Dog Bites matters in Hollister
Dog Bites Across Hollister and San Benito County
Dog attacks happen in familiar Hollister settings. Bites occur on neighborhood sidewalks and in the parks where families gather, at homes when a visitor is greeted by an unrestrained dog, and during walks downtown near San Benito Street. The agricultural character of San Benito County means many properties keep working and guard dogs, and a rural ranch or farm visit, a delivery, or a meter reading can turn dangerous when a large dog is loose. Mail carriers, delivery drivers, utility workers, and children are among those most frequently bitten.
Serious bites often require emergency treatment at Hazel Hawkins Memorial Hospital, and the harm goes beyond the initial wound. Puncture injuries carry infection risk, deep bites can damage nerves and tendons, and facial wounds, common in attacks on children, may need reconstructive surgery and leave permanent scars. The emotional impact, including anxiety around dogs, can last for years.
California's Strict Liability Dog Bite Law
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 person is lawfully on private property, even if the dog never bit anyone before and the owner had no reason to think it was dangerous. This is far more protective of victims than the old one-bite rule used in some states. There are limits, including for trespassers and certain working police or military dogs, and a victim's own conduct can matter under California's pure comparative negligence rule, which reduces an award by the victim's share of fault.
The firm identifies the owner and any other responsible party, locates the applicable homeowners or renters insurance that often covers these claims, and documents the injuries and treatment.
What a Dog Bite Claim May Be Worth
No attorney can promise a result. The value of a Hollister dog bite claim depends on the severity and permanence of the injuries, scarring and any reconstructive surgery, medical costs, lost income, and the emotional impact. California does not cap most injury damages. Many claims are paid through the owner's homeowners or renters insurance, and identifying that coverage early helps protect your recovery.
Deadlines for Dog Bite Claims
Under California Code of Civil Procedure section 335.1, you generally have two years from the date of the bite to file a personal injury lawsuit. If a public entity is somehow involved, Government Code section 911.2 usually requires a written claim within six months. Cases proceed in the San Benito County Superior Court in Hollister, and prompt action helps preserve evidence such as the animal control report and witness accounts.
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.