California Dog Bites Attorneys

Were You Bitten By Someone Else’s Dog?

Dog owners in California can be held strictly liable for injuries their pets cause in most situations, even if they didn’t know the animal would act aggressively. Property owners may also be held liable if they knew or should have known about the dangerous nature of a dog on their property and failed to take appropriate measures to prevent an attack. If you were bitten by someone else’s dog, you can use California’s liability laws to see if you can pursue compensation for your injury and losses.

At Alvandi Law Group, P.C., we focus entirely on plaintiff injury claims for people across California, including clients who have suffered serious injuries caused by dog bites. Our highly experienced attorneys are here to guide you through the legal processes of filing a dog bite claim with professionalism. We also remain compassionate and sensitive to the situation, especially when our client needs to file against someone they know, like a neighbor or family member who failed to control their dog.

Let us seek compensation on your behalf. Call (800) 980-6905 to request a no-cost, no-obligation case evaluation.

Statistics of Dog Bites in California

According to the Department of Health Care Access and Information, California sees tens of thousands of emergency room visits due to dog bites each year. In 2022, the most recent year with complete data sets, 48,596 ER visits were recorded. Furthermore, the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health estimates that around 20,000 people in the area are bitten by dogs each year.

Aftermath of a Dog Bite

Dog bites can and often do cause serious and lasting injuries. Even small breeds or younger dogs can inflict serious injuries when they become aggressive. The force of a dog's bite can puncture skin, tear muscles and ligaments, and cause severe trauma that might require extensive medical treatment. In addition to the immediate physical injuries, victims often face unexpected long-term repercussions that can affect their quality of life.

In the aftermath of a dog bite, survivors often suffer from:

• Permanent scarring: Deep wounds from a dog bite can leave lasting scars, which may affect dexterity or self-confidence depending on where they are located.
• Soft tissue damage: Bites can tear muscles, tendons, and ligaments, leading to ongoing pain and restricted mobility.
• Risk of infection: Dog bites can introduce harmful bacteria into the body, potentially leading to infections that require antibiotics or even surgery. Rabies is the most well-known type of disease caused by dog bites.
• Fear of dogs: Experiencing a dog attack can result in psychological trauma, including a persistent fear of dogs or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), affecting daily life and mental health.

California Dog Bite Laws

California Civil Code 3342 holds dog owners strictly liable for injuries caused by their dogs. According to this statute, a dog owner is responsible for damages if their dog bites someone, regardless of the dog's previous behavior or the owner's knowledge of any potential danger. The law applies if the victim was in a public place or lawfully on private property when the bite occurred, including the dog owner's own property; it does not apply to most cases when a dog attacks a trespasser.

Strict liability in this context means that victims do not have to prove negligence or fault when pursuing compensation; they only need to demonstrate that the bite happened and resulted in an injury that would not have happened if not for the dog’s actions or the dog owner’s negligence. While this rule allows you to more simply seek compensation after a dog bite, it doesn’t guarantee you will receive that compensation, so you should still talk to one of our California dog bite attorneys as soon as possible.

Who is Liable in a Dog Bite Case?

Dog owners are usually liable for a dog bite case under the principle of strict liability, as outlined in California Civil Code 3342. If a dog owner is liable for the dog attack, they might have to pay for the survivor’s losses and damages.

Oftentimes, plaintiffs in dog bite cases can file against one or more of these insurance policies held by the defendant:

• Pet insurance
• Homeowner’s insurance
• Renter’s insurance

Property owners can also be liable for dog bite injuries if they fail to warn visitors about the presence of a dangerous dog on their premises or fail to control a dog on their property, even if they do not own the dog themselves. If a property owner is aware or should reasonably be aware of a potentially aggressive dog on their property and does not take steps to inform or protect visitors, they can be found negligent if an attack happens.

Determining Damages in a Dog Bite Case

Our California dog bite attorneys take the time to carefully calculate the damages in a client’s dog bite case. By seeking the right amount of compensation, we aim to secure damages that will give our client a fair chance at recovering as much as possible for medical treatment costs, lost wages, and non-economic losses. To do so, though, we may need to rely on important pieces of evidence that establish that the dog owner did not protect you from the dog’s aggression and that the dog bite caused your injuries.

Evidence that could help prepare your dog bite case includes:

• Medical records: Detailed documentation of injuries, treatments, and medical expenses can substantiate the extent and cost of the harm you suffered.
• Photographs: Photos of the injuries, the location where the incident occurred, and the dog involved can provide visual proof of the attack.
• Witness statements: Testimonies from people who saw the attack can corroborate your account and establish the circumstances of the incident.
• Expert testimony: Insights from medical professionals, animal behaviorists, or other experts can lend credibility to the claims about the severity of the injuries and the dog's behavior.

Dog Bite Claim or Lawsuit Process

If file a dog bite claim, you can expect that your case will likely involve these basic steps:

• Report the incident: Notify local animal control or law enforcement about the dog bite to create an official record and potentially prevent future attacks by allowing the authorities to secure the animal.
• Consult our attorneys: Contact a dog bite attorney from our firm for legal counsel and representation. If you hire us to work on your case, you can leave the rest of the legal process up to us. You can also allow us to report the incident to the authorities, too, if you have not already.
• Gather evidence: Collect relevant evidence, such as medical records, photographs, witness statements, and any other documentation that supports the claim.
• File a claim: Filing the claim sets your expectations for how much compensation you are seeking to close the matter without the need for litigation.
• Negotiate settlement: After some legal back-and-forth, a dog bite claim will usually include at least one attempt to negotiate a settlement agreement with the defendant, their legal counsel, and any insurance companies that might be involved.
• Litigation: If a settlement cannot be reached, we can talk to you about filing a lawsuit, which will move your case toward courtroom litigation. We’ll be ready to represent you throughout litigation if it becomes necessary.

Statute of Limitations for Dog Bites in California

In California, the statute of limitations for filing a dog bite claim is usually two years from the date of the injury. Don’t wait long to start your claim, though. Even if you have more than a year or several months remaining before the deadline, you should take action sooner rather than later, so our attorneys can look for important pieces of evidence that otherwise might become unavailable if too much time passes.

Why Hire a Dog Bite Attorney?

Hiring a dog bite attorney after a dog attack is always recommended because a lawyer can bring legal insight into how to navigate the complex legal processes ahead. Our California dog bite attorneys can handle all aspects of your case, from gathering and preserving crucial evidence to attempting to negotiate with insurance companies and representing you in court if necessary. We understand the nuances of local laws, such as California's strict liability statute, and can look for creative ways to counter any defense strategies used by the dog owner or their insurer, all while you focus on your rest and recovery.