How To Report a Dog Bitein Long Beach, CA

Bit by a dog in Long Beach? After medical treatment, you need to report the incident to animal control authorities immediately.

This straightforward guide will cover everything you need to know to document the bite accurately—from gathering key details and filling out forms to potential legal action.

Follow our advice to guarantee your dog bite claim gets filed completely and correctly on the very first attempt.

Who to Contact to Report a Dog Attack in Long Beach

The first call you should make after a dog bite is to 9-1-1 emergency services. The dispatcher will send police officers and paramedics to provide urgent medical care and begin documenting the attack.

You should also contact Long Beach Animal Care Services as soon as possible to report dangerous dogs so they can investigate their owner and the animal’s health. Their number is 562-570-PETS (7387), or you may fill out a Long Beach bite report online.

Explain what happened in detail, giving information on the animal’s size, breed, color, name, address where the attack occurred, and distinguishing marks. Provide contact details so the local animal control agency can follow up with additional questions.

Accurately documenting everything is crucial for increasing chances of identifying and finding the animal so it can be examined and quarantined by animal control. Detailed incident reports also help protect public health by determining the risk of rabies transmission.

What to Do After Attacked by a Dog in Long Beach

Here are some step-by-step actions bite victims should take after a dog attack:

1. Seek immediate emergency medical care. Call 9-1-1 or visit the nearest hospital to attend bite wounds or other injuries.
2. Report the bite to Long Beach Animal Care Services. Provide a detailed description of the dog and the exact location of the incident.
3. Get the contact details of the dog owner. Ask for the dog’s name, address, and phone number so animal control and medical providers can follow up.
4. Save evidence from the scene. Keep photographic evidence of injuries, blood stains, and clothes damage. Take images of the dog from a safe distance, too, if possible. Save ripped clothes in a bag.
5. See your regular doctor even after an ER visit. Bite wounds have a high risk of infection, so you’ll need monitoring and medication for proper healing after hospital discharge.
6. Consider hiring an attorney. Long Beach injury lawyers can help document evidence, communicate with insurance companies, calculate total damages, and fight for your right to fair compensation in court.

Dangerous Areas Around Long Beach Where Bites May Happen

Many public parks and beaches in Long Beach legally allow dogs to roam off-leash, creating an inevitable risk of bites or attacks as pets and people interact. Animal owners often need help to monitor their pets in crowded environments with countless strangers and distractions.

Some common areas where Long Beach citizens experience confrontations with aggressive or uncontrolled dogs include:

Bixby Park

Los Angeles County allows dogs to roam off-leash in Bixby, making it difficult for owners to control their pets as they run along acres of grassy fields.

Bixby Park

130 Cherry Ave,
Long Beach, CA 90802

El Dorado East Regional Park

The lake setting lures crowds with dozens of pets, with many canines sharing the water facilities with unsuspecting children.

El Dorado East Regional Park

7550 E Spring St,
Long Beach, CA 90815

Hilltop Park

Picturesque fields may sometimes cause owners to lose sight of their animals. Bites inevitably occur at this scenic locale.

Hilltop Park

2351 Dawson Ave,
Signal Hill, CA 90755

Bluff Park

Located off Ocean Blvd in Belmont Shore, the sandy beach area with dozens makes it hard to monitor all interactions.

Off-Leash Dog Parks in Long Beach

The following public recreation areas managed by Los Angeles County are especially groomed for domestic animals and present an elevated risk of dog bite incidents.

• Coolidge Dog Park
• Gayle Carter Dog Park
• Jackson Dog Park
• Lincoln Park Dog Park
• Pike Park Dog Park
• Rosie’s Dog Beach

Dog owners are responsible for watching their animals in these crowded facilities and preventing their pets from instigating confrontations with vulnerable parkgoers.

Common Injuries From Dog Attack You Should Get Treated

Dog bites can cause minor to severe wounds requiring extensive medical treatment, including:

• Puncture wounds – Deep piercing injuries prone to infection, nerve or tissue damage, and requiring stitches or surgery.
• Lacerations – Jagged tears through skin and muscle, often leaving scarring or disfiguring without proper wound repair treatment.
• Bone fractures – Powerful dog jaws can break bones in the hands and arms. Needs casts, metal plates, or bone grafts.
• Organ damage – Attacks sometimes damage the eyes and nose, requiring reconstructive plastic surgery.
• Nerve damage – Bite pressure can severely damage sensory nerves, impacting future mobility. Physical therapy helps strengthen limbs again.
• Emotional trauma – Dog attack victims may develop psychological conditions like depression, anxiety, panic disorder, PTSD, etc, needing therapy, service animals, or medication.

Understanding Your Legal Rights And Securing Just Compensation After A Dog Attack

California strict liability statutes hold Long Beach pet owners financially responsible for all injuries their animals cause, regardless of past non-aggression circumstances.

However, collecting rightful compensation is often challenging without legal guidance because insurance companies work tirelessly to deny valid claims and minimize payouts.

An experienced Los Angeles County personal injury attorney can fully protect your interests following an attack, ensuring you receive full coverage of the following:

• Medical bills from immediate ER treatment, hospitalization, surgery, medications, and specialists.
• Future projected costs include physical therapy, reconstructive operations, and counseling.
• Loss of current and future income from missing work during the recovery period.
• Pain and emotional suffering are calculated based on attack severity.
• Disfigurement damages if the bite caused permanent scarring or disability.
• Legal fees spent fighting insurance denials of valid claims.

The Statute Of Limitations For Filing Long Beach Dog Bite Claims

California law limits how long victims have to take legal action after a Long Beach dog bite injury – you must file your lawsuit within two years from the date of the attack.

Missing the deadline forfeits your right to sue, even if the claim was valid.

This deadline motivates insurance companies to delay and deny valid payouts, hoping time will run out before victims take them to court.

A California dog bite lawyer ensures this civil procedure trap does not stop you from collecting damages owed.

How Long Beach Dog Bite Attorneys Can Help You

LA Dog Bite Law lawyers provide personalized guidance so you understand every option while receiving comprehensive legal support:

• Free evaluation of your claim’s validity and professional assessment of specific injuries, treatment costs, and lost income.
• No upfront payments ever. We only collect if we win you compensation.
• Communication with insurance companies and agencies like animal control on your behalf.
• Police reports, medical records, and other evidence gathering to prove your claim’s merits.
• Intense negotiations with insurers or ironclad court case building when insurers attempt to deny you fair compensation.
• Ensuring that you meet all legal deadlines.

Are You Ready to Report Your Long Beach Dog Bite Incident?

The Long Beach LA Dog Bite Law team provides personalized guidance through every step of the process following a dog attack so you understand all your options while receiving strong support.

If you or someone you know suffered harm from an irresponsible pet owner’s negligence, contact us for a free case evaluation. You won’t miss legal deadlines, and your rights are always protected.