Home / Practice / Los Angeles Dog Bite Lawyers / Dog Bite Defense, Reducing and Defending Dog Attacks
Out of nowhere, all of a sudden, did an unfamiliar canine charge you with fangs out, snarling, and primed to leap? Joggers, cyclists, and others on foot are always at risk for a dog assault in areas like Goldenwest Street in Huntington Beach, CA. I am injury lawyer, Michael Ehline and I assist dog attack victims and their families.
I am an award-winning dog bite lawyer, inactive U.S. Marine, and self-defense and firearms, expert. I am here today to discuss preventing and fending off dog attacks and dog bite laws from a legal and common sense perspective of one of the best dog bite lawyers in Southern California.
What steps can a dog bite victim or dog owners take to prevent or thwart such a vicious dog attack? There’s a proper and foolish way to handle a dog attack once it starts. The best way to fend off a dog attack is to prevent it from happening at all. So for now we won’t talk about filing a dog bite lawsuit against the animal owner.
Once you are in an impending fear of or perceive an assault, you can stay safer by acting calmly. In some states like Nevada, you can permanently exercise your Second Amendment right to stop a dangerous dog. But this article of written for people living in California, where it is almost impossible for an ordinary taxpayer to obtain a license to carry a firearm. (We can talk about pepper spray, too.). In the end, our personal injury attorneys will also explain how an injured party can hold dog owners liable in a dog bite case by forming an attorney-client relationship if their dog bit you or your child.
Below, our dog bite attorneys will look at some techniques you can use to de-escalate the situation to avoid severe internal injuries, emotional distress, or worse, wrongful death. Attorney Michael Ehline explains everything consumers must know to stay safe from dog mauling while alone or walking their dog.
Off-leash dogs are typically stray dogs and rabid dogs roaming around the neighborhood. These dogs can carry all types of diseases. If you or your minor child is bitten, medical bills and emotional harm can be hard pills to swallow. Hence, preventing these dogs from biting at all costs is the primary objective of using weapons like a gun, brick, baseball bat, or pepper spray.
Number one, never taunt a dog, especially when it is chained up or near the animal’s owner. Invading a leashed dog’s territory may be perceived as a threatening act and should be avoided altogether.
TIP: If the dog is lying down, you should always avoid approaching or bending over the animal.
DANGER!: Teasing or waking a tethered dog from slumber should also be avoided.
Many experts say that pepper spray can be used legally as a form of self-defense against animal attacks. It will irritate the eyes of the violent animal and make it back away. The goal here is time to help you escape its snarling mouth and sharp teeth. My research shows that pepper spray remains legal in all 50 states, with restrictions that vary from state to state.
Bear spray is more potent, but don’t get carried away. Many people think California has outlawed bear spray. You can carry 2.5 ounces of the active product except where prohibited by law. But any kind of pepper spray is capable of repelling most dogs. Capsaicin and other chemical ingredients will irritate the dog’s eyes and skin.
Downsides: The chances of hitting a dog square in the face before it strikes are slim. And if remain downwind, the over-spray can blind you. (It could make a feral dog angrier.)
You can’t just spray a dog, though. This is for self-defense and a last resort. The spray is painful and could incapacitate the dog for several hours, leaving it defenseless and scared. Dog owners can file criminal charges for animal abuse if you are not engaged in lawful self defense. So you must only use pepper spray on dogs once they become aggressive and demonstrate signs of an impending attack. (Ears back, tail down, teeth showing, leaping at you, etc.)
Summary: Using pepper spray on friendly or composed dogs could land you in jail, facing animal cruelty charges.
Yes. Most experts say pepper spray is a great weapon against highly aggressive and larger animals like Pitbull, Rottweilers, or German Shepherd. The failure rate of around 30%-40% of a mace canister can render a weak batch ineffective in halting a dog’s attack. A firearm like a Glock 19 with hollow points will rarely fail. Typically you won’t be able to get a loaded gun in time unless the attack happens on your own private property, however.
You and your loved ones run a high risk of spraying your own dog and rendering them incapable of fighting back or escaping. Even when accurately directed from its small container, mace is a close-in weapon.
Caveat: The safety tab is hard to use under stress. There is no extended barrel with the most convenient paper spray canisters; like a gun. So your finger can block the spray nozzle in a stressful encounter and blowback on you after being diverted by your fingertip. The stream can also blow back into your face depending on the winds.
Ok, so you don’t have a gun or a weapon; now what? It would help if you learned how to decrease the risk of or thwart dog bites when a dog is on the attack to defend yourself and others.
Without Making Eye Contact, Face the Dog and Sternly State, “Get Back!”: If the dog persists in this aggressive behavior, you cannot simply ignore or try and pacify the animal. Confidently say “leave,” “stop,” and “go away,” shoo.”
Defend Against the Attacking Canine Without A Weapon: If you perceive the animal beginning to lunge, this was probably a crescendo that was not instantaneous, assuming you were on foot. With bicyclists, dogs attack out of the blue, and your best option is to rely on speed by trying to outrun the animal and escape the threat over a distance. But these same rules apply. Rule 1 is to try and create distance and not get bitten. So try and arm yourself with a rock, or a stick, use your bike as a shield and bludgeon, etc. If the dog bites you and starts to tear into your ankles, things, etc., you have to fight back, or you could be killed.
Always the Predator, Never the Prey: Start calling for help loudly without screaming or sounding injured or submissive. Never let the beast sense weakness. Punch or kick the dog in the nose or throat. Strike the animal in the back of the head. Keep the dog away from your face and throat! Try and escape, but walk safely, run backward, and face the animal tactically. The rule in dealing with dogs is “always the predator, never the prey.” This strength you show will make the attacking dog or another dog think you are also a predator, to be respected. As you back away, you can seek shelter, hop a fence, find a brick, weapon or escape into a parked car, etc. It’s okay to raise your voice at this point. I expect you to act tough to stay alive.
As noted, try and arm yourself with anything you can find. The Marines have a motto: “One Mind Any Weapon.” Use your mind and find a weapon, any weapon and strike the dog with it for dear life. Find weak spots. The back of his head is thick and capable of hard strikes. Your goal is to weaken his resolve, not make him angrier. As noted, it’s better to arm yourself in advance with mace or pepper spray. If you are allowed to use a gun in California, this is the best defense to stop an attacking dog permanently.
Throw Your Weight Around: Have you ever watched an old UFC fight when a Karate guy takes on a Gracie? A grappler can tie up a boxer or other lunging attackers. Dogs are not grapplers. Think like a wrestler if that makes it easier. Sure, you are already being bitten. Closing the distance and bringing your body weight squarely onto the dog gives you a chance to choke it out. Use your natural hard points, including your shoulders, elbows, or knees or elbows. This is life or death, so you have to become like your enemy. Try and snap the dog’s bones and cut off it’s vision and air supply. Mount the animal’s back and focus on squeezing the ribs and torso so hard the dog cannot breathe as you hold its jaws shut, pull back, and snap its neck. You won’t always be able to avoid clawing, but you can prevent your face and eyes from being gouged out with basic grappling moves.
For Tree Huggers: A more humane way to stop a dog from trying to kill you might be to try straddling the back of the dog using forward pressure on the back of its shoulder area to try to immobilize the animal until someone can help out or the dog tires. Dogs will gas themselves out quickly when stressed and pinned down. If the dog’s owner did file a lawsuit, all he could sue for is the market value of the dog, or its veterinarian bills.
Guard Your Eyes, Face, and Neck: Your throat or that of your loved one is the natural target of a dog’s muzzle. It’s your responsibility to guard it with your life. Stay on your feet or sprawl to remain in a fighting position. Fighting a rabid dog off your back makes your neck and ripe head targets for their jaws and fangs to do their dirty work. Stay on your feet to prevent the dog from killing you earlier.
Methods of Protecting Human Vitals: If you are rendered incapable of defending yourself against dog bite injuries, the fetal position is the best way to protect your vital organs. Rolling onto your stomach, tuck in your knees, and raise your fisted hands to cover your ears, using your forearms to protect your jugular vein.
Caveat: As noted above, do not scream. Never try and roll away. The dog is looking at you as escaping prey. Don’t run off and encourage a more serious injury.
Egress the Attack Scene With Slow Deliberation: Use caution and care after the dog determines you are no longer a threat. Egress slowly away from the attack scene, breathing calmly. This is not easy to do when stressed, but remaining stationary and backing away when safe is the best way to get away and resist more damage.
Summary:
Dog bites are rarely accidents and the cost of being chased and injured remains very high.
If you own a dog, it is yourresponsibility as a prideful dog owner to make sure that your dog does not pose a danger or mauling threat to other individuals or their children.
Following these basic guidelines should help reduce your risk:
If you’ve been hurt, you may want to take legal action against the dog’s owner. Many states have laws holding owners responsible for the actions of their dogs attack you or your dog.
Avoid aggravating a dog. Most dog attacks are the result of insufficient containment of the dog, poor training, or taunting. Unfortunately, the world will never be rid of bad owners, so it is wise to be prepared. Common sense should tell you not to aggravate any kind of animal.
Assume all unknown dogs are threats. In general, the best policy when it comes to dog attacks is to do everything you can to avoid them in the first place. If you see a dog that may be dangerous, stay away.
Treat any wounds: If you are scratched up or bitten, get triaged immediately. Even a scratch from a rabid dog can kill you later after infection. sets in.
If the attacking dog was a stray and no longer fenced on the dog owner’s property, he may harm children and elderly people in the area. By having Animal Control remove the animal, you help protect your community and assure these dog owner’s are held responsible for any damage caused, including life-saving emergency surgery.
Now you will have official documentation and be able to present evidence showing what happened and how. If your friend or relative owns the canine, filing a police report over the damage caused may not be necessary for most states. In addition to the above tips, you can go here to learn more about what you can do to prevent diseases after a dog attack. Our firm’s experienced dog bite lawyer is also available 24/7 to walk you through the process.
Never mess with a sleeping dog or wander near them when they are eating. Especially avoid female dogs caring for their puppies.
Teach your kids the mnemonic: “Never run from a dog, be a tree or a log” in case they ever encounter an aggressive dog.
Move away from howling, aggressive dogs till you are no longer perceived as a territorial threat.
The dangerous animal’s owner may reflect the dog’s angry personality, so be careful. Many people don’t care about dog bite laws or you for that matter. If you are forced to wound or kill an attacking dog, exfiltrate the location immediately and get hold of law enforcement to avoid further serious injury.
Like a human, dogs all have unique personalities. They also have many unpredictable genetic propensities. You must remain alert and be prepared to fight.
If you or your canine seem ill within ten days of being bitten by another animal, you and your dog should be tested for rabies at once. If the dog that attacked you or your dog tests positive, you must be administered a battery of rabies shots.
Wag Late Rule: The “wag late” principle accepts that most dogs wagging their tail are happy and that a dog on the attack will tuck its tail. Wag Late says all dogs are different, so don’t assume a dog attack is certain by a dog not wagging its tail.
Many of these dog attacks result in severe harm or mayhem to individuals and their children. And the physical and emotional scars may remain forever from these onslaughts. First, you need to understand there are many reasons dog attacks occur. But you can reduce your risk of a dog bite using proper precautions.
Many cases like this end up in a law court with multiple parties fighting over who should pay you for your disfigurement, pain, and suffering. No one wins in the end. Education is the first step in having a hassle-free experience with a man’s best friend and a wolf’s descendant.
Whether you are an animal lover or would rather steer clear of people’s pets, being attacked by a dog can be one of the most traumatic experiences of your life. Dog attacks can lead to serious injuries such as painful bites, infections, broken bones, severe lacerations, and lifelong disfigurement. To make matters more complicated, if the dog that attacked you belongs to a neighbor, you may feel anxious about pursuing the compensation you need to recover from your injuries.
You may be entitled to payment for your past and future medical expenses to receive the necessary treatment from a doctor. You may also have a claim for lost income, pain and suffering, and even punitive damages from the attack.
How much compensation you will receive depends on the nature and severity of your losses. The insurance company and the court will review the fact and decide the outcome of each case on its individual merits.
Some of the common types of damages we seek on behalf of dog bite victims include:
Medical Bills: Our lawyers will try and obtain money for the hospital emergency room, future surgeries, follow-up physical therapy, and doctor checkups. We also make negligence claims to recover out-of-pocket costs for prescription pain and antibiotic medication (you may have torn muscles and facial disfigurement) and any other future potential chrges connected to the defendant’s negligence.
Lost Wages: Lost income, including lost contracts, is a compensable loss. You can even recover money if you were forced to use your lost sick leave pay or vacation time. If you can no longer work in your job from your injuries, you can seek compensation for duties you did before, you may also be entitled to payment for diminished earning capacity in the future.
Non-Economic Losses: There are some intangible damages your lawyer can value. These are things besides medical bills and receipts. These include emotional distress and the attendant pain and suffering. In a wrongful death case and extreme cases, you can receive a large award for loss of enjoyment of life, and even post-traumatic stress disorder. This is all something you should be compensated for.
At Ehline Law Firm, our experienced dog attack lawyers can explain your legal rights and being a detailed investigation. When you contact us we will confidentially speak to you. We will discuss the process for pursuing compensation from your negligent neighbor’s homeowner’s insurance policy, even if your were trespassing at the time.
If a neighbor’s dog has attacked you or a family member, please contact our attorneys for a free consultation so we can perform sensitive steps on your behalf. Don’t let the statute of limitations expire to sue in a strict liability case. If you do, the negligent or reckless defendants will avoid liability in civil court. Injured people have to act quickly, or they can waive their rights to receive any compensation as a general rule.
Most people do not think of themselves as the type to sue, and many dog bite cases can be settled without ever having to go to court. Don’t expect insurance companies to roll over and throw money at you. Your lawyer must conduct an investigation, get the evidence of violations of regulations, knowledge of provocation, and manage the claim with your care providers to properly prepare your settlement.
If you were bitten by a dog, you should get a free consultation with a personal injury attorney when:
Are you thinking about suing? Did you know you may even be able to sue a public or private animal shelter for failing to the truth to individuals who adopt shelter dogs that go on to bite.(See Alvarado v. City of Los Angeles.)
Being attacked can cost relationships, and quality of life. Never hesitate to seek wise counsel after you are hit with a dog bite. We may be able to help you file a claim for compensation after being bitten. At Ehline Law Firm Personal Injury Attorneys, APLC, we provide a free consultation with a charismatic, award-winning attorney.
If you were knocked for a loop or masticated by a dog, you deserve to receive expert medical attention. But dog bite victims must immediately consult with a severe injury legal advocate to protect their rights to afford this new, unwanted medical treatment. The initial consultation is risk-free and designed to help a personal injury lawyer investigate the facts to see if you have a viable claim.
Accident victims can also fill out our convenient online contact for an even faster response from a personal injury law legal representative after an animal attack injury caused by a dog. Let our aggressive, highly skilled dog bite lawyers negotiate and strengthen your claim. We can handle any matters with private or public parties before you ruin your case!
Everything will be confidential. Additionally, there is no charge unless we recover a satisfactory settlement in the form of money damages from the dog’s owner or controller. Ehline Law Firm employs the very best Los Angeles personal injury lawyers, and we await your call 24/7 at (213) 596-9642.
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