Southern Californians love their dogs even more than they love the sun, sand, and beautiful weather in their part of the state. However, the millions of Southern Californians in Imperial, Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Diego, and Ventura counties who own dogs must realize that every dog - regardless of breed, size, strength, training, or temperament - can cause serious injury and even death under the wrong circumstances.

Approximately five million dog bites occur in the nation every year and California is the top state with the greatest number of dangerous bites that cause injury or death. An increasingly high number of dog bite victims are forced to visit the ER or seek medical care in local hospitals or clinics in order to treat serious injuries from the bite. In fact, dog bites are the second most common type of injury necessitating medical attention in California emergency rooms, and a leading cause of ER visits in Southern California in particular.

While many dogs can be vicious in certain circumstances, there are specific breeds that are more likely to attack than others. Akitas, Pit Bulls, and Rottweilers are popular in U.S. homes and are responsible for most of the more horrible injuries, though any dog can pose a potential threat, as last summer's fatal attack on a 16-month-old in Glendale by her grandparents' pet Rottweiler tragically proves. Local lawmakers are trying to fight this increase with new legislation, and a plan to crack down on pit bulls and Rottweilers in particular has grown into a far more sweeping proposal that would require the spaying or neutering of most dogs in unincorporated areas of Los Angeles County.

If you or someone that you know has been hurt in a dog bite injury of any form in Southern California, help could be on the way. California is known as a Strict Liability state, which determines that the person who owns the dog is liable for the injuries. However, the actual statutes are difficult to comprehend and you need an experienced dog bite attorney in order to guarantee that your rights are secured. Don't wait - contact someone today.