Reporting a Dog Bite

Why Reporting Dog Bites Is Important for Personal Injury Cases

Reporting a dog bite should be a priority after getting proper medical care for a dog bite injury.

Typically, all animal bites should be reported to the Los Angeles County Center of Veterinary Public Health and Rabies Control except for rodent and rabbit bites. Wild mammal bites, excluding rodent and rabbit bites, to domestic animals should be reported, as well. 

California has a strict code when it comes to the documentation of and penalties for animal bites. Our qualified dog bite attorneys at West Coast Trial Lawyers practice personal injury law and can help you earn maximum compensation for your dog bite case. 

To schedule a free consultation, please contact our 24/7 legal team by calling 213-927-3700 or filling out our quick contact form.

Why Should You Report Dog Bites

Reporting a dog bite to the authorities is not only lawful, but responsible. These rules and regulations were set in place for the protection of the public. Though you may not want to report the dog because you either know the owner or fear what might happen to the animal, it is imperative if you end up suffering damages and want the owner to pay up. 

There are two primary reasons to report dog bites:

• Animal Bite Data. This information is used to help local health authorities record data that is used to predict trends and document domestic pet aggression.
• Rabies Control. When you report an animal bite, you invite the local public health authority to investigate the matter. Your health professional will check for the existence of rabies. Additionally, with the introduction of so many new residents and their pets, there is even more risk of catching it, especially from a sick animal. 

What Happens After You Report a Dog Bite    

After you report a dog bite, a health professional will ask you for details about the situation including the location of where the bite happened, the severity of the bite, the breed of the dog, and the circumstances of the attack. When the animal is located, it is placed in quarantine. Quarantine periods are different depending on the type of animal. However, dogs and cats are generally kept in quarantine for about 10 days. If the offending animal is owned, it can usually be kept in the owner’s home during the quarantine process.     

Just because a report is made does not necessarily mean that the animal is dangerous. Many animals, especially puppies, can playfully bite. If you believe that the offending animal is dangerous, then the report should be made to your local animal control agency. 

Rabies Shots for Dogs

If possible, find out from the dog’s owner if the animal had its rabies shots. Responsible dog owners will have rabies shots, or the rabies vaccine, given to their dogs. It saves both their pet and humans who might be bitten from potentially fatal disease.

Rabies shots for dogs older than three months is also the law in California.

There is no way to test for rabies on a living animal. Animals with rabies usually die within five days after showing clinical signs of being infected. To test an animal for rabies, the animal must already be deceased as the test involves checking their brain tissue. 

West Coast Trial Lawyers Is Here to Help

If you have sustained injuries as a result of a dog bite, our expert dog bite attorneys at West Coast Trial Lawyers can help you recover compensation for the losses you have suffered, including medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, and more.

Contact us today by calling 213-927-3700 or filling out our contact form to schedule a free consultation with our experienced, caring, and compassionate legal team.