Bakersfield Dog Bite Lawyer

Dog bites happen throughout Bakersfield, in neighborhoods near Niles Street and Chester Avenue, in parks and on sidewalks, and along the Kern River bike path where walkers, runners, and cyclists may encounter unleashed dogs. Attacks frequently occur when a dog escapes a yard, is walked without proper control, or is left around visitors and delivery workers. The injuries can be severe and often require ongoing medical care. California Civil Code section 3342 imposes strict liability on a dog's owner when the dog bites someone in a public place or lawfully on private property, which means the victim usually does not have to prove the dog had bitten before. Even so, homeowner and renter insurers often argue the victim provoked the dog or was trespassing to limit payment, and California's pure comparative negligence rule may reduce recovery if the victim is found partly at fault. Most claims must be filed within two years under Code of Civil Procedure section 335.1, so documenting the wounds, the dog, and the owner early is important. Dog bite lawsuits arising in Bakersfield are filed in the Kern County Superior Court, with its main civil courthouse on Truxtun Avenue in downtown Bakersfield. Working from Glendale, MMG Law Firm represents Bakersfield and statewide clients, handling much of each case remotely by phone, email, and a secure document portal and traveling to Kern County for court as the matter requires. We take these cases on contingency, so there is no fee unless we win, and consultations are free in English, Armenian, and Russian.