Suffering a San Diego County dog bite is often very stressful. The victim is often unsure of the best way to get medical care for the wound if they are required to report the dog bite and what could result from filing that report. While these are all valid concerns, your priority should always be the health and safety of the dog bite victim and anyone else in the area who could be harmed if the dog becomes aggressive. If you fear the dog could bite others, call 911 immediately and keep everyone away from the animal.
In addition, if the victim suffered severe injuries and there is significant bleeding, call 911 for emergency medical care. It can also be wise to call 911 if you are the dog bite victim and there is no one with you to render first aid. In addition, even if you think the injury from the dog bite is minimal, seek medical care to evaluate and treat the injury to prevent the risk of a severe infection. After the victim has received necessary medical care, it is vital to note that you must report the dog bite incident to San Diego County animal control services. They can be reached at 619-236-2341 24 hours a day. You can also contact the following locations, based on the city or area where your dog bite injuries occurred:
- Camp Pendleton Animal Shelter can be reached at (760) 725-8120 and covers incidents on Camp Pendleton
- San Diego Humane Society Oceanside Location can be contacted at (619) 299-7012 (Ext. 2854) and serves Cardiff, Carlsbad, Del Mar, South Del Mar, Encinitas, Oceanside, Solana Beach, and Vista
- The County of San Diego Department Of Animal Services Carlsbad location can be reached at (619) 767-2675 for dog bites in Aguanga, Bonsall, Borrego Springs, Fallbrook, Julian, Pala, Palomar Mountain, and Pauma Valley. Ramona, Ranchita, Rancho Santa Fe, San Onofre, Santa Ysabel, Valley Center, Warner Springs
- San Diego Humane Society Escondido Location can be contacted at (619) 299-7012 to report a dog bite in Escondido, Poway, San Marcos, Vista, Rancho Bernardo, and Rancho Penasquitos
- The San Diego Humane Society San Diego office can be contacted at (619) 299-7012 and serves the 32nd St. Naval Station, Balboa Naval Hospital, Clairemont, College, Del Cerro, Downtown San Diego, East San Diego, Encanto, Golden Hill, Hillcrest, Imperial Beach, La Jolla, Linda Vista, Logan Heights, Mira Mesa, Miramar Air Station, Mission Valley, Nestor, Normal Heights, North Park, Ocean Beach, Old Town, Pacific Beach, Paradise Hills, Point Loma, San Carlos, San Ysidro, Santee, Scripps Ranch. Serra Mesa, Sorrento Valley, Tierrasanta, and University City
- La Mesa Animal Control can be contacted at (619) 667-7536 to take a report for a dog bite in La Mesa
- El Cajon Animal Control can be reached by calling (619) 441-1580 to report a dog bite incident in El Cajon
- Coronado Animal Services can be contacted at (619) 522-7350 to report a dog bite in Coronado and North Island
- County of San Diego Department Of Animal Control Services Bonita Location can be reached at (619) 767-2675 and serves the communities of Alpine, Bonita, Boulevard, Campo, Descanso, Dulzura, Guatay, Jacumba, Jamul, Lakeside, Mount Laguna, Pine Valley, Portero, Spring Valley, and Tecate
- Chula Vista Animal Care Facility is reachable at (619) 691-5123 and provides service for dog bite victims reporting an incident in Chula Vista and Lemon Grove
- National City Animal Control can be contacted at (619) 336-4478 to report a dog bite that occurred in National City
If you have any questions or concerns about where or how to report your San Diego County dog bite, please contact Normandie Law Firm. Our staff can be reached 24/7 to help you understand what is required after suffering a dog bite in San Diego County, your rights as a dog bite victim, and how our expert dog bite lawyers can assist you. In addition, we offer you a free consultation to discuss your case in more detail with a San Diego dog bite lawyer if you want to know more about filing a lawsuit to seek compensation for your losses and harm caused by the dog bite incident.
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Vital Information About Dog Bites
Dog bites occur daily in the communities of San Diego County. Some incidents involve dogs that the victims know, while others are bitten by strays or a stranger’s dog. But all of these incidents must be recorded and documented for your safety and the safety of others. Even if the bite did not result in a severe injury, it could pose a health concern if the wound becomes infected.
Many people are unaware that all dogs, even those in perfect health, carry bacteria in their saliva that is harmful to humans. When a dog’s tooth breaks the outer layer of your skin and contaminates the wound with saliva, you could suffer one of many serious infections, including rabies, strep, staph, or cellulitis. Properly cleaning the wound and then seeking a medical evaluation and treatment is the best way to avoid what could be a painful and costly illness.
Proper Dog Bite First Aid
Cleaning any dog bite wound is critical to reduce the possibility of a painful and life-threatening infection. If the wound is not bleeding excessively or is severe, you can clean the area and cover it until you can seek a medical evaluation. To prevent an increased risk of infection:
- The wound should be flushed with warm water for five to ten minutes
- Carefully wash the wound with mild soap and warm water
- Use gentle pressure and a clean bandage to stop any bleeding
- Cover the wound with antibiotic cream and a clean bandage
- Watch for signs of infection that could include running a fever, increased pain, swelling or redness around the wound, or other changes in appearance or color of the area – if these indications of infection appear, seek emergency medical care immediately
Gathering Critical Information You Might Need
Unfortunately, many dog bite victims face costly medical bills and lost wages after they are injured. In some cases, they even know the owner of the dog that bit them but cannot get that person to take financial responsibility for their dog’s actions. The only option at that point is to pursue legal action, which can pose some challenges if you have not gathered vital information that can be shared with your legal team at Normandie Law Firm.
To ensure you are prepared for the worst, you should:
- Take pictures of the dog bite and any other injuries suffered due to the incident as quickly as possible after you are hurt
- Make a list of other pain or discomfort you suffer, such as a headache, neck pain, or back stiffness that could be indications of further injuries
- Make a list of witnesses, their contact information, and a brief statement if possible
- Take pictures of the dog or write a detailed description including the size, breed, and color of the dog as well as any identifying items or marks like a collar, tags, damaged ear, scars, or distinctive markings
- List the name, address, and contact information of the owner if possible
- Keep copies of all medical records related to the treatment of the dog bite wound and other injuries from the incident, receipts for expenses related to your treatment, documentation for work you missed because of the injuries, or for medical appointments
Who Will Pay For My Expenses?
California is a strict liability state concerning dog bites. That means the dog’s owner is almost always financially liable for any harm or damage caused by the dog in a public area or on private property. As long as the victim is legally on the property and is not harming or abusing the dog, the owner will be obligated to pay any expenses caused by a dog bite. Please contact Normandie Law Firm to relate the facts of your dog bite incident to our legal team if you have any questions about who should pay your medical bills related to a dog bite.
What Is The Value Of A San Diego County Dog Bite?
Your lawsuit case value will be determined by compiling and evaluating all your losses and expenses caused by the dog bite and other injuries during the incident. Some of the common categories our legal team will examine include:
- All current and estimated future medical costs
- Your lost income or wages
- The cost to replace any damaged personal property
- Your legal expenses
- In some cases, compensation for your pain and suffering
- Understanding The Timeline For A Dog Bite Lawsuit
As the victim of a dog bite in San Diego County, you have two years from the date of the incident to file your claim with the court. If you do not have the case submitted in that time, you will lose the right to take legal action against the dog owner. Once the case is filed, the time to complete it will vary based on the defendant’s actions and the court’s workload. Please contact our dog bite lawyers for more specifics related to the facts of your case.
No Upfront Legal Expenses
When you hire Normandie Law Firm to handle your dog bite lawsuit, we never require any upfront payment. Our firm only gets paid after the case is resolved, and you have the compensation needed to cover all your expenses. And you owe us nothing if we fail to win your case and deliver that money. Please contact Normandie Law Firm today to request your free consultation.
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