Dog Bites matters in Merced
California's Strict Liability Dog Bite Law
California treats dog bites differently from many other injuries. Under Civil Code section 3342, a dog owner is generally strictly liable when their dog bites someone in a public place or while the victim is lawfully on private property. This means the injured person usually does not have to prove the owner was careless or that the dog had bitten before. Whether the bite happened on a sidewalk along M Street, at a gathering near Applegate Park, or on a neighbor's porch off Childs Avenue, the owner's responsibility does not depend on a prior history of aggression. MMG Law Firm uses this framework to hold Merced dog owners accountable.
Where Bites Happen in Merced
Dog bites occur in everyday Merced settings. Children playing in neighborhoods near Martin Luther King Jr Way, delivery workers approaching front doors, joggers along Bellevue Road, and visitors to friends' homes can all be caught off guard by a loose or unrestrained animal. Some attacks happen when a dog escapes a yard or is walked without a secure leash. We gather the facts about where and how the attack occurred, including whether the animal was restrained and whether local leash rules were ignored, because these details strengthen the claim and clarify responsibility.
Insurance and the Source of Recovery
Many people worry about suing a neighbor or acquaintance, but a dog bite claim is usually paid through the owner's homeowner's or renter's insurance rather than out of their personal pocket. These policies commonly cover dog bite injuries, which means a fair recovery does not have to come at the personal expense of someone you know. We identify the applicable policy and handle communications with the insurer, so you are not left negotiating a serious injury claim on your own with the people involved.
Injuries, Treatment, and Children
Dog attacks can cause deep puncture wounds, torn tissue, nerve damage, infection, and lasting scars, along with real emotional trauma, especially for children who are bitten on the face or hands. Prompt care matters, and many victims are treated at Mercy Medical Center Merced, sometimes followed by reconstructive or scar treatment. We make sure the medical record fully reflects the physical and emotional harm, because insurers often try to minimize scarring and the psychological impact of an attack.
Deadlines and Resolving Your Claim
California generally gives a dog bite victim two years to file suit, and missing that deadline usually ends the claim. If a public entity's animal or property is somehow involved, a much shorter six-month claim deadline can apply, so prompt advice is important. Acting early also preserves photographs, witness accounts, and animal-control records. When an insurer will not offer a fair resolution, claims arising here are generally pursued through the Merced County Superior Court on West 22nd Street. MMG Law Firm manages the process and keeps you informed at each stage.
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.