Dog bites are an unfortunate reality for the thousands of UPS drivers, Amazon couriers, FedEx employees, and other delivery persons working in the Los Angeles area. As these workers lawfully enter private property to drop off parcels and mail, hidden dogs sometimes attack.
California’s strict liability laws ensure recourse against negligent dog owners when their animals harm package delivery personnel. However, lawsuit remedies seldom provide comfort for the physical pain and emotional trauma inflicted by vicious dog bites.
Our firm has seen the damaging aftermath of delivery drivers who fell victim to unrestrained pets allowed to roam off-leash. Contact our office immediately if you or a colleague have suffered a dog bite while delivering packages in the Los Angeles area.
California operates under strict liability statutes regarding dog bites. The State holds dog owners liable for a package courier’s bodily injuries, regardless of any presumed negligence or even if the injured person provoked the animal in some way.
According to California Civil Code section 3342 (Cal. Civ. Code § 3342), “the owner of any dog is liable for the damages suffered by any person who is bitten by the dog while in a public place or lawfully in a private place.”
By law, Amazon, UPS, and FedEx delivery employees hold invitee rights to enter a property when performing their job duties. So, if an animal attacks them, state strict liability applies. Home and business owners with free-roaming dogs are legally responsible for restraining pets under the Code and should regularly anticipate visits from package delivery staff and couriers.
When dog owners breach this duty of care – such as letting dogs wander unleashed near mailboxes or doorsteps – Cal. Civ. Code § 3342 liability may activate automatically.
State workers’ compensation insurance covers package couriers who suffer dog bites while performing their duties. Under California labor codes, a dog bite incident is an occupational hazard for UPS, FedEx, Amazon employees, and other persons who require access to another person’s land to conduct company business.
Worker’s compensation is a no-fault type of insurance covering medical expenses, temporary disability wages, permanent impairments, rehabilitation costs, and other losses tied to job-related injuries. This coverage applies regardless of any assumed risk of accessing backyards or prior knowledge of loose dogs at a site.
Although most package delivery employees qualify for workers’ comp benefits through their employers, the insurance only supports near-term recovery costs. It doesn’t redress general damages like pain and suffering, long-term wage loss, and permanent disfigurement.
Although most UPS, FedEx, and Amazon employees possess workman’s compensation to cover on-the-job injuries like dog bites, this insurance often does not fully pay for a dog bite victim’s medical expenses, lost wages, psychotherapy treatment, and other non-economic damages. For this reason, Cal. Civ. Code § 3342 allows these workers to take legal action against negligent dog owners directly through personal injury claim filings that seek compensation for what workers’ comp doesn’t pay.
Los Angeles couriers who have faced savage dog attacks must sue irresponsible dog owners in civil court to recover full damages, making them whole again. Southern California dog bite attorneys can help you receive compensation beyond workers’ comp limits and make dog owners personally liable for failing to restrain or train their animals properly.
Feel free to talk to us about taking legal action and filing a worker’s compensation claim simultaneously. The laws are on your side. Schedule a free consultation with a qualified Los Angeles dog bite lawyer today and learn more about recovering total damages.
Every year, the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) tracks thousands of Los Angeles mail carrier dog bite incidents. USPS mail carriers and package couriers from other companies face a high risk of front-yard dog attacks due to their daily entries into residential properties.
According to Los Angeles County Public Health, nearly 20,000 residents are attacked by dogs every year. Disturbingly, the victims required medical treatment in almost every case, with 64% of them being children. Amazon couriers, FedEx delivery drivers, and the like use the same turf as USPS employees, entering yards with dogs hidden behind fences or obscured by landscaping.
Unfortunately, many homeowners fail to restrain animals lurking on their property and expect couriers to deliver their packages and mail without incident.
Canine bites inherently puncture the skin, introducing bacteria deep into the tissue, which creates an ideal environment for infection. According to Mayo Clinic data, every one in five dog bite victims experiences disease infections.
Nerve damage, broken bones, and excess scar tissue are typical courier dog bite injuries. And when puncture wounds rip and tear membranes, significant disfigurement can result.
Dog bite attacks also cause emotional and psychological trauma, especially in situations where the worker is trapped and unable to retreat quickly. Consequently, the USPS has reported that over the last decade, depression, anxiety, sleeplessness, and post-traumatic stress disorder have arisen in employees who suffered dog attacks while delivering mail.
If a dog bites you while carrying out your package delivery duties in Los Angeles, you must take some critical steps to mitigate and document your damages:
Package delivery workers who pursue legal action against animal owners for dog bite damages must prove through a preponderance of the evidence that:
Cal. Civ. Code § 3342 allows injured package delivery workers to recover:
Many UPS, Amazon, and FedEx couriers turn to our attorneys yearly for representation after suffering a dog attack. With years of legal experience behind us, we pursue maximum compensation for victims with competence. Our Los Angeles offices and positive past client reviews showcase our commitment to compassionate and zealous advocacy.
If you or a colleague endured a dog bite while delivering packages in California, we invite you to contact us.
Our attorneys offer free consultations, will hear your story, and help you reach full recovery. Contact us today to get started. You deserve justice.
Whether you’ve suffered from deep lacerations, infections, nerve damage, emotional trauma, or other types of dog bite injuries, our experienced team is here to provide you with the legal support and guidance you need.
No. California adheres to strict liability statutes regarding dog bites. This means a delivery driver who is bitten while lawfully on private property performing work duties can pursue legal action. Financial compensation is available regardless of presumed negligence or whether the employee provoked the dog. The courts will focus more on the rules found in Cal. Civ. Code § 3342.
If bitten by a dog on your route, you should immediately clean the wound if possible, seek medical treatment, report the incident to your supervisor, identify the animal, document details like photos or owner contact information, and then call an experienced dog bite lawyer to discuss your legal rights. Taking quick action helps with recovery and preserves dog bite claim evidence.
California state law allows package delivery personnel bitten at work to recover compensation for medical bills, lost income, psychological treatment costs, pain and suffering losses, permanent disfigurement, or other applicable damages.
Our reach extends throughout California, from the sunny streets of San Diego to the bustling cities of Los Angeles and San Francisco, and beyond. We’re here to help victims across the state report dog bites, find the legal support they need, and ensure that justice is served. By reporting dog bites and seeking assistance, we’re all doing our part in making our communities safer while helping victims get back on their feet.
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