| Dog bite injuries inflicted by Los Angeles | | | | offered by California's liability statutes. |
| Police Department-owned canines can be | | | | |
| especially difficult to try in court, | | | | When an off duty dog connected with the Los |
| depending on the specific circumstance | | | | Angeles Police Department is involved in a |
| surrounding the incident. | | | | dog bite lawsuit, both the individual police |
| | | | officer and the Los Angeles Police Department |
| California provides special protection to | | | | can be held liable. Even while on duty, |
| police departments against dog bite lawsuits, | | | | police dogs are placed in various situations |
| as long as the dog bite injury occurred | | | | in which they could potentially bite someone. |
| during an arrest and it did not stem from the | | | | For example, police dogs are often taken to |
| police officers' use of unnecessary force. | | | | schools for demonstrations, or to parades and |
| However, the definition of "excessive force" | | | | community service events, where there are |
| can be subjective, depending on the victim's | | | | many children present. Since statistics |
| criminal record and the events surrounding | | | | state children as being the most vulnerable |
| the actual arrest. | | | | and susceptible to receiving a dog bite |
| | | | injury, the likelihood of a dog bite injury |
| When the dog bite injury occurred outside of | | | | occurring in these circumstances is possible. |
| the circumstances of a properly enforced | | | | |
| arrest, or outside of official police | | | | If you or a loved one have been the victim of |
| department duties, California laws allow for | | | | a dog bite, and the dog was identified as a |
| the victim of the dog bite to bring a lawsuit | | | | police dog connected with the Los Angeles |
| against the Los Angeles Police Department. | | | | Police Department, the success of your claim |
| Since the police department falls under the | | | | in court is highly dependent on the |
| definition of a state or government entity, | | | | circumstance surrounding the incident. A dog |
| normal statutes of limitations do not apply, | | | | bite lawyer who has experience handling dog |
| and the dog bite victim generally has as | | | | bite litigation will be able to counsel you |
| little as 60 days in which to file the claim. | | | | on the statutes of liability and limitations |
| | | | pertaining to your specific case, and offer |
| In addition, police dogs are usually given to | | | | suggestions on the feasibility of filing a |
| one or two police officers for off duty care. | | | | claim with the court. Bringing a dog bite |
| These officers often take the dogs to their | | | | case against a government or state agency can |
| homes at night, as well. This means there | | | | be a difficult process, and you will need |
| are times when police dogs are not being used | | | | highly detailed evidence for your claim to be |
| to make legal arrests, and could bite a | | | | a success. |
| victim outside of the special protection laws | | | | |