Why do you need a dog bie lawyer? Dog Bites are a major public health problem not only for the associated risk of acquiring secondary infections and occasional death due to trauma (which occurs often in children) but also for the possibility of contracting rabies which, if left untreated, is almost invariably fatal.
A dog owner has an obligation to restrain his or her animal for public safety. As long as you are on private or public property legally, the dog owner may be held responsible.
If the owner of the dog owns a home, in most cases, liability for dog bites and dog attacks are covered by a homeowners insurance policy.
Dog bite injury often extends beyond the physical injury and damage.
The following damages may be sought in a Dog Bite Lawsuit:
An excellent dog bite lawyer must have extensive trial experience. Your case may never make it to trial, but the other side needs to know that if they choose to fight rather than settle, it will represent a significant investment of time and resources. The other side needs to believe that the risk of facing us in court outweighs the cost of a settlement. With over $1 billion won on behalf of our clients, our reputation as an aggressive, take-no-prisoners law firm has translated into real windfalls for so many clients who truly deserved justice for their hardship.
Dog-bite cases in California are governed by Civil Code §3342 strict liability. Below are related premises and personal-injury pages plus city-specific intake.
Talk to one of our attorneys: Cameron Yadidi Brock · Artin Fiterz, Esq. · Greg Diarian · Craig D. Rackohn · Lena G. Karaminassian · Isaac Radnia
Yes. Civil Code section 3342 imposes strict liability on dog owners for any bite that occurs in a public place or while the victim is lawfully on private property. The one-bite rule does not apply. The owner is liable even if the dog had no prior history of aggression.
Settlements depend on injury severity and scarring. Minor bites without scarring settle in the $10,000 to $30,000 range. Cases with surgery, nerve damage, or visible scarring run $50,000 to $250,000. Child victims and facial scarring command higher awards because of the lifetime visibility.
Two years from the date of the bite under Code of Civil Procedure section 335.1. If the victim is a minor, the deadline tolls until their 18th birthday under section 352. Government entity claims require a tort claim notice within six months.
Usually yes. Most homeowner and renter policies include personal liability coverage of $100,000 to $300,000 that covers dog bites by default. Some policies exclude certain breeds. We confirm coverage before negotiating.
Civil Code section 3342(b) exempts police dogs in performance of duty if the agency has a written policy. Service dog bites are not exempt and fall under the strict liability rule. Other working dog bites have specific defenses we evaluate case by case.
Provocation is a defense that can reduce or bar recovery. The provocation must be intentional, not accidental contact like stepping near a sleeping dog or extending a hand. Children under five are typically presumed incapable of provoking a dog.
Section 3342 only covers bites. For knockdown injuries, we file a standard negligence claim. The owner's duty to control their dog is established by Vehicle Code section 27502 (leash laws), local ordinances, and common-law negligence.
Section 3342 makes the owner liable regardless of the dog's history. The owner cannot escape liability by claiming the dog had never bitten before. This is the rule that makes California one of the most plaintiff-friendly states for dog bite cases.
Medical bills (including reconstructive surgery), lost wages, pain and suffering, disfigurement, and emotional distress including PTSD. Disfigurement and scarring are valued separately and increase based on visibility, location, and the victim's age.
Yes. Quarantine is mandatory for rabies observation. It also creates an official report that supports your claim. Cooperate with animal control while protecting your civil claim.
Choose which categories of cookies and tracking technologies you allow on burgbrock.com. Strictly necessary cookies are always on so the site can function.
Required for the site to load, keep you signed in, and remember your preference choice. Always active.
Lets us see which pages people visit so we can improve the site. No personal data is sold.
Allows ad partners to measure the performance of ads you may have seen and show more relevant ads.
Powers extras like chat, embedded video, and remembered form fields. Turning these off may break some features.
