Dog Bites matters in Los Angeles
Los Angeles is a city of dog lovers, and on any given day thousands of dogs are out on walks and in public spaces. People cross paths with unfamiliar dogs on the trails at Griffith Park, around Echo Park Lake, on neighborhood sidewalks, in apartment complex courtyards, and at the many parks and walkable corridors across the city. Most encounters are harmless, but when an owner fails to control or restrain a dog, a sudden bite can cause serious physical and emotional harm.
The good news for victims is that California law strongly protects people who are bitten. You usually do not have to prove the owner did anything careless, only that their dog bit you while you were lawfully present.
Where dog bites happen in Los Angeles
- Walking trails and open spaces like Griffith Park and around Echo Park Lake
- Neighborhood sidewalks and front yards where dogs are off-leash or break loose
- Apartment and condo complex courtyards, hallways, and shared areas
- Parks, outdoor patios, and pet-friendly shopping areas
California's strict liability dog bite law
California is a strict liability state for dog bites. Under California Civil Code section 3342, a dog owner is liable for damages when their dog bites someone in a public place or while the person is lawfully on private property, including the owner's property. This applies even if the dog has never bitten anyone before and showed no prior signs of aggression, so there is no one-free-bite rule for bite injuries in California.
- The general deadline to file a personal injury lawsuit is two years under California Code of Civil Procedure section 335.1.
Common injuries and case types
- Puncture wounds, lacerations, and crushing injuries
- Permanent scarring and disfigurement, often to the face and hands
- Nerve and muscle damage requiring surgery
- Infections and emotional trauma, particularly in young children
Claims often involve bites during walks, attacks by a neighbor's or a tenant's dog, and incidents in shared residential spaces.
Compensation you may recover
Under California's pure comparative negligence rule, you can recover even if you were found partly at fault, with your recovery reduced by your share. Depending on your case, damages may include:
- Economic damages such as medical bills, reconstructive or scar-revision surgery, and lost wages
- Non-economic damages such as pain, suffering, emotional distress, and disfigurement
We make no promises about outcomes. Every dog bite case depends on the severity of the injury and the specific facts.
Deadlines, the courthouse & how MMG Law Firm helps
Los Angeles dog bite lawsuits are generally filed in the Los Angeles County Superior Court, with many civil matters heard at the Stanley Mosk Courthouse downtown. Because the two-year deadline can arrive sooner than expected, it helps to document the bite, get medical care, and speak with a lawyer early so evidence and the dog's ownership details are preserved.
MMG Law Firm is based in Glendale, a quick drive up the I-5 from Los Angeles. Attorney Mihran M. Ghazaryan offers free consultations in English, Armenian, and Russian, and works on contingency, so there is no fee unless we win. We identify the responsible owner, deal with their homeowner or renter insurer, and pursue full compensation for your injuries.
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.
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