Dog Bites matters in Beverly Hills
Beverly Hills is a city of dog walkers. Owners stroll well-groomed pets past the boutiques on Rodeo Drive and Canon Drive, through quiet residential streets in the hills above Sunset, and across the city's parks and greenbelts. Most of those walks are uneventful. But when an owner loses control of an aggressive dog, fails to leash it, or lets it loose in a yard with an unsecured gate, the resulting bite can cause serious and permanent harm.
California law is firmly on the side of bite victims, and you should not have to absorb the cost of someone else's dangerous pet. MMG Law Firm knows how to pursue these claims fairly and thoroughly.
Where bites tend to happen in Beverly Hills
- Sidewalk encounters along Rodeo Drive and Canon Drive where leashed dogs and crowds mix
- Residential streets in the hills above Sunset Boulevard, where dogs may roam from yards or driveways
- City parks and greenways where off-leash dogs approach other visitors
- Apartment and condominium common areas, elevators, and lobbies
- Delivery and service visits where a dog is loose inside a home or gate
California's strict liability rule for dog bites
California does not follow a one free bite rule. Under Civil Code section 3342, a dog owner is strictly liable when their dog bites someone in a public place or while the person is lawfully on private property, including the owner's own property. That means you generally do not have to prove the owner was careless or that the dog had bitten before. The owner is responsible for the bite either way, which makes these claims more straightforward than many other injury cases, though questions of damages and insurance coverage still require careful handling.
Injuries we see in dog bite cases
- Deep puncture wounds and torn tissue
- Nerve and muscle damage affecting the hands, arms, and face
- Permanent scarring and disfigurement requiring reconstructive surgery
- Infections from bacteria in the wound
- Emotional trauma, anxiety, and fear of dogs, especially in children
Compensation available to bite victims
A Beverly Hills dog bite claim can pursue both economic and non-economic damages. Economic damages cover medical treatment, surgery, future reconstructive care, therapy, and any lost income. Non-economic damages account for pain, emotional distress, and the impact of visible scarring or disfigurement on your life. California's pure comparative negligence rule means that if your own conduct contributed to the incident, your recovery is reduced by your share but not eliminated. Because results depend entirely on the facts, no ethical lawyer can promise a specific amount.
Deadlines and the court for your case
California gives dog bite victims two years to file under Code of Civil Procedure section 335.1, so it is best to act well before that deadline while evidence and witnesses are fresh. Beverly Hills cases fall under the Los Angeles County Superior Court, with Westside matters typically heard at the Santa Monica Courthouse or the Stanley Mosk Courthouse downtown. From our Glendale office about 15 miles away, MMG Law Firm offers free consultations in English, Armenian, and Russian and handles dog bite cases on contingency, so you pay no attorney fee unless we win for you.
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.