Dog Bites matters in San Francisco
San Francisco is one of the densest, most dog-friendly cities in the country, and that mix puts people and dogs in close contact constantly. Crowded parks, narrow sidewalks, and shared apartment-building spaces leave little room to retreat when a dog lunges. When an owner fails to control their animal, the bite victim is the one left with stitches, scars, and recovery.
California law is unusually protective of bite victims, and understanding how that law works is the first step toward a fair recovery. Documenting the bite, the dog, and the owner quickly strengthens any claim.
Why dog bites happen here
- Off-leash and crowded gatherings at Dolores Park and Golden Gate Park
- Tight, busy sidewalks where dogs and pedestrians pass within inches
- Apartment buildings with shared hallways, lobbies, courtyards, and elevators
- Neighborhood encounters where leashed dogs react to strangers, children, or other dogs
- Delivery and service workers bitten at doorways and gates
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 a person who is in a public place or lawfully in a private place, including the owner's property. That means you generally do not have to prove the owner was careless or knew the dog was dangerous — the fact of the bite in a lawful location is the heart of the claim. Strict liability applies specifically to bites; other injuries a dog causes, such as knocking someone down, may proceed under ordinary negligence instead.
Common injuries and case types
- Deep puncture wounds and crush injuries
- Nerve and tissue damage requiring surgery
- Permanent scarring and disfigurement, especially to the face and hands
- Infections from bite wounds
- Emotional trauma, anxiety, and fear of dogs, particularly in children
What you may recover
A bite victim in California may pursue economic damages — emergency care, surgery, reconstructive and scar-revision procedures, future treatment, and lost wages — along with non-economic damages for pain, disfigurement, and emotional distress. California's pure comparative negligence rule means that if you were partly at fault, such as by provoking the dog, your recovery is reduced by your share rather than barred. The value of any claim depends on its specific facts, and no lawyer can promise a particular amount or result.
Deadlines and how MMG Law Firm helps
A California dog-bite lawsuit generally must be filed within two years under Code of Civil Procedure section 335.1. San Francisco cases are filed in the Superior Court of California, County of San Francisco, usually at the Civic Center Courthouse. MMG Law Firm handles dog-bite claims statewide from Glendale: we identify the owner and any applicable homeowner or renter insurance, gather medical and scene evidence, work with you remotely, and appear in court when needed. Consultations are free, available in English, Armenian, and Russian, and we work on contingency — no fee unless we win.
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.