MMGLaw Firm

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Los Angeles Dog Bite Lawyer

California holds dog owners strictly liable for bites, which means you usually don't have to prove the dog had a history of aggression. A serious bite in Los Angeles can still mean a hard fight with the owner's insurer.

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Dog Bites matters in Los Angeles

Dog bites in Los Angeles happen in the everyday places people and dogs share — the parks and trails of Griffith Park and the LA River path, busy sidewalks in Echo Park and Silver Lake, apartment courtyards and stairwells across the city, and front yards where a delivery worker or visitor is caught by surprise. Children are bitten on the face and hands at far higher rates, and what looks like a minor wound can lead to infection, scarring, and the need for reconstructive treatment. California is a strict-liability state for dog bites under Civil Code section 3342: an owner is generally liable when their dog bites someone in a public place or lawfully on private property, even if the dog never bit anyone before and the owner had no reason to think it would. That removes the 'one free bite' defense owners try to raise. Compensation is often paid through the owner's homeowner's or renter's insurance, and Los Angeles County and city animal-control ordinances may also come into play. The two-year deadline under Code of Civil Procedure section 335.1 applies, and we move quickly to document the injury, identify the dog and owner, and obtain any animal-control reports. Dog bite cases here are generally heard in the Los Angeles County Superior Court, including the Stanley Mosk Courthouse downtown. Our Glendale office is a short drive up the I-5, and consultations are free in English, Armenian, and Russian. We work on contingency — no fee unless we win.

Types of dog bite injuries cases 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. 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. 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. 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. 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, 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.

More practice areas in Los Angeles

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FAQ

Los Angeles Dog Bites FAQ

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