Dog Bites matters in San Mateo
Where Dog Bites Happen in San Mateo
Dog bites occur throughout San Mateo's neighborhoods and public spaces. Walkers and joggers are bitten on the residential streets of North Central, Hayward Park, San Mateo Village, and Beresford, often by a dog that lunges from a yard or breaks free from a leash. Central Park and the trails and sidewalks along the Bay and through downtown near B Street bring people and dogs together constantly, and a friendly walk can turn into a serious injury in seconds. Bites also happen at private homes when a guest, a delivery worker, or a child is attacked by a resident dog the family insisted was gentle.
Children are bitten more often than adults and tend to suffer the most serious harm, including facial wounds and injuries that require surgery and leave lasting scars. The emotional trauma, particularly a child's new fear of dogs, can be as significant as the physical injury and is a real part of the claim.
California Strict Liability Under Civil Code 3342
California is a strict liability state for dog bites. Under Civil Code section 3342, a dog owner is liable when their dog bites someone who is in a public place or lawfully in a private place, including the owner's property. Unlike many other states, California does not give owners a free first bite, and the victim does not have to prove the owner knew the dog was dangerous. It is enough that the bite happened and the victim was lawfully present. This makes California law especially protective of bite victims, though insurers still look for ways to reduce or deny claims, often by arguing the victim provoked the dog or was trespassing.
Compensation in these cases is usually paid through the dog owner's homeowner's or renter's insurance policy, and it can include medical bills, future reconstructive or scar-revision surgery, lost income, and pain and suffering, including emotional distress. California's pure comparative negligence rule means that even if the insurer claims the victim share some fault, recovery is reduced only by that percentage and never eliminated. We gather medical records, photographs of the injuries, and any history of the dog's behavior to build the claim.
Deadlines and the San Mateo County Court
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 government-owned animal or a public entity is involved, Government Code section 911.2 may require a written claim within six months. Dog bite lawsuits in San Mateo are filed in the San Mateo County Superior Court, with civil matters heard at the Hall of Justice in Redwood City. Serious bite injuries are often treated at Mills-Peninsula Medical Center in Burlingame. We work on contingency, so there is no upfront cost and no fee 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.