Dog Bites matters in San Rafael
California's Strong Protection for Bite Victims
California is a strict liability state for dog bites. Under Civil Code section 3342, a dog owner is generally liable when their dog bites someone in a public place or while the victim is lawfully on private property — including the owner's property — regardless of whether the dog had ever bitten anyone before. This means a victim usually does not have to prove the owner knew the dog was dangerous. That is a powerful advantage, but insurers still contest whether the person was lawfully present, whether the injury was truly a bite, and how serious the harm is.
In San Rafael, bites happen in the places people and dogs gather. Walkers are bitten on sidewalks and trails throughout neighborhoods from Terra Linda to the Canal district, on the paths near downtown and Fourth Street, and along the open space and parks that make Marin so popular for dog owners. Delivery workers, mail carriers, and guests are bitten on private property. Children are especially vulnerable and often suffer facial and hand injuries that require ongoing treatment, and their fear of dogs can linger long after the wounds have healed.
What To Do After a San Rafael Dog Bite
Get medical care right away. Dog bites carry a high risk of infection and often involve damage beneath the skin that is not obvious. MarinHealth Medical Center in Greenbrae and local urgent care clinics can treat the wound and document it properly. Report the bite to Marin County animal services or the local authorities, which creates an official record and helps establish the dog's history. Photograph your injuries promptly and again as they heal, since scarring is a real and compensable harm. Identify the owner and any witnesses, and keep records of every medical visit.
Compensation in a bite case can include medical bills, future care such as scar revision or reconstructive surgery, lost income, and the physical and emotional suffering the attack caused — which is significant for children left frightened of dogs. We document all of it thoroughly.
Deadlines and the Marin County Court
Most California dog bite claims must be filed within two years of the attack under Code of Civil Procedure section 335.1. If a government agency's animal was involved, a shorter six-month government claim deadline under Government Code section 911.2 may apply. Many bite claims resolve through the owner's homeowners or renters insurance, but those insurers do not simply hand over fair value. Marin County cases are filed at the Marin County Superior Court at the Civic Center on North San Pedro Road. MMG Law Firm builds each case carefully and is prepared to take it to a Marin jury when an insurer will not be fair.
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.