Dog Bites matters in Bakersfield
Bakersfield is a city of neighborhoods, parks, and open space, which means people and dogs cross paths constantly. Bites happen along the trails of the Kern River Parkway, at neighborhood parks where families gather, on residential sidewalks, and at front doors when delivery workers, mail carriers, and visitors approach. An unleashed dog at a park or a dog that pushes past an open gate can injure someone in seconds.
California treats dog bites seriously, and the owner's liability does not depend on whether the dog had ever bitten anyone before.
Why dog bites happen in Bakersfield
- Off-leash dogs on the Kern River Parkway trails and bike paths
- Encounters at neighborhood and community parks
- Loose dogs in residential areas and behind unsecured gates
- Bites to delivery drivers, postal workers, and meter readers at the doorstep
- Children approaching unfamiliar dogs in yards or public spaces
The strict liability rule
California Civil Code section 3342 imposes strict liability on dog owners. This means that if a dog bites someone who is in a public place or lawfully on private property, the owner is generally liable for the resulting injuries, even if the dog had never bitten anyone and showed no prior signs of aggression. California is not a one-free-bite state for these claims, so an owner cannot escape responsibility simply by saying the dog had never done it before. The main requirements are that you were lawfully present and that a bite actually occurred.
Non-bite injuries, such as being knocked down or chased into traffic by a large or aggressive dog, may still be pursued under ordinary negligence principles rather than the strict liability statute, since those situations fall outside the precise wording of section 3342.
Injuries we see in dog attack cases
- Puncture wounds and crush injuries to hands, arms, and legs
- Facial injuries and permanent scarring, especially in children
- Nerve and tendon damage
- Infections, including from deep punctures
- Psychological trauma and fear of dogs
Who pays and what compensation may cover
In many dog bite cases, the owner's homeowner or renter insurance provides the coverage that pays a claim, which is one reason identifying the responsible owner and their policy early matters so much. A dog bite claim can seek economic and non-economic damages. Economic damages include emergency treatment, wound care, surgery, reconstructive and scar-revision procedures, future medical needs, and lost income. Non-economic damages address pain, disfigurement, and emotional distress, which can be significant when a bite leaves visible scars or deeply affects a child. Each case depends on its specific facts, and we cannot guarantee any result. California's pure comparative negligence rule may reduce recovery if the injured person is found partly at fault, for example by provoking or trespassing on the animal, but it does not automatically bar a claim.
Deadlines and the Kern County court
Most California dog bite claims must be filed within two years under Code of Civil Procedure section 335.1. Bakersfield dog bite lawsuits are generally filed in the Kern County Superior Court, with the main courthouse located on Truxtun Avenue in downtown Bakersfield.
How MMG Law Firm helps from Glendale
MMG Law Firm is located in Glendale, roughly 110 miles from Bakersfield, and represents bite victims statewide. We do not keep a Bakersfield office, and we are honest about that. We can identify the dog owner, locate homeowner or renter insurance coverage, document the injuries, and handle the case remotely, appearing in Kern County court when needed. Attorney Mihran M. Ghazaryan offers free consultations in English, Armenian, and Russian, and we work on contingency, so there is no fee unless we win.
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.