Dog Bites matters in Riverside
Riverside is an active, outdoor community, and that brings people and dogs together at neighborhood parks, along the Santa Ana River Trail, and throughout residential streets where dogs are walked and kept. Most encounters are uneventful, but when an owner fails to leash or control a dog, the result can be a serious bite. Children and joggers are especially vulnerable, and the injuries often go beyond the physical to lasting emotional trauma.
MMG Law Firm represents dog bite victims in Riverside and across California. We identify the responsible owner, deal with their insurer, and build a claim that reflects the full harm you suffered.
Where dog bites happen in Riverside
Attacks tend to occur where dogs and people share space:
- Neighborhood and community parks where dogs are off leash
- The Santa Ana River Trail and other walking and jogging paths
- Residential yards, driveways, and sidewalks
- Apartment complexes and shared common areas
- Encounters during deliveries, visits, or daily walks
California's strict liability rule
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 who is in a public place or lawfully on private property, including the owner's own property. This means you generally do not have to prove the owner was careless or knew the dog had ever bitten before. The owner's liability attaches to the bite itself, which makes these claims different from ordinary negligence cases.
There are limits. The statute applies to bites, and the person must have a lawful right to be where the attack occurred. We evaluate how the rule applies to your specific situation.
Injuries and case types we handle
Dog attacks cause injuries that can require surgery and leave permanent marks, including:
- Deep puncture wounds and lacerations
- Permanent scarring and disfigurement, often to the face
- Nerve and muscle damage
- Infections from bacteria in a dog's mouth
- Emotional trauma, anxiety, and fear of dogs
Compensation you may pursue
Under California law you may seek economic damages such as medical treatment, future reconstructive surgery, and lost income, along with non-economic damages for pain, suffering, scarring, and emotional distress. Because outcomes depend on the facts, we never promise an amount. California's pure comparative negligence rule can reduce recovery if the victim provoked the dog or trespassed, but partial fault does not erase a valid claim.
Deadlines and the Riverside courthouse
Dog bite claims in California generally must be filed within two years under Code of Civil Procedure section 335.1. Riverside dog bite cases are typically filed in the Riverside County Superior Court, often at the Riverside Historic Courthouse downtown. Acting promptly helps us preserve evidence and identify the dog and owner.
How MMG Law Firm helps
We practice from Glendale, about 60 miles from Riverside and an easy drive via the 60 and 210, and we represent Riverside clients along with people across California. Attorney Mihran M. Ghazaryan provides free consultations in English, Armenian, and Russian, and we work on contingency, so there is no fee unless we win. Contact us and we will start protecting your rights immediately.
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.