Dog Bites and Attacks

3 Crucial Facts About Rabies

A dog bite can cause a lot of damage on its own, but if there is no immediate danger to the life of the person attacked, then the number one concern becomes rabies. Here are three facts you need to know about this deadly disease in order to protect yourself.

• Rabies Still Exists in the United States – Some people think of this as a third-world disease. It is true that 95% of rabies death happen in poorer nations in Asia or Africa. However, this is not because rabies has been eradicated from the US. Rather, it is because treatment is readily accessible. If you are bitten in any state other than Hawaii, rabies is a concern (Hawaii was rabies-free as of the writing of this article).
• Foaming at the Mouth Is Not As Common As You Think – Most people believe that the way to know a dog has rabies is to see it foaming at the mouth. However, this doesn’t happen in all cases. Rabies generally causes the animal to exhibit flu-like symptoms.
• You Have to Be Treated Before Symptoms Arise – This is the scary part about rabies. If you start showing symptoms, it is too late for treatment. If you cannot be 100% certain the dog was properly vaccinated, a doctor is going to treat a dog bite patient for rabies just to be safe.

San Diego’s Dog Bite Lawyers

Rabies treatment and other emergency medical care can get expensive in the wake of a dog attack. Petrov Law Firm can help you to recoup those losses. Contact us today at 619.344.0360 to learn more.

5 Ways You May Accidentally Antagonize a Dog

Dog attacks are common, and if you want to avoid bites, you need to be careful, especially with a dog you have never met before. Here are a few ways in which you may unintentionally cause a dog to get his hackles up (literally).

• Raising your voice – Yelling makes a dog anxious. It doesn’t matter if you are yelling at the dog, the owner, or even just excited about what you are saying. Be cautious about raising your voice around a dog.
• Touching its face – This isn’t true of all dogs, but many dogs do not like to have their face touched. Stick to the neck or shoulders unless you know the dog well.
• Challenging eye contact – Eye contact is for communication within the pack. A stranger holding eye contact may be viewed as a threat.
• Wearing strong scents – Dogs have sensitive noses and dislike strong odors. A strong perfume or even deodorant may put a dog off.
• Your mood – Dogs are very sensitive to the moods of humans – If you are angry or even sad, it can make a dog feel stressed. If you are not in a good mood, it is best to avoid meeting a new dog.

If You Have Been Injured By Someone’s Dog

Petrov Law Firm specializes in dog attacks in California. If you have experienced an injury that was no fault of your own, we can help you to seek compensation for medical bills and other losses. Call 619.344.0360 to get the process started.

Common Reasons for Personal Injury Settlements in Southern California

There are many ways in which the negligence of a person or entity can result in injury to someone. If you have experienced such a personal injury, you are far from alone. What types of injuries may result in a personal injury settlement? Here are a few of the most common situations that arise in southern California.

• Motor vehicle accidents – These can include car accidents, motorcycle accidents, accidents with trucks, and cyclist or pedestrian injuries. The car insurance of the at-fault party should handle the claim, although sometimes there is shared fault involved.
• Slip and fall accidents – Whether it happens in a store or on the sidewalk, someone may be responsible for the situation that led to the slip or trip. If the injury was caused by a public entity (i.e., you were injured on government property), time is of the essence because you only have six months for the time of the injury to make your claim.
• Dog bites – Unless you were trespassing on private property or committing some other type of crime, a dog bite is just about always the fault of the owner. Fortunately, homeowners, renters, and other forms of insurance often cover this type of injury.

Of course, injuries can occur in many other ways. There are work injuries, product defects, medical malpractice, assault, and other common issues that lead to personal harm.

Get Help Making Your Personal Injury Claim in San Diego

There are varying personal injury laws from state to state. If you have been injured in southern California, Petrov Law Firm can help. Call 619.344.0360 today to speak with an experienced personal injury attorney.

Owners Are Almost Always Liable for Dog Bites in California

If you have been injured by a dog in the state of California, you are likely to receive compensation. This should be covered by the owner’s home or rental insurance. Either way, there are only a few requirements that you have to meet in order to seek compensation for your losses.

• A dog bite caused the damages
• And you were bitten while in public
• Or you were bitten on private property, but you were there legally

Really, the only time an owner would not be liable for the damages caused by their dog biting a person would be for an unlawful trespasser. Whether you are a welcome guest, a delivery person, or just someone passing by on the street, it is up to the owner to have their dog under control.

What recourse do you have if you have been injured by a dog and the expenses are piling up? If you live in southern California, we can help!

Southern California’s Dog Bite Attorneys

At Petrov Law Firm in San Diego, we specialize in helping dog bite victims to receive just compensation. Don’t let the insurance company tell you what you deserve. They are just trying to run a business – they don’t care about your losses. We are here to help ensure you are compensated for medical bills, missed days of work, and other damages like these. Just call 619.344.0360 today and speak with a personal injury lawyer to get your case started.

Filing a Claim When Another Dog Bites Your Dog

If a dog attacks you, a personal injury claim can allow you to receive compensation for your medical bills and other losses. However, what if it is your dog that is attacked by someone else’s dog? Now the claim changes from personal injury to property damage. Even though your dog feels like part of the family, it is property for legal purposes.

That does mean that you may still be entitled to damages. For example, there may be expensive medical bills for your beloved pet. According to California, you need to be compensated for all damages that result from dog attacks.

Unfortunately, property damage claims do not include pain and suffering as a personal injury case would. For example, if your dog is permanently injured, you may receive compensation for future medical care. However, you won’t be compensated for the hardship your pet may face if it should experience lasting harm (for example, the loss of a limb).

Dog Bite Injury Attorneys in Southern California

If you or a family member has been injured by someone else’s dog, Petrov Law Firm is here to help. And while we specialize in personal injury cases, if your family pet stepped in to try and save and the day and experienced harm, you should receive compensation for veterinary bills as well.

Give us a call today at 619.344.0360, so we can discuss the particulars of your case. Our experienced attorneys are just who you want in your corner when seeking compensation from an insurance company.

Dog Bite Prevention for Delivery Persons

Delivery persons have always been a target for dog attacks, and with more deliveries than ever before, thanks to the pandemic, you need to know how to stay safe. Whether you are a long-time delivery person or starting a new job, here are some tips to help.

• Don’t make deliveries with headphones on – We understand that music can help the day go faster, but stick to listening while in the truck. When you are approaching a door, you need to be aware of your surroundings.
• Be wary of interactions with the owner – Handing a package to the owner in the presence of a dog may be seen as an aggressive act. Be careful not to make any sudden moves toward a pet owner in the presence of the animal. Plus, during the pandemic, you want to keep your distance anyway.
• Don’t try to interact with the dog – Even if a dog seems friendly, that may change when you make an approach. Even if you really like dogs, it is best not to try and pet dogs you meet on your route.
• Back away – If a dog seems threatened, don’t turn your back on it. It is always best to back away. If you feel it is not safe to make a delivery, you can report it.

Help for Victims of Dog Bites in California

If you do end up experiencing a dog bite, medical bills, missed workdays, and other expenses can add up quickly. Petrov Law Firm can help you to receive the settlement you deserve from the owner’s insurance. Contact us today at 619.344.0360 to learn more.

6-Year-Old Boy Recovers After Saving His Sister from a Dog

You may have heard the reports last summer of a 6-year-old boy in Cheyenne, Wyoming, who became a hero when he protected his sister from a German shepherd. In the boy’s own words, he just put himself between the dog and his sister and kept moving to keep himself in between. Unfortunately, the dog eventually attacked, biting the young boy’s face.

Fortunately, Bridger is recovering well and recently thanked doctors and nurses in a heart-warming video on the news. Just a word of caution before you go and try to find the video – Bridger’s injuries from the attack were extensive, and seeing the before and after (including 90 stitches) will be disturbing for most people.

The fact is that dog attacks occur every day, and many children don’t have a hero like young Bridger to take the bite for them. Since a child’s face is often at bite level for dogs, injuries are far more severe than when a dog attacks an adult. This leads to extensive medical bills. If you or a loved one has been injured in a dog attack, you may wonder how you will be able to pay for the mounting medical expenses. If you live in California, Petrov Law Firm can help.

Dog Bite Attorneys in San Diego

If you are in need of an attorney to help your family maximize your dog bite settlement in California, Petrov Law Firm is here for you. Get in touch with an experienced attorney today by calling 619.344.0360.

Are Dog Bites Covered By Rental Insurance?

If you are bit by someone else’s dog, your medical expenses and other losses should be covered by that person’s homeowner’s insurance (unless you were trespassing or provoking the attack). However, more and more people are renting instead of owning the place in which they live. So if the owner of the dog has renter’s insurance, will that cover your losses? Here is what you need to know.

According to the CDC, there are more than four million dog bites that occur each year in the United States. The Insurance Information Institute provides another revealing fact. When the attack is covered by insurance, the average payout is more than $40,000. It is important to realize that only about 20% of people who are attacked by a dog require medical care. So most of the time, there are no significant losses incurred.

As far as renter’s insurance is concerned, it should cover a dog bite, just as homeowner’s insurance would. However, it is up to the owner to know what the policy covers. Some policies do not cover larger dogs (which are likely to do more damage), or they may exclude certain breeds.

Getting the Help You Need Following a Dog Attack

If the owner of the dog is liable for the attack, you may be due compensation for medical bills, missed workdays, emotional distress, and more. However, whether the owner is insured or not, you need the help of a personal injury attorney. If you live in southern California, then Petrov Law Firm can help. Call us today at 619.344.0360 to get your case started.

The Most Crucial Information to Share with Your Personal Injury Attorney

A personal injury case involves damages due to negligence or intent of an individual, property owner, dog owner, or the like. You may experience a car accident, a slip and fall, a bite, or some other type of injury that leads to material loss. Here are some crucial pieces of information that your personal injury attorney will need in order to maximize your settlement.

• How it happened – If the injury was your own fault, it is unlikely you are due any compensation. However, if an individual, business, or public entity was responsible, then you should be able to receive compensation.
• Proof of the damages – Did you fill out an accident report, take pictures of the scene, or are there any eyewitnesses to the event? The more evidence you have, the more likely it is that an appropriate settlement can be reached.
• Direct and indirect losses – You can’t sue if you didn’t lose anything. Losses include medical bills, missed days of work, lack of ability to work, emotional turmoil, and the like. Be sure to track all of your medical expenses, regardless of whether something was covered by insurance or not.

Finding the Best Personal Injury Lawyers in San Diego

Petrov Law Firm is here to help you with your California personal injury case. Contact us right away to get your settlement as soon as possible. Just call 619.344.0360 today and schedule a consultation to see if you are eligible to receive compensation.

Why Don’t Dogs Like Me?

Are you the type of person who would love to pet every dog you pass on the sidewalk, but you can’t because they always seem to get aggressive with you on sight? Here are a few things that may be at the root of the problem if most dogs are immediately on guard in your presence.

• Your voice – Dogs care more about the tone of your voice than the actual words you are using. They interpret high-pitched voices as happy but may have a negative reaction to a deeper voice, which comes across as angry.
• Your actions – Dogs feel threatened when you hold their gaze for too long or when you lean in over them.
• Your interaction with the owner – Dogs seem to be able to recognize if you have a pleasant interaction with their owner or if you are perceived as rude. The dog is always going to side with their owner, so start by greeting them with a big smile.
• Your scent – If you smell like a dog they don’t know (perhaps because you have a dog at home or were just petting another dog), that can put a canine on edge.
• The dog’s history – If a dog has been abused, anyone who reminds them of the abuser will cause instant anxiety. If the abuser was a male, the dog might be wary around any unknown man.

If You Have Been Injured By a Dog Bite

Sometimes a dog will become so agitated that it attacks despite being unprovoked. If this has happened to you, the owner’s insurance should cover your medical expenses or other losses. Contact Petrov Law Firm today to get the assistance that you need by calling 619.344.0360.