Dog Bites matters in El Centro
Dog Bites in the El Centro Community
Dog attacks happen in many settings across El Centro, from residential neighborhoods near Ross Avenue and Dogwood Road to parks, sidewalks along Imperial Avenue, and the yards of friends or neighbors. Children are especially vulnerable, often suffering bites to the face, head, and hands, while delivery workers, mail carriers, and passersby are also at risk. Beyond the physical wound, a dog attack can leave lasting scars, infection, and significant emotional trauma. Victims frequently require treatment at El Centro Regional Medical Center, sometimes including stitches, surgery, or care for serious infection.
California's Strict Liability Rule
California sets a strong standard for dog owner responsibility. Under California Civil Code section 3342, a dog owner is generally strictly liable when their dog bites someone who is in a public place or lawfully on private property, including the owner's own property. This means the victim usually does not have to prove the owner was careless or that the dog had bitten before. The longstanding idea of one free bite does not apply to bite injuries under this statute. MMG Law Firm uses this law to hold owners accountable when their dog injures an innocent person.
When the Statute and Negligence Overlap
While the strict liability statute covers many bite cases, some attacks involve other injuries, such as a dog knocking a person down or causing a fall, where ordinary negligence principles apply instead. There may also be questions about whether the victim was lawfully present or provoked the animal. We investigate each situation carefully, gathering medical records, witness accounts, and any history of the dog's behavior. Identifying the responsible parties, which may include the owner, a landlord, or another caretaker, is an important early step in building the claim.
Insurance and the Path to Recovery
Many dog bite claims are paid through the owner's homeowner or renter insurance policy, which often includes liability coverage for such incidents. Adjusters may still try to minimize the injuries or shift blame to the victim, particularly with facial scarring where they dispute the cost of future treatment. MMG Law Firm documents the full extent of the harm, including medical care, scarring, and emotional impact, and pursues the available coverage. We help victims understand their options and seek fair compensation for what they have endured.
Local Representation on Contingency
Dog bite cases from the region are handled through the Imperial County Superior Court in El Centro. From a Glendale base, MMG Law Firm represents bite victims across Imperial County, taking on the investigation, the insurance negotiations, and litigation when necessary. We work on contingency, so there is no fee unless we recover compensation for you. We treat every client with care, knowing how distressing a dog attack can be, especially for the youngest victims and their families.
Our attorney
How Mihran M. Ghazaryan helps with dog bites
California holds dog owners strictly liable, and Mihran M. Ghazaryan works directly with the owner's homeowners or renters insurer so families aren't put in the position of suing a neighbor out of pocket. He documents the bite, the medical treatment, and any scarring with the seriousness these injuries — especially to children — deserve.
Types of dog bite injuries we handle
Children's dog bites
Scarring on a child has a long arc. We document the injury carefully and, when appropriate, hold the recovery in a court-supervised account.
Postal carrier and delivery worker bites
Workers' compensation and the homeowner's policy can both apply. We coordinate to maximize total recovery.
Multi-dog incidents and provocation defenses
Strict liability has narrow exceptions. We address provocation defenses head-on with witness work and documentation.
Damages
What compensation can cover
Every dog bite injury claim is different, but California law allows injured plaintiffs to seek several categories of damages. We build each one with documentation — medical records, wage statements, expert opinions — so nothing is left on the table.
Medical expenses
Emergency care, hospitalization, surgery, rehabilitation, and the future treatment your providers say you'll need.
Lost wages
Income you lost while recovering — and, where the injury affects your ability to work, diminished future earning capacity.
Pain and suffering
Compensation for physical pain, emotional distress, and the ways the injury has changed how you live day to day.
Property damage
Repair or replacement of your vehicle and other property damaged in the incident.
Out-of-pocket costs
Transportation to appointments, medical equipment, household help, and the other expenses an injury forces on you.
How we work
- 1
Free, no-pressure consultation
We listen first. We answer your questions. There is no fee for the initial conversation — and you decide whether to engage us at the end of it.
- 2
Investigation and evidence preservation
Police reports, scene photos, witness statements, vehicle data, surveillance video, medical records. The earlier we collect, the harder it is for the other side to reshape the story later.
- 3
Treatment, demand, and negotiation
We coordinate with your providers, document the full extent of damages — medical, lost income, pain — and present a demand backed by evidence. We push back firmly when an insurer lowballs.
- 4
Litigation when necessary
Most matters settle. When an insurer refuses to be reasonable, we file. Preparing every case as if it will be tried is what makes the settlement number move.
What to do right away
- Get medical attention; rabies and infection risk drive immediate care.
- Report the bite to animal control and request a copy of the report.
- Photograph wounds at intake and during healing — scarring damages depend on documentation.
- Get the owner's homeowners or renters insurance information.
- Call us before signing anything.
The information on this website is for general information purposes only. Nothing on this site should be taken as legal advice for any individual case or situation. This information is not intended to create, and receipt or viewing does not constitute, an attorney-client relationship.
Deadlines that matter
Most California personal-injury claims must be filed within two years of the injury (Code of Civil Procedure §335.1). Miss the window and the court will almost always dismiss the case, no matter how strong it is.
Claims against government entities are much shorter — generally a written claim within six months (Government Code §911.2). Crashes involving city vehicles, public buses, or dangerous public-road conditions can fall under this rule.
Exceptions exist in both directions — discovery rules, minors, continuing violations, out-of-state defendants — so don't assume your deadline has passed or that you have time to spare. Call (818) 539-7969 and we'll tell you exactly where you stand.