Dog Bite Lawyer Los Angeles | California Dog Bite Claims

If you need a dog bite lawyer in Los Angeles, Mesriani Law Group is here to help. California has some of the strongest dog bite laws in the country — and when a dog attack occurs, the owner is almost always legally responsible. At Mesriani Law Group, our Los Angeles dog bite attorneys have successfully represented hundreds of bite victims and their families, recovering full compensation for medical expenses, scarring, emotional trauma, and lost income.

We handle all dog bite and animal attack cases on a contingency fee basis — you pay nothing unless we win.

California’s Strict Liability Dog Bite Law

California does not follow the one-bite rule used in many other states. Under Civil Code § 3342, dog owners are strictly liable for bite injuries regardless of the animal’s prior history or the owner’s knowledge of any aggression.

To establish a claim under California’s strict liability law, you only need to show:

• A dog bit you
• You were in a public place, or lawfully in a private place, when the bite occurred
• You did not provoke the animal

You do NOT need to prove the dog had bitten before, that the owner knew the dog was dangerous, or that the owner was negligent in any way. This makes California one of the most victim-friendly states for dog bite claims.

Important: Strict liability applies only to the actual owner of the dog. If someone is temporarily watching the dog (a dog-sitter, for example), the strict liability statute may not apply to them — though other negligence claims may still be available.

Exceptions to California’s Dog Bite Strict Liability Law

While California’s strict liability law is broad, there are circumstances where an owner’s liability may be limited or eliminated:

• Trespassing: If you were unlawfully on private property when the bite occurred, the owner’s liability may be significantly reduced. However, courts have found liability in some trespasser cases depending on the circumstances. Learn more about homeowner liability for dog bites and trespassers in California.
• Provocation: If you provoked, harassed, or abused the dog immediately before the bite, the owner may raise provocation as a defense. California’s comparative fault system means your damages may be reduced rather than eliminated entirely.
• Assumed risk: Veterinarians, groomers, and dog trainers who are bitten while performing their professional duties may be subject to an assumed risk defense in some circumstances.
• Non-bite injuries: The strict liability statute applies to actual bites. If you were knocked over, scratched, or otherwise injured by a dog without a bite occurring, you may have a negligence claim rather than a strict liability claim — though compensation is still available.

Why You Need a Dog Bite Lawyer in Los Angeles

Despite California’s strong strict liability law, dog bite claims are frequently contested. Insurance companies representing dog owners employ adjusters and attorneys whose job is to minimize what they pay. Common tactics include:

• Arguing that you provoked the dog or were partially at fault
• Disputing the severity of your injuries or characterizing them as pre-existing
• Offering early, low settlements before the full extent of injuries and scarring is known
• Arguing that the person who owned the dog is not the person legally liable

A dog bite lawyer in Los Angeles will handle all communications with the insurer, preserve critical evidence, document your injuries throughout the healing process, and ensure you don’t accept a settlement that fails to account for future medical needs, ongoing psychological treatment, or permanent scarring.

Dog Bite Severity: Understanding the Dunbar Scale

Medical and legal experts use the Dunbar Bite Scale to classify dog bite severity. The classification affects both your medical treatment and the value of your legal claim:

• Level 1–2: Aggressive behavior without skin contact, or skin contact without breaking the skin. Most common; usually addressed with training.
• Level 3: One to four punctures from a single bite, none deeper than half the length of the dog’s canine teeth. May involve tearing if the victim pulls away.
• Level 4: One to four punctures with at least one deeper than half the canine length, or involving bruising from the dog shaking the victim. Indicates serious aggression.
• Level 5: Multiple Level 4 bites or a sustained attack. The dog is considered dangerous and may require euthanasia.
• Level 6: The victim dies. Wrongful death claims apply.

Even Level 3 bites can cause serious infections, permanent nerve damage, and significant scarring. Do not minimize your injuries because a bite appears minor — the full medical consequences may not be apparent for days or weeks.

Common Injuries From Dog Bites in Los Angeles

• Deep puncture wounds and lacerations
• Nerve damage and loss of sensation
• Tendon and muscle damage requiring surgery
• Severe infections including Pasteurella, MRSA, tetanus, and rabies exposure
• Permanent scarring and disfigurement — particularly on the face, hands, and arms
• Broken bones from falls during an attack
• Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety, and fear of dogs
• Wrongful death in the most severe cases

What Compensation Can You Recover After a Dog Bite?

A successful dog bite claim in Los Angeles can recover compensation for:

• Medical expenses: Emergency room treatment, wound care, surgery, antibiotics, rabies prophylaxis, and specialist consultations
• Future medical care: Reconstructive surgery, ongoing wound care, scar revision procedures, and psychological counseling
• Lost income: Wages lost during recovery and, for permanent injuries, reduced future earning capacity
• Pain and suffering: Physical pain, emotional distress, PTSD, anxiety, and loss of enjoyment of life
• Scarring and disfigurement: Significant additional damages for permanent visible scarring, particularly facial scarring
• Property damage: Clothing or other personal property damaged during the attack
• Wrongful death damages: Funeral costs, loss of financial support, and loss of companionship if a loved one died from a dog attack

Homeowner’s Insurance and Dog Bite Claims

Most dog bite claims in Los Angeles are paid through the dog owner’s homeowner’s or renter’s insurance policy. For a full overview of your rights, see our guide on what to know about California dog bite law. Liability coverage typically ranges from $100,000 to $300,000, and some policies go higher.

However, many insurance companies exclude coverage for certain breeds considered “high risk” — including pit bulls, Rottweilers, and German shepherds. If the owner’s policy excludes the breed or if the owner has no insurance, our attorneys will explore all other available sources of recovery, including the property owner’s liability if the attack occurred on their premises.

California Dog Bite Filing Deadlines

• Personal injury claims: Two years from the date of the bite under California Code of Civil Procedure § 335.1
• Claims against government entities: If a government employee’s dog or a government agency’s failure to control a dangerous dog caused your injury, a government tort claim must be filed within six months
• Wrongful death claims: Two years from the date of death
• Minors: The statute of limitations is generally tolled until the minor turns 18, with exceptions

Important: Evidence in dog bite cases — photographs of injuries, witness accounts, animal control records, and veterinary history — should be preserved as quickly as possible. Contact a dog bite lawyer in Los Angeles as soon as possible after an attack.

What to Do After a Dog Bite in Los Angeles

1. Seek medical care immediately — dog bites carry serious infection risk. Even wounds that appear minor should be professionally evaluated and cleaned.
2. Call animal control — file a formal report. Animal control will check the dog’s vaccination history and create an official record. Request the report number before you leave.
3. Identify the owner — get the owner’s name, address, phone number, and homeowner’s or renter’s insurance information.
4. Photograph everything — your wounds at the scene and over the following days (injuries change as swelling and bruising develop), the dog, and the location of the attack.
5. Get witness information — names and phone numbers of anyone who saw the attack.
6. Do not give a recorded statement — to the owner, their insurance company, or anyone else without first speaking to a dog bite attorney.
7. Contact Mesriani Law Group — our dog bite lawyers in Los Angeles will begin building your case, documenting your injuries, and handling all communications with insurers from day one.

Why Choose Mesriani Law Group as Your Dog Bite Lawyer in Los Angeles?

Dog bite claims require thorough documentation of both physical injuries and psychological impact — particularly in cases involving facial scarring or PTSD. At Mesriani Law Group we bring:

• Over 30 years representing dog bite and animal attack victims in Los Angeles and throughout California
• Hundreds of millions of dollars recovered for clients
• Experience with insurer tactics designed to minimize scarring and psychological injury claims
• Network of medical experts, plastic surgeons, and psychological specialists
• No Win, No Fee — you pay nothing unless we win your case
• Available 24/7 in English, Spanish, and Farsi