Dog bites can result in severe injuries, both physical and emotional, and Southern California is no exception to this unfortunate reality. With its warm climate and outdoor activities, the region sees its fair share of dog-related incidents. If a dog has bitten you, you may wonder what rights you have and what can be done about your injuries. Consider picking up a phone and calling an attorney in California. You may be eligible for compensation related to your injuries. 

Physical Injuries from Dog Bites

• Deep tissue and nerve damage – Dog bites can cause deep tissue damage, leading to lacerations, puncture wounds, and torn muscles. Additionally, the force exerted during a bite can result in nerve damage, causing numbness, tingling, or loss of sensation in the affected area. 

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Slip-and-fall accidents often occur in various locations, but restaurants are particularly prone to such incidents due to the presence of various potential hazards. These accidents can result in serious injuries, leaving people with physical pain, emotional distress, and financial burdens. If you have experienced a slip-and-fall injury in a restaurant, contact an experienced lawyer to obtain the legal assistance you need to pursue a premises liability claim during this difficult time. California law maintains a two-year statute of limitations for slip-and-fall injuries. As a result, injured people should not wait to file a claim, as waiting too long may disqualify them from seeking compensation.

Causes of Slip-and-Fall Accidents in Restaurants 

1. Damp floors – One of the leading causes of slip-and-fall accidents in restaurants is slippery floors. Spills, leaks, and improper cleaning can create hazardous conditions, especially in high-traffic areas such as dining areas, restrooms, and kitchen spaces. Failure to promptly clean up spills or provide adequate warning signs can increase the risk of accidents. Regular inspections, prompt clean-up procedures, and the use of non-slip flooring materials can help prevent such accidents.

2. Uneven or damaged flooring – These risk factors are common in many restaurants' slip-and-fall cases. Cracked tiles and uneven surfaces can lead to trips and falls. Frequent inspections, timely repairs, and proper flooring maintenance can help mitigate this hazard. Additionally, using slip-resistant mats in areas prone to spills or heavy foot traffic can provide an extra layer of protection. 

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Nothing beats splashing in the pool during the summertime, especially with scorching temperatures in California. But in a matter of seconds, a slip and fall injury can occur poolside if you or your children are not careful. Approximately 6,400 children younger than 15 years old are rushed to the emergency room every year after suffering a pool and spa injury. Merely running on the wet cement to get in the pool is dangerous. So how can a slip, trip, and fall at the pool become a premises liability claim?

Private Pool vs. Public Pool

If you sustain an injury at a swimming pool in Los Angeles, it could potentially be considered a premises liability claim. If an injury occurred in a private swimming pool, a lawsuit would be filed against the pool owner and their homeowner's insurance if they have a policy that covers accidents that occur in the swimming pool. These lawsuits seek to show that the owner owed those injured at the pool a duty of care, to keep them safe while on their property but failed to do so. If the injury occurred in a public swimming pool, the claim will be filed against a public entity.

Establishing Negligence in a Premises Liability Claim

Premises liability refers to the legal responsibility of a property owner to maintain safe conditions on their premises. In the context of a swimming pool, the owner or operator of the pool has a duty to exercise reasonable care in order to prevent injuries to individuals using the pool and facility. Here are a few ways in which a swimming pool injury could be considered a premises liability claim:

 Dog attacks - even a single bite - can cause serious bodily harm. The puncture wounds can easily get infected and send you to the hospital. Tendons, ligaments, nerves, and even bones can be severed or damaged, requiring surgery. It is important to seek urgent medical attention after any dog bite to help mitigate these risks. Of course, medical care and the time you spend seeking it are valuable. A dog’s owner can be held liable for injuries caused by the dog. In California, we have what is called the strict liability rule when it comes to dog and other animal bites. This term is easily misunderstood. In order to recover the compensation you deserve after being attacked or bitten by a dog, you may need to enlist a skilled attorney. 

Does “Strict Liability” Mean the Dog Owner is Liable No Matter What?

Not quite. What “strict liability” actually means is that the dog owner cannot defend themselves by arguing that they had no idea their dog was aggressive and would bite. Even if the dog that bit you had never so much as growled at anyone before, let alone bitten someone in the past, the owner can be held liable to a bite victim. 

Without the strict liability rule, a bite victim would have to prove that the owner knew their dog was dangerous. This would potentially give owners of aggressive dogs a “get out of liability free” card for their dog’s first attack. Not only would that leave innocent bite victims without compensation, it would also increase the risk that the dog could be put into a position where it might attack another victim.