Dog Bites matters in Santa Rosa
Dog Bites in Santa Rosa Neighborhoods and Parks
Dog attacks happen throughout Santa Rosa, in residential neighborhoods like Roseland, Rincon Valley, and Bennett Valley, on sidewalks and at front doors during deliveries, and along the trails and parks where people walk their pets. The Joe Rodota Trail, the Santa Rosa Creek Trail, and neighborhood greenways bring dogs and people together in close quarters, and an unleashed or poorly controlled dog can cause serious harm in seconds. Children are especially vulnerable because they are at eye level with a dog and cannot defend themselves, and bites to the face and hands often leave permanent scarring.
Serious bite wounds carry a real risk of infection and may require emergency care, reconstructive surgery, and follow-up treatment at facilities like Providence Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital, Sutter Santa Rosa, or Kaiser. Beyond the physical injury, many victims, particularly children, carry lasting anxiety around dogs that can require counseling and shape daily life for years.
California's Strict-Liability Dog-Bite Law
California does not follow a one-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, regardless of whether the dog had ever shown aggression before. This means a victim usually does not have to prove the owner knew the dog was dangerous. The owner's homeowner's or renter's insurance often provides the source of compensation. Attorney Ghazaryan identifies the responsible owner and the applicable policy, documents the injuries and scarring with the help of medical and, where appropriate, reconstructive specialists, and pursues a full recovery, including future medical needs and the emotional harm a serious bite inflicts.
He also gathers animal-control records and witness accounts, which can establish the circumstances of the attack and counter an owner who tries to claim the victim was somehow at fault.
Deadlines and Contingency Representation
Dog-bite lawsuits are filed in the Sonoma County Superior Court at the Hall of Justice on Administration Drive. Under California Code of Civil Procedure section 335.1, you generally have two years from the date of the bite to sue, and for an injured child, special tolling rules may extend the time to file. California's comparative-fault rule can reduce recovery if the victim provoked the dog or was trespassing, but those defenses are narrow and the owner bears the burden of proving them. Attorney Ghazaryan works on contingency, so you pay no fee unless he recovers for you, and the first consultation is free.
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.