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