designed to make him/her "whole"; however, in circumstances where it can be proven that a particular dog had demonstrated vicious behavior in the past, there is a possibility that the victim can also recover "punitive" damages. These are damages designed not for the purpose of making the injured party "whole," but rather to punish the wrongful conduct of a dog owner who knowingly keeps a vicious animal that can cause harm to innocent persons. In the event that punitive damages are warranted, the amount of money that the injured party can recover would be substantially more than in the typical dog bite case.

Click here to review dog bite safety tips.

Continue reading "Oceanside Dog Bite Injuries ~" »

Did you know that California has a strict liability dog bite statute which states that the owner of a dog is liable for damages inflicted by his/her dog if it bites a person who is either in a public place or lawfully in a private place, including on or near the property of the owner of the dog, regardless of the former viciousness of the dog or the owner's knowledge of such viciousness (California Civil Code Section 3342)?

The owner of the dog is liable regardless of whether or not the dog has been vicious before and regardless of whether or not its owner had reason to believe the dog would behave in a vicious manner. The dog is not allowed to have "one bite free."

If you or a loved one has been injured by a dog, it is essential to take prompt measures to preserve evidence, investigate the incident in question, and enable physicians or other expert witnesses to thoroughly evaluate all of the victim's injuries.

In the majority of dog bite cases, the law only allows for the injured party to collect damages designed to make him/her "whole"; however, in circumstances where it can be proven that a particular dog had demonstrated vicious behavior in the past, there is the possibility that the party can also recover what are known as "punitive" damages. These damages are designed not for the purpose of making the injured party "whole," but rather, to punish the wrongful conduct of a dog owner who knowingly keeps a vicious animal which could cause harm to innocent persons. In the event that punitive damages are warranted, the amount of money that the injured party can recover would be substantially more than in the typical dog bite case.

Click here for more information about dog bite safety.

Continue reading "Have You Been Injured In A San Diego Dog Bite Attack?" »

Have you or a loved one been bitten or attacked by an El Centro dog? Enduring a vicious dog bite attack can be extremely traumatic, and may cause severe and long-lasting injuries.

Seek medical treatment promptly. A dog bite may become infected. Therefore, contact a doctor immediately for treatment. If the bite is serious and you or a loved one are in immediate medical distress, it would be wise to call an ambulance or go to the emergency room as soon as possible.

Identify the dog that bit you. Identify the dog that attacked you and obtain the dog owner's contact information. The dog owner is the responsible party in a dog bite situation, and the dog owner's home insurance company is usually the entity that will pay for a dog bite injury claim.

Report the dog bite attack. Report the dog bite attack to the local county animal control agency or sheriff's department. Provide them with information about the dog, including the owner's name and address. If the dog is a stray, describe the appearance of the dog as well as the location of the attack.

Take photos of the dog bite injuries. Take photographs of all visible injuries, including lacerations, punctures, and wounds. Also, take photos of any torn or bloody clothing. If possible, take photographs of the dog itself and the location of where the bite occurred.

If you or a loved one is seriously injured or killed by a dog, you will need an experienced El Centro dog bite attorney to navigate the legal system for you, to ensure your family's financial future and health is kept intact.

Did you know that California has a strict liability dog bite statute? It states that the owner of a dog is liable for damages inflicted by the dog if it bites a person who is either 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. California Civil Code Section 3342.

Therefore, the dog owner is liable regardless of whether the dog had ever been vicious before and regardless of whether the owner had reason to believe it would behave in a vicious manner. The dog doesn't get "one bite free."

In all dog bite cases, it is necessary that prompt measures be taken to preserve evidence, investigate the incident in question, and to enable physicians and other expert witnesses to thoroughly evaluate all injuries.

The majority of dog bite cases only allow that the injured party is able to collect damages designed to make him/her "whole"; however, in circumstances where it can be proven that a particular dog had demonstrated vicious behavior in the past, then there's the possibility that the party can also recover what are known as "punitive" damages. These damages are designed not for the purpose of making the injured party "whole," but rather, to punish the wrongful conduct of the dog owner who knowingly has a vicious animal which could cause harm to innocent people. In the event that punitive damages are warranted, the amount of money the injured party can recover would be substantially more than in the typical case.

Continue reading "Fatal Injuries Due To Dog Bite Attacks ~" »

California has a strict liability dog bite statute which states the owner of a dog is liable for damages inflicted by his/her dog if it bites a person who is either in a public place or lawfully in a private place, including on or near the property of the owner of the dog, regardless of the former viciousness of the dog or the owner's knowledge of such viciousness (California Civil Code Section 3342).

The dog owner is liable regardless of whether or not the dog had ever been vicious before and regardless of whether or not the owner had reason to believe the dog would behave in a vicious manner ~ the dog does not get "one free bite."

In dog bite cases, it is essential that prompt measures be taken to preserve evidence, investigate the attack in question, and enable physicians or other expert witnesses to thoroughly evaluate all of the injuries.

In the majority of dog bite cases, the law only allows for the injured party to collect damages designed to make him/her "whole"; however, in circumstances where it can be proven that a particular dog had demonstrated vicious behavior in the past, there is the possibility that the victim can also recover what are known as "punitive" damages. These damages are designed not for the purpose of making the injured party "whole," but rather, to punish the wrongful conduct of a dog owner who knowingly keeps a vicious animal which could cause harm to innocent persons. In the event that punitive damages are warranted, the amount of money that the injured party can recover would be substantially more than in the typical dog bite case.

Click here to review dog bite safety tips that were previously blogged about.

Continue reading "Injured In An El Centro Dog Bite Attack?" »

It was recently reported by SignOnSanDiego.com that a San Diego woman died on Christmas Eve from complications due to injuries she suffered in a vicious mauling by her neighbor's pit bulls earlier this year.

Seventy-six year old Emako Mendoza lost part of an arm and a leg because of the June attack, which took place when she stepped outside of her home to pick up her morning newspaper.

The County Medical Examiner's Office reported that the death was linked to injuries Mrs. Mendoza suffered in the pit bull mauling. Neighbors Alba Medina Cornelio and her daughter, Carla Ramirez Cornelio, were arrested on June 29, 2011 and each charged with two felony counts of having an animal that caused serious injury, as well as additional misdemeanors.

Prosecutors are also considering additional charges.

Pit Bull Attacks & Legal Rights

Dog bite attacks are unfortunately common with certain breeds of dogs - in particular, pit bulls. These dogs cause serious injuries and attack people, often because of their aggressive nature and the power of their bite. Typically, a pit bull does not bite just once, but continues to attack until its prey succumbs.

California has a strict liability dog bite statute which states that the owner of a dog is liable for injuries inflicted by his/her dog if it bites a person who is either 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 (California Civil Code Section 3342).

The dog owner is strictly liable, regardless of whether the dog had ever bitten before or shown aggressive tendencies. In California, a dog does not get "one bite free."

Continue reading "San Diego Pit Bull Attack Victim Now Deceased ~" »

California has a strict liability dog bite statute which states that the owner of a dog is liable for damages inflicted by his/her dog if it bites a person who is either in a public place or lawfully in a private place, including on or near the property of the owner of the dog, regardless of the former viciousness of the dog or the owner's knowledge of such viciousness (California Civil Code Section 3342).

The dog owner is liable regardless of whether or not the dog had ever been vicious before and regardless of whether or not the owner had reason to believe the dog would behave in a vicious manner ~ the dog does not get "one bite free."

In dog bite cases, it is essential that prompt measures be taken to preserve evidence, investigate the incident in question, and enable physicians or other expert witnesses to thoroughly evaluate all of the injuries.

In the majority of dog bite cases, the law only allows for the injured party to collect damages designed to make him/her "whole"; however, in circumstances where it can be proven that a particular dog had demonstrated vicious behavior in the past, there is the possibility that the party can also recover what are known as "punitive" damages. These damages are designed not for the purpose of making the injured party "whole," but rather, to punish the wrongful conduct of a dog owner who knowingly keeps a vicious animal which could cause harm to innocent persons. In the event that punitive damages are warranted, the amount of money that the injured party can recover would be substantially more than in the typical dog bite case.

Click here to review dog bite safety tips that we previously blogged about.

Continue reading "San Diego Dog Bite Injuries ~" »

Dog bite injuries are unfortunately common with certain breeds of dogs - in particular, pit bulls. These dogs cause serious injuries and attack people, often because of their aggressive nature and the power of their bite. Typically a pit bull does not bite just once, but continues to attack until its prey succumbs.

California has a strict liability dog bite statute that states that the owner of a dog is liable for damages (injuries) inflicted by his/her dog if it bites a person who is either 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 (California Civil Code Section 3342).

The dog owner is strictly liable, regardless of whether the dog had ever bitten before or shown aggressive tendencies. In California, the dog does not get "one bite free."

In all dog bite cases, it is essential that measures be taken promptly to preserve evidence, investigate the incident in question, and to enable physicians or other expert witnesses to thoroughly evaluate all injuries. The injuries should be immediately photographed, in order to document the evidence.

In the majority of dog bite cases, the law only allows for the injured party to collect damages designed to make him/her "whole. However, under circumstances where a relative witnesses the attack on a loved one, the relative may also have a claim for the emotional distress suffered by observing the dog bite attack.

Also, in circumstances where it can be proven that a particular dog had demonstrated vicious behavior in the past, there is a possibility that the party can also recover what are known as "punitive" damages. These damages are designed not for the purpose of making the injured party "whole," but rather, to punish the wrongful conduct of a dog owner who knowingly keeps a vicious animal which could cause harm to innocent persons. In the event that punitive damages are warranted, the amount of money that the injured party can recover would be substantially more than in the typical case.

Continue reading "Injured In A San Diego Dog Bite Attack?" »

10news.com reports that three people in City Heights sustained injuries on Sunday, August 28th, after a pit bull got loose from its chain. The attack occurred at approximately 11:50 a.m. in the 4800 block of Auburn Drive near Euclid Avenue.

Witnesses said that a three-year-old pit bull got loose from its chain, jumped over a low fence, and bit two 6-year-old girls who were playing nearby. One girl was reportedly bitten in the neck, but seemed to be fine. The other girl sustained cuts to her cheek, mouth, chin, arm, and fingers. Some of the cuts required stitches, so she was treated at Rady Children's Hospital.

The father of the less-injured girl, David Powell, was also bitten in the hand while he tried to control the dog. It was reported that he also sought treatment at a local hospital.

The Law Regarding Dog Bites In San Diego

California has a strict liability dog bite statute which states that the owner of a dog is liable for damages inflicted by his/her dog if it bites a person who is either 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. California Civil Code Section 3342.

The dog owner is liable regardless of whether the dog had ever been vicious before and regardless of whether the owner had reason to believe it would behave in a vicious manner. The dog does not get "one bite free," as is the case in other states.

In all dog bite cases, it is essential that measures be taken promptly to preserve evidence, investigate the incident in question, and to enable physicians or other expert witnesses to thoroughly evaluate all injuries.

In the majority of dog bite cases, the law only allows for the injured party to collect damages designed to make him/her "whole"; however, in circumstances where it can be proven that a particular dog had demonstrated vicious behavior in the past, there is the possibility that the party can also recover what are known as "punitive" damages. These damages are designed not for the purpose of making the injured party "whole," but rather, to punish the wrongful conduct of a dog owner who knowingly keeps a vicious animal which could cause harm to innocent persons. In the event that punitive damages are warranted, the amount of money that the injured party can recover would be substantially more than in the typical case.

Continue reading "San Diego Pit Bull Injures Three ~" »

Automobile accidents in the Imperial Valley and surrounding regions occur often, causing serious injuries and death to pedestrians, drivers, and cyclists. Incidents that occur on El Centro roadways may be caused by distracted drivers, drunk drivers, vehicle defects, and/or dangerous road conditions. Negligent drivers who cause accidents may be held financially liable for resultant injuries and deaths that they cause.

The El Centro auto accident lawyers at Kerckhoff Law, APC have represented hundreds of seriously injured victims of Imperial County auto accidents in personal injury claims, including incidents occurring in Imperial, Brawley, Calipatria, Holtville, Seeley, El Centro, Calexico, Heber, Winterhaven, and Mexicali.

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Please contact Kerckhoff Law, APC for a free consultation if you or a family member has been seriously injured or killed in an automobile crash, dog bite, or wrongful death incident.

Continue reading "Looking For An El Centro Attorney?" »

The San Diego Union-Tribune has reported that Emako Mendoza (75 years old) was mauled at her Paradise Hills home by her neighbor's two pit bull dogs.Saturday morning. She was transported to Scripps Mercy Hospital, underwent one leg amputation, and may lose her left arm, according to her husband and authorities.

The dog bite attack occurred at approximately 6:30 a.m. while Mrs. Mendoza was inside the fenced back yard of her home in Paradise Hills. Her husband, Frank Mendoza, was asleep as his wife went to the back yard to get the paper, which she did every morning. He was awakened by the constant ringing sound of his doorbell. He ran outside, found his wife lying bloodied on the ground, and called 9-1-1.

The neighbors' dogs had apparently entered the Mendozas' backyard through a hole in the fence. The put bulls were subsequently surrended to San Diego County Animal Control and euthanized.

Pit Bull Attacks & Legal Rights

Dog bite injuries are unfortunately common with certain breeds of dogs - in particular, pit bulls. These dogs cause serious injuries and attack people, often because of their aggressive nature and the power of their bite. Typically, a pit bull does not bite just once, but continues to attack until its prey succumbs.

California has a strict liability dog bite statute which states that the owner of a dog is liable for damages (injuries) inflicted by his/her dog if it b ites a person who is either 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 (California Civil Code Section 3342).

The dog owner is strictly liable, regardless of whether the dog had ever bitten before or shown aggressive tendencies. In California, a dog does not get "one bite free."

Continue reading "San Diego Woman Attacked By Pit Bulls ~" »

Dog bite injuries are unfortunately common with certain breeds of dogs - in particular, pit bulls. These dogs cause serious injuries and attack people, often because of their aggressive nature and the power of their bite. Typically a pit bull does not bite just once, but continues to attack until its prey succumbs.

California has a strict liability dog bite statute that states that the owner of a dog is liable for damages (injuries) inflicted by his/her dog if it bites a person who is either 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 (California Civil Code Section 3342).

The dog owner is strictly liable, regardless of whether the dog had ever bitten before or shown aggressive tendencies. In California, the dog does not get "one bite free."

In all dog bite cases, it is essential that measures be taken promptly to preserve evidence, investigate the incident in question, and to enable physicians or other expert witnesses to thoroughly evaluate all injuries. The injuries should be immediately photographed, in order to document the evidence.

In the majority of dog bite cases, the law only allows for the injured party to collect damages designed to make him/her "whole. However, under circumstances where a relative witnesses the attack on a loved one, the relative may also have a claim for the emotional distress suffered by observing the dog bite attack.

Also, in circumstances where it can be proven that a particular dog had demonstrated vicious behavior in the past, there is a possibility that the party can also recover what are known as "punitive" damages. These damages are designed not for the purpose of making the injured party "whole," but rather, to punish the wrongful conduct of a dog owner who knowingly keeps a vicious animal which could cause harm to innocent persons. In the event that punitive damages are warranted, the amount of money that the injured party can recover would be substantially more than in the typical case.

Continue reading "Have You Been Injured In A Dog Bite Attack?" »