Dog Bites matters in Davis
Where dog bites happen in Davis
Davis is full of dogs and the places they go. The greenbelt path system, Community Park, Central Park near the farmers market, the off-leash dog park areas, and the many apartment complexes near campus all bring people and dogs into close contact. Bites and attacks can happen on a neighbor's property, in a rental complex courtyard, on a sidewalk along Russell or Covell Boulevard, or on the greenbelt when an unleashed dog rushes a passerby, a jogger, or a child. Delivery workers, mail carriers, and visitors entering a yard are frequent victims.
Children are bitten more often than adults and tend to suffer facial and head injuries because of their height. These wounds can require surgery and leave permanent scars, and the emotional trauma can last for years.
California's strict liability law
California makes dog owners strictly liable for bite injuries. Under California Civil Code section 3342, a dog owner is liable when their dog bites someone in a public place or while the victim is lawfully on private property, including the owner's own property, regardless of whether the dog had ever bitten before or shown vicious tendencies. This is a powerful protection for victims. Unlike many states, California does not give owners a free first bite. The main questions are usually whether the victim was bitten, was lawfully present, and did not provoke the dog. Injuries beyond bites, such as being knocked down by a large dog, may also be pursued under ordinary negligence.
Care, evidence, and insurance
Get medical care promptly. Bite wounds carry a serious infection risk and may need cleaning, stitches, or rabies evaluation, available at Sutter Davis Hospital. Photograph the injuries and the location, identify the dog and its owner, and report the bite to Yolo County Animal Services, which creates an official record. Homeowners or renters insurance often covers dog-bite claims, which is frequently the source of compensation.
Resolving a Yolo County dog-bite claim
Most dog-bite claims resolve through negotiation with the owner's insurer, but if a fair offer is not made, a lawsuit can be filed in the Yolo County Superior Court in Woodland. MMG Law Firm handles the claim and serves clients in English, Armenian, and Russian.
Help for bite victims and their families
A dog bite is frightening and painful, and for a child the memory can linger long after the wound heals. Pursuing a claim is not about punishing a beloved pet; it is about making sure an insurer, not the injured family, covers the medical bills, the scar revision surgery, and the counseling a child may need. MMG Law Firm handles Davis dog-bite claims with sensitivity, gathers the animal-control records and witness accounts that strengthen the case, and pursues the owner's insurance fully. Each client receives direct attorney attention, with consultations available in English, Armenian, and Russian.
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.