Dog Bites matters in San Diego
San Diego's love of the outdoors means dogs are everywhere, and so are the situations where bites happen. Off-leash play at Dog Beach in Ocean Beach, crowded trails and lawns in Balboa Park, neighborhood parks across North Park, La Jolla, and Chula Vista, and busy sidewalks and patios all bring unfamiliar dogs and people together. A startled or poorly controlled dog can lash out in a moment, and the resulting injuries are often serious.
When a dog bites someone in a public place or while they are lawfully on private property, California law gives the victim strong protection. Unlike many states, California does not give owners a free pass for a dog's first bite.
Where Dog Bites Happen in San Diego
- Off-leash areas like Dog Beach in Ocean Beach and park dog runs
- Open lawns and trails in Balboa Park and neighborhood parks
- Sidewalks, apartment complexes, and patios where leashed dogs encounter passersby
- Homes and yards where visitors, delivery workers, and guests are bitten
- Crowded events and farmers markets where dogs and crowds mix
California's Strict Liability Dog Bite Law
Under California Civil Code section 3342, a dog owner is strictly liable for damages when their dog bites a person who is in a public place or lawfully in a private place, including the owner's property. Strict liability means the victim does not have to prove the owner was careless or knew the dog was dangerous. There is no "one free bite" rule in California for these statutory claims, so an owner can be responsible even if the dog had never bitten anyone before.
California follows pure comparative negligence, so if the injured person was partly at fault, for example by provoking the dog, the recovery may be reduced accordingly. Separate negligence claims may also apply to non-bite injuries, such as being knocked down.
Injuries and Case Types We Handle
- Puncture wounds, deep lacerations, and crush injuries
- Permanent scarring and disfigurement, especially facial injuries
- Nerve and tissue damage requiring surgery
- Infections and emotional trauma, particularly in child victims
Compensation You May Recover
A dog bite claim can seek economic damages such as emergency treatment, surgery, scar revision, future medical care, and lost wages, along with non-economic damages for pain, emotional distress, and disfigurement. The value of a claim depends on the severity of the injury, the scarring, the circumstances, and the evidence. We cannot promise any particular amount or guarantee a result.
Deadlines and Where San Diego Cases Are Heard
A dog bite claim in California generally must be filed within two years of the bite under Code of Civil Procedure section 335.1. San Diego County dog bite cases are filed in the San Diego County Superior Court, with civil matters typically heard at the Central Courthouse downtown.
MMG Law Firm represents dog bite victims throughout California from our Glendale base, roughly 120 miles from San Diego. We do not operate a San Diego office, but we manage cases remotely with phone, video, and electronic filing, and we appear in San Diego County court when needed. Consultations are free and offered in English, Armenian, and Russian, and we work on contingency, so you owe nothing unless we recover for you.
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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