A dog bite or animal attack can cause severe physical and emotional injuries in only a few seconds. Victims may suffer puncture wounds, infections, nerve damage, fractures, facial injuries, permanent scarring, psychological trauma, or disability.
Children are especially vulnerable because their height may place their face, head, and neck closer to the attacking dog.
California law generally holds a dog's owner responsible when the dog bites someone in a public place or while the person is lawfully on private property. The victim usually does not need to prove that the dog had bitten someone before or that the owner knew the dog was dangerous.
Royal Capital Law Group represents adults, children, delivery workers, visitors, tenants, pedestrians, and families affected by dog bites and animal attacks throughout Los Angeles and across California. We investigate the attack, identify the owner and available insurance coverage, preserve evidence, document the full extent of the injuries, and pursue the compensation our clients deserve.
Contact Royal Capital Law Group today for a free consultation. You pay no attorney's fees unless we recover compensation for you.
California's Dog Bite Strict-Liability Law
California Civil Code section 3342 generally makes the owner of a dog liable for injuries caused by a bite when the victim was in a public place or lawfully on private property — regardless of whether the dog had previously shown viciousness and regardless of whether the owner knew the dog might bite.
This means California generally does not follow a traditional "one free bite" rule. A victim usually does not need to prove that the dog had bitten someone before, that the dog had previously attacked another animal, that the owner had been warned, that the dog was officially classified as dangerous, or that the owner intended for the attack to happen.
The victim must still establish the identity of the responsible owner, that a bite occurred, that the victim was lawfully present, and that the bite caused the claimed injuries.
Los Angeles Dog Attacks
Injured in a Dog Bite or Animal Attack in Los Angeles?
Dog attacks may happen almost anywhere. After an attack, the owner or insurance company may argue that the victim provoked the dog, entered the property without permission, or ignored a warning. Those allegations should not be accepted without investigation.
Dog attacks may happen at
- Neighborhood streets
- Apartment buildings
- Private homes
- Public parks
- Sidewalks
- Parking areas
- Restaurants and outdoor patios
- Hotels
- Stores
- Dog parks
- Delivery locations
- Workplaces
- Rental properties
Key investigation questions
- Who owned or controlled the dog?
- Where did the attack occur?
- Was the victim lawfully present?
- Was the animal restrained?
- Did the owner violate a leash rule?
- Had the dog shown aggression before?
- Did a landlord know the animal was dangerous?
- Which insurance policies apply?
What Does It Mean to Be Lawfully on Private Property?
A person may be lawfully on private property when they are there with the owner's express or implied permission or while performing a legal duty. California's dog-bite statute expressly recognizes lawful presence when someone is performing a duty imposed by state or federal law or is on the property by the owner's invitation.
- An invited guest
- A tenant
- A customer
- A delivery driver
- A postal worker
- A contractor
- A repair technician
- A utility worker
- A salesperson with permission to enter
- A person attending an event
Whether a person was lawfully present can become disputed, particularly when the attack occurred near a gate, driveway, apartment entrance, delivery area, or shared property.
What If the Dog Did Not Actually Bite You?
Not every dog-attack injury involves teeth breaking the skin. A dog may cause injury by chasing a pedestrian into traffic, knocking someone to the ground, jumping on a child or older adult, causing a bicyclist to crash, pulling free from a leash, or frightening someone into falling.
California's strict dog-bite statute specifically addresses bites. When no bite occurred, a claim may instead be based on negligence, premises liability, leash-law violations, or the owner's knowledge of the dog's dangerous behavior. Evidence of previous aggression may be especially important in a non-bite case.
Cases We Handle
Dog Bite and Animal Attack Cases We Handle
Royal Capital Law Group represents victims of every type of dog bite and animal attack scenario throughout Los Angeles and California.
Facial Dog Bites
Facial bites can cause deep lacerations, eye injuries, damage to the lips or nose, nerve damage, dental injuries, permanent scarring, disfigurement, and emotional trauma.
- Emergency care and plastic surgery
- Reconstructive treatment
- Scar revision procedures
- Psychological counseling
Dog Bites Involving Children
Children may suffer particularly serious injuries because they are smaller and may be unable to protect themselves or escape. A claim involving a minor should account for future treatment and the long-term effect of visible scars as the child grows.
- Emergency treatment and surgery
- Plastic or reconstructive procedures
- Counseling and long-term scar care
- Future medical monitoring
Delivery Driver and Postal Worker Bites
Delivery workers, postal employees, couriers, and service providers frequently enter private property as part of their work. Because California law recognizes lawful presence by invitation or in the performance of legal duties, these workers may have a claim even when the attack occurred on the dog owner's property.
Apartment and Rental Property Attacks
Dog attacks at apartment buildings may involve the dog owner, a tenant, a landlord, a property manager, a homeowners association, or another party responsible for common areas. A landlord or manager may potentially share responsibility when they knew about a dangerous dog and had authority to address the risk.
- Prior tenant complaints
- Warning notices or lease violations
- Previous attacks and animal-control reports
- Security footage and building policies
Dog Park Attacks
A dog park does not eliminate an owner's responsibility. Claims may involve failure to control an aggressive dog, ignoring posted rules, bringing a prohibited animal into the park, failure to intervene during an attack, injuries suffered while separating animals, or defective gates or enclosures.
Unrestrained and Off-Leash Attacks
An off-leash dog may attack a pedestrian, bicyclist, runner, child, or another pet. A leash-law violation may support evidence of negligence.
- Witness testimony
- Surveillance and doorbell-camera footage
- Animal-control records
- Photographs and prior complaints
- Social-media posts showing the dog off leash
Attacks on Bicyclists and Motorcyclists
A loose dog may run into the road, chase a bicycle, or cause a rider to swerve and fall. These accidents may result in brain injuries, fractures, road rash, spinal injuries, shoulder and knee damage, and vehicle damage — even without a bite.
Attacks Involving Multiple Dogs
When several dogs participate in an attack, it may be difficult to determine which animal caused each injury. Potential claims may involve more than one owner, household, landlord, or insurance policy. Photographs, witness statements, veterinary records, and animal-control reports may become important.
Attacks by Security Dogs and Fatal Attacks
A business, property owner, security company, or handler may be responsible when a guard or security dog attacks someone lawfully present. A severe attack may result in wrongful death, particularly when the victim is a child, older adult, or medically vulnerable person.
- Warning signs and fencing adequacy
- Training and handler control
- Prior incidents and security policies
Common Injuries
Common Dog Bite Injuries
Injuries We Handle
- Puncture wounds
- Deep cuts and lacerations
- Torn skin and muscle
- Nerve damage
- Tendon or ligament injuries
- Broken bones
- Crush injuries
- Facial injuries
- Eye injuries
- Dental damage
- Infections
- Scarring
- Disfigurement
- Amputations
- Psychological trauma
- Post-traumatic stress
- Wrongful death
Puncture wounds and lacerations: Dog teeth can penetrate deeply and damage tissue beneath the skin. A wound that appears small externally may involve deeper injury to muscles, tendons, blood vessels, or nerves.
Infections: Animal bites can introduce bacteria into the wound. Medical professionals may need to clean the injury, prescribe antibiotics, administer vaccinations, close the wound, or monitor for complications. Prompt medical evaluation is important even when the bite initially appears minor.
Nerve damage: A bite to the hand, arm, leg, or face may cause numbness, weakness, loss of sensation, chronic pain, reduced grip strength, and limited movement. Some nerve injuries may require surgery or long-term rehabilitation.
Emotional and psychological trauma: A dog attack may cause fear of dogs, nightmares, anxiety, panic attacks, sleep problems, depression, embarrassment, social withdrawal, and post-traumatic stress. Children may require specialized counseling and may experience emotional effects long after the physical wounds have healed.
Accountability
Who May Be Liable for a Dog Bite?
The responsible party depends on who owned, controlled, or created the conditions that led to the attack. More than one party may share responsibility.
The Dog Owner
Under California Civil Code section 3342, the dog owner is generally strictly liable for bite-related damages when the victim was in a public place or lawfully on private property — regardless of prior viciousness or the owner's knowledge.
A Landlord or Property Manager
A landlord or property manager may potentially be responsible when they knew a dangerous dog was present, knew about previous attacks, had authority to remove or restrict the animal, failed to repair a gate or fence, or failed to enforce lease provisions.
A Business or Employer
A business may be responsible when it owned or controlled the dog, an employee handled the dog during work, the animal was used for security, or the business failed to restrain or supervise the animal during commercial activity.
A Property Owner
A property owner who is not the dog's owner may potentially be liable when unsafe fencing, a defective gate, or another property condition contributed to the attack and the owner had legal responsibility for that condition.
A Caretaker or Handler
A dog walker, trainer, sitter, kennel, groomer, or other handler may be responsible when negligent control of the animal causes an attack.
Insurance Coverage Available
Dog bite claims are frequently paid through insurance. Potential coverage may include homeowner's insurance, renter's insurance, landlord insurance, commercial liability insurance, umbrella insurance, business insurance, or property-management coverage.
- May apply even away from owner's home
- Multiple policies may exist
- Coverage can be disputed
What If the Owner Claims You Provoked the Dog?
Provocation is one of the defenses that may be raised in a dog bite case. The insurer may claim that the victim hit the dog, pulled its tail, entered its space, tried to take food or a toy, startled the animal, ignored a warning, or interfered with a dog fight.
The circumstances must be examined carefully. A normal interaction, accidental contact, a child's behavior, or an attempt to protect another person may not justify the owner's version of events. Witnesses, video, photographs, medical records, and prior reports may help establish what actually happened.
What If the Dog Never Bit Anyone Before?
A previous bite is generally not required for a claim under California's strict-liability dog-bite statute. The owner may be liable even when the dog had never bitten anyone, the dog was usually friendly, the owner had no warning, the dog had no official dangerous-animal designation, or the attack appeared unexpected.
California Civil Code section 3342 imposes liability regardless of the dog's former viciousness or the owner's knowledge of that viciousness. Previous aggression may still be useful evidence in negligence claims, landlord claims, or attacks that did not involve an actual bite.
What If You Were Bitten While Working?
An employee bitten while performing job duties may have more than one potential source of compensation — a workers' compensation claim, a separate claim against the dog owner, a claim against a landlord or property manager, or a claim against another negligent third party.
This issue commonly affects delivery drivers, postal workers, contractors, utility employees, home healthcare workers, and repair technicians. A workers' compensation claim does not necessarily eliminate a separate third-party personal injury claim.
Step-by-Step Guide
What Should You Do After a Dog Bite?
Prompt action after a dog bite can protect your health, preserve critical evidence, and safeguard your legal rights.
Move to Safety
Get away from the animal and avoid attempting to capture or restrain it yourself. Call emergency services if the dog remains aggressive or someone has suffered a serious injury.
Seek Medical Attention
Obtain prompt medical treatment, particularly when the skin was broken, the wound is deep, bleeding is difficult to control, the bite involves the face, hands, or joints, the victim is a child, there is numbness or weakness, the dog's vaccination status is unknown, or the wound shows signs of infection. A healthcare provider can evaluate the need for wound care, antibiotics, tetanus protection, rabies assessment, or surgery.
Wash the Wound
Public-health guidance recommends promptly washing an animal-bite area with running water and soap and seeking medical advice about the injury and potential rabies exposure. Do not allow home treatment to replace professional medical care for a serious bite.
Identify the Dog and Owner
When possible, obtain:
- The owner's name, address, and telephone number
- Dog's name, breed, and description
- Vaccination and veterinarian information
- Homeowner's or renter's insurance details
Do not place yourself at additional risk while collecting information.
Report the Bite
Los Angeles County requires that most mammal bites to people be reported to local health authorities. Reporting allows officials to assess rabies risk and determine whether the animal should be quarantined or tested. A report does not automatically mean that the dog will be declared dangerous or removed from the home — most biting dogs and cats are observed during a minimum 10-day quarantine period, frequently at the owner's home.
Photograph the Injuries
Take clear photographs of the wounds before treatment, stitches, bruising and swelling, bandages, scars as they develop, torn or bloody clothing, the accident location, fences and gates, and the dog when safe. Continue taking photographs throughout the healing process.
Collect Witness Information
Ask witnesses for their names, telephone numbers, email addresses, and a brief description of what they observed. Witnesses may know about previous aggressive behavior or earlier incidents involving the same dog.
Preserve Evidence
Keep damaged clothing, shoes, medical records and bills, prescription receipts, animal-control reports, photographs, messages from the dog owner, and insurance correspondence. Do not post photographs or comments about the attack on social media.
Avoid Giving a Detailed Recorded Statement
The dog owner's insurance company may contact you shortly after the incident. The adjuster may ask whether you touched the dog, entered through a gate, ignored a sign, startled the animal, or contributed to the attack. Speak with an attorney before giving a detailed recorded statement or signing a broad medical authorization.
Contact a Dog Bite Attorney
Prompt legal action can help preserve surveillance footage, identify insurance policies, obtain animal-control records, and investigate previous complaints before evidence disappears.
Your Recovery
What Compensation May Be Available?
A dog bite or animal attack claim may include compensation for economic and non-economic losses. There is no standard settlement amount — the potential value depends on the victim's age, location and severity of injuries, scarring, nerve damage, psychological trauma, and available insurance coverage.
Medical Expenses
- Ambulance transportation
- Emergency treatment
- Hospitalization and stitches
- Surgery and infection treatment
- Antibiotics and tetanus treatment
- Rabies-related assessment or treatment
- Plastic surgery and scar revision
- Physical and occupational therapy
- Future medical care
Lost Income & Earning Capacity
- Missed wages and salary
- Overtime, bonuses, and commissions
- Lost business income
- Used vacation or sick leave
- Reduced future earning capacity
- Inability to perform same work
Pain and Suffering
- Physical pain and discomfort
- Inconvenience and limitations
- Difficulties associated with treatment
- Recovery process hardship
Emotional Distress
- Fear of dogs
- Anxiety and panic attacks
- Depression and nightmares
- Sleep problems
- Post-traumatic stress
- Embarrassment and social withdrawal
- Counseling and psychological treatment
Scarring, Disability and Property Damage
- Permanent facial or visible scarring
- Permanent nerve damage or weakness
- Chronic pain and amputation
- Vision loss or reduced hand function
- Damaged clothing and eyeglasses
- Damaged bicycle or mobility equipment
- Personal belongings
Wrongful Death
- Medical and funeral expenses
- Lost financial support and benefits
- Loss of companionship and guidance
- Value of household contributions
- Eligible surviving family members may pursue a claim
Should You Accept the Insurance Company's First Offer?
An insurance company may offer a settlement before the injury has fully healed. An early offer may not account for future plastic surgery, scar revision, permanent discoloration, nerve damage, ongoing counseling, lost earning capacity, infection complications, long-term emotional trauma, or the effect of facial scarring on a child. Once a full release is signed, the victim generally cannot request additional compensation from the released parties later.
Have an attorney review any settlement or release before signing it. California generally allows two years from the injury date to file a personal injury lawsuit, though this may be affected by the victim's age, the identity of the responsible party, or another applicable rule.
Frequently Asked Questions
Dog Bite Questions
Free & Confidential
Speak With a Los Angeles Dog Bite Attorney
A dog bite can leave a victim facing painful treatment, visible scars, emotional trauma, lost income, and uncertainty about who will pay the resulting expenses.
Royal Capital Law Group represents children, adults, delivery workers, tenants, visitors, pedestrians, bicyclists, and families affected by dog bites and animal attacks throughout Los Angeles and California.
Contact Royal Capital Law Group today for a free and confidential consultation. You pay no attorney's fees unless we win your case.