Month: April 2025

The frequency of dog bites is on the rise in San Diego and across the nation. Dog ownership has steadily increased for decades, and with the onset of the pandemic, more people started working from home, resulting in a surge in the number of households with canine companions. With more dogs in your neighborhood than ever before, your chances of being bitten or otherwise injured because of a dog are higher than ever.

Injuries from dog bites and other canine encounters can result in major expenses. But before you let the dog owner or their insurance company simply write you a check to cover your doctor or emergency room visit, think twice. Further complications from your injury may arise down the road along with additional medical bills, lost wages, and more. Your best option is to talk to an experienced dog bite lawyer like those at Mova Law Group – Personal Injury Attorneys. We know what to watch out for and how to negotiate the best deal to ensure all your damages are covered.

Dog Bite Injury Statistics for San Diego and Beyond

Every year, 4.7 million dog bite injuries are reported across the United States, and likely many more go unreported. Not all injuries from dog bites are serious, but many are, and this can be especially true for children who make up more than 50% of dog bite victims. Nearly 1 in 5 dog bites becomes infected, requiring additional medical care beyond the initial visit with a doctor. According to the Centers for Disease Control, deadly canine attacks have doubled over the past decade. Disfigurement is also a risk; in 2018 alone, 27,000 people required reconstructive surgery because of dog bites.

Emergency rooms in California serve 60,000 patients every year due to injuries caused by encounters with dogs and 87% of those are dog bites. In San Diego county, where there are an estimated 500,000 dogs, about 2,500 dog bites are reported annually to the California Department of Public Health, but given that not all cities meet reporting requirements, the true number of bites is certainly much higher.

How Much Money Could I Get for My Dog Bite Injury?

The cost to dog owners and their insurers has been steadily climbing. In 2010, the cost of a dog bite related hospital stay exceeded $18,000 on average, fully 50% higher than the average cost for other injury related stays. According to the Insurance Information Institute, the average payout on claims for dog-related incidents rose 82.5% from 2014 to 2023. This increase is the result of rising medical costs as well as larger settlements, awards, and judgments given to plaintiffs in dog-related injury cases, resulting in a staggering $1.12 billion in payouts by homeowners insurers for these claims in 2023.

The monetary losses for dog attack victims is massive, with a reported $2 billion in monetary losses annually. If you or a loved one has been the victim of a dog bite, the losses you experience could include medical bills, lost wages, and reduced earning capacity. Non-monetary costs may include things like pain and suffering and loss of self-esteem due to disfigurement or impaired physical ability. And in the unfortunate case that a dog bite causes death, the costs are truly catastrophic.

Every dog bite and dog-related injury is unique, and the circumstances of the accident determine liability and the potential for compensation. Whether or not you have a case for monetary damages will depend on several factors, which is why you should speak with a personal injury lawyer who specializes in dog bites to find out what your legal options are.

Should I Accept a Cash Settlement from the Dog Owner’s Insurance Company?

Many homeowners and renters insurance policies cover damage caused by the policy holder’s dog even if the incident occurs away from their home. If you are injured by a dog, you may very well be contacted by the insurance company with a settlement offer. One very important thing for you to know is that settlements are offered with the intention of making future lawsuits go away. Their offer may provide some initial financial relief and you may be tempted to take the quick money.

But remember this: some injuries that seem relatively minor at first can become more painful and costly down the road as additional symptoms and complications become apparent. When you accept a settlement, you are forfeiting your right to any further compensation later, even if later you need surgery, physical therapy, medication, or have other expenses related to your injury.

If you’re being offered money, it’s because the insurance company doesn’t want to be on the hook for future expenses you may incur. If you are contacted by an insurer, the best course of action is to let a knowledgeable dog bite lawyer like those at Mova Law Group – Personal Injury Attorneys speak with them. Injury victims sometimes inadvertently say things that make it harder for us to get them the compensation they deserve. Don’t accept a settlement. Don’t even take the phone call. We are experienced in negotiating with insurers on behalf of our clients and we think long-term about the expenses you may have to deal with months and even years after an injury occurs.

Is the Owner Always Liable for Damages Caused by Their Dog?

To prove to the insurance company or the court that you are entitled to money for your damages, you will need to prove that your injuries were caused by the dog. Unlike with other personal injury cases which require you to prove negligence, in California dog bites fall under something called “strict liability.” This means the dog owner is responsible for injuries caused by the dog bite, regardless of whether there was negligence or the owner knew or should have known their dog was aggressive.

Note, however, that strict liability does not automatically apply if you are hurt because a dog ran into you and knocked you over or its leash wrapped around your legs causing you to twist or fall. Similarly, if you were trespassing or you intentionally provoked the dog, the owner may not be liable. Whatever the circumstances, consult with an experienced personal injury attorney for guidance on how to proceed with your case.

How Can I Make Sure I Receive Fair Compensation for My Dog Related Injury?

There are several important steps you should take immediately after an encounter with a dog that has caused injury, no matter how minor.

First, ensure everyone’s safety by getting away from the dog. Once the dog is secure, exchange contact information with the dog owner and get the contact information of any witnesses as well.

If the injury is severe, call 911. Seek immediate medical attention, even if you think you feel fine or the skin isn’t broken. Some injuries take a few hours or days to appear such as bruises and pulled muscles and ligaments. There could be secondary injuries such as a blow to the head, and symptoms of a concussion don’t always manifest right away. Sometimes going into shock can keep you from realizing you’ve been injured and the pain comes later, so see a doctor as soon as possible after the incident.

After you have received medical care, contact animal control or the police department to make a report. You’ll be asked to provide medical documentation for your injuries. The San Diego dog bite report form also collects information about when and where the incident took place, contact information for the dog’s owner, and various details about the dog such as size, breed, color, age, and whether or not it was on a leash, so be prepared to provide this information.

When Should I Call a Personal Injury Attorney After a Dog Bite?

Contact a personal injury lawyer as soon as possible, even before you file an official report with the city or county. Everything you say about the incident will be seen by the insurance company (or a jury if it goes that far), and you never know what you will say that might unintentionally undermine your case. And again, it is advisable that you let your attorney speak to any insurance company that reaches out to you regarding the incident.

The lawyers at Mova Law Group – Personal Injury Attorneys are very experienced in negotiating with insurance companies to help our clients get the compensation they deserve, keeping in mind that medical and other expenses can unexpectedly snowball weeks and months after an accident. Please call us before you attempt to talk to an insurer on your own. We can help you get the money you need to make you whole after a serious dog bite injury.

You may be surprised to learn that the city of San Diego just approved nearly $13 million in settlement payouts to victims impacted by incidents that resulted in several personal injuries and other damages. A common misconception is that it’s fruitless to pursue a lawsuit against a city, county, school, or any other public entity because “you can’t fight city hall,” as the saying goes. Yes, government entities have deep pockets and big legal teams, but they’re not invincible, and when they’re responsible for a personal injury or wrongful death, they need to pay.

What Kinds of Claims Were Filed Against the City of San Diego?

The vast majority of the March 2025 settlement payouts went to people affected by a 2023 sewage spill in San Diego Bay. But other settlements went to individuals for damages like those people suffer from every day but aren’t sure they can get compensation for. One case involved a woman who was hit by a city truck and suffered a traumatic brain injury as a result. She was awarded $200,000.

The city also awarded $450,000 to a woman who made a U-turn and collided with a police car. What makes this case particularly interesting is that the police car had its lights and sirens on and was traveling faster than the speed limit. Many people believe that when a police car has its lights on and sirens blaring, any collision is automatically the fault of the civilian driver, but that’s not always the case. A knowledgeable personal injury lawyer like those at Mova Law Group – Personal Injury Attorneys can collect witness statements and work with accident reconstruction experts to reveal whether there was actually fault on the part of the law enforcement officer and therefore compensation due to the injured party.

Another case involving San Diego police resulted in an $85,000 settlement to the family of a child who sustained a bite from a police dog. While we support our law enforcement personnel, they’re not perfect, and sometimes their negligence–whether willful or not–causes harm. In these cases, the victim may be entitled to monetary damages because of their injuries.

A Shocking Wrongful Death Case Involving Negligence by the San Diego Police Department

The second largest settlement payout from the city went to a family of a mother and daughter who died in a car crash. What makes this case particularly interesting is that the collision was not with a city vehicle or employee, but with a driver who intentionally drove recklessly after police had been made aware of his dangerous mental state but failed to take action.

In this very high-profile case from 2018, the parents of Trevor Heitmann called 911 and asked for police to evaluate their son because he was acting “manic” and had threatened to drive his McLaren sports car on the wrong side of the freeway to prove he could do so without getting hurt.

When the police arrived, they said because he was 18 he would have needed to call them himself, or he would have needed to be “gravely disabled” or have made a “credible threat against somebody or be harmful to himself.” The officers did not feel the situation warranted intervention and they refused to speak to or evaluate Trevor despite the parents’ desperate appeals for help.

Shortly after the officers left, Trevor got in his car and drove the wrong way on Interstate 805 at speeds exceeding 100 mph. He collided with an SUV driven by Aileen Pizarro and her 12-year-old daughter Aryana. All three people were killed.

As a result of this tragedy, the city not only agreed to pay $6.125 million to the Pizarro family, but also committed to amend San Diego Police policy regarding mental health calls. While no amount of money can compensate for the loss of a loved one, the claim made by the Pizarro family against the city resulted in policy change that may save lives in the future.

How to File a Lawsuit Against the City of San Diego

The California Claims Act (formerly known as the Tort Claims Act) governs how claims can be made against a government entity, including the procedures that must be followed and the deadlines that must be met. Before you get to the point of filing a lawsuit, you must first submit a claim to the city within 6 months of the incident or accident. This timeline is significantly shorter than the 2 years allowed for filing other personal injury and wrongful death claims in California. This deadline is hard and fast, so if you miss it, you forfeit your right to go after any monetary compensation for your damages later.

While filling out a claim form on the city website may seem straightforward, it’s advisable to do so with the guidance of an experienced personal injury lawyer like those at Mova Law Group – Personal Injury Attorneys. Calfornia cities like San Diego have something called “sovereign immunity” which means they are generally shielded from liability unless specific conditions are met, including negligence. Proving negligence can be difficult, and that’s why letting your personal injury attorney guide you through the process is the best way to ensure your legal rights are protected and you receive monetary compensation for your damages.

If the city fails to respond to your claim within 45 days or if they reject your claim, you have the right to file a lawsuit, and you should do that only with the help of a qualified personal injury lawyer. If the city responds by offering a settlement, please consult an attorney before you accept it. Remember that once you accept a monetary settlement, you give up your right to further money, even if your medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering continue or increase in the future. Initial settlement offers are designed to make the case go away quickly, but you may have injury-related expenses down the line, so think twice and consult an attorney before you accept the settlement and sign away your future rights.

Get Your Legal Advice from a Personal Injury Lawyer with the Right Experience

Not long ago a friend shared a story about when her mother tripped on a city sidewalk. She was walking to her car after dark where the city lights were functional but insufficient to see a nearly 3-inch-high ledge from a crack created by tree roots breaking the concrete. She tripped and fell, landing hard on both knees. An attorney told her there was “no point” in filing a lawsuit against the city because municipalities have huge budgets to fight in court and they “always win,” and because she had pre-existing issues with her knees, she believed the attorney who told her she didn’t have a case. The knee surgery she thought she might need 5 to 10 years down the road became urgent in order to relieve the excruciating daily pain and severely impaired mobility. She got bad advice from that attorney and lived with unnecessary pain as a result. On top of that, the city was not made aware of her injury and so had no incentive to fix the hazard (which they should have fixed anyway). Had she called the team at Mova Law Group – Personal Injury Attorneys, we would have listened to the details of the incident and may very well have given her different advice.

The lawyers at Mova Law Group – Personal Injury Attorneys have expertise in fighting for their clients rights against cities, counties, and other public and government entities. If you or a family member has been injured on public property or because of the actions or negligence of government personnel, contact us to discuss your case and explore your options.