Dog Bites matters in Hanford
California Strict Liability Under Civil Code 3342
California holds dog owners to a strict-liability standard for bites. Under California Civil Code section 3342, the owner of a dog is liable for damages when the dog bites a person who is in a public place or lawfully on private property, including the owner's own property. Unlike many other states, California does not require proof that the dog had bitten before or that the owner knew the dog was dangerous. This means a victim bitten while walking through a Hanford neighborhood, visiting a home, or moving along a public sidewalk often has a strong claim regardless of the animal's history.
Where Bites Happen Around Hanford
Dog attacks in Kings County occur in many settings, from residential streets near downtown Hanford and the Courthouse Square to yards, driveways, and parks, as well as rural properties on the outskirts of town. Delivery workers, postal carriers, children, and visitors are frequently the victims. Bites that happen on rural parcels along roads like Hanford-Armona Road or Fargo Avenue can involve larger animals and serious wounds. Establishing that you were lawfully present where the bite occurred is a key element of a Civil Code section 3342 claim, and we work to document the circumstances clearly.
Serious Injuries and Long-Term Effects
Dog bites can cause far more than surface wounds. Victims often suffer deep puncture injuries, torn tissue, nerve damage, infection, and permanent scarring, and attacks on children frequently involve the face and head. Lasting emotional trauma, including fear of dogs and anxiety, is also common and compensable. Bite victims around Hanford are often treated at Adventist Health Hanford, where wound care and infection management begin. We make sure the full medical picture, including any reconstructive or scar-revision needs and the psychological impact, is documented for your claim.
Where the Compensation Comes From
In many dog-bite cases, the owner's homeowners or renters insurance provides the source of compensation, since these policies commonly cover liability for injuries the household's animals cause. Identifying the responsible owner and the applicable policy is essential, and a landlord or other party may sometimes share responsibility depending on the circumstances. We investigate ownership, control of the property, and available coverage so that the costs of your medical care and other losses do not fall on you.
Pursuing Your Claim in Kings County
When an insurer disputes a valid dog-bite claim or makes a low offer, a lawsuit may be filed in the Kings County Superior Court in Hanford. Insurers sometimes argue the victim provoked the dog or was trespassing, and we counter those defenses with the facts and the strict-liability protection California law provides. MMG Law Firm represents dog-bite victims on a contingency basis, with no fee unless we recover, and we work to secure full compensation for your injuries and their lasting effects.
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.