A Los Angeles Dog Bite Attorney for the Injury, the Bills, and the Hard Conversation With the Owner.
Get help today!
Call us at (818) 922-8522 or fill out the form below.
California law holds dog owners responsible for many bite injuries, even when the dog has never bitten anyone before. Whether you were bitten, knocked down, chased, or attacked, Akaragian Law helps you understand your options so you can focus on healing.
A dog attack is frightening, and the questions that follow can feel awkward, especially when the owner is someone you know.
A dog bite, a knock-down at the park, a chase that ends with a fall. The injury comes first, and then the questions start. Who is responsible? Will insurance cover it? And what if the dog belongs to a neighbor, a friend, or a relative you will still see at the next family gathering?
Here is what many people do not learn until later. Under California’s dog bite statute, a dog’s owner is generally responsible for a bite that happens in a public place or while you are lawfully on private property, even if the dog has never bitten anyone before (Civil Code § 3342). An injury without a bite, such as being knocked down or chased, usually follows a different legal path (Judicial Council jury instruction CACI 462). A dog bite claim in California also typically runs through the owner’s homeowners or renters insurance, which can cover dog bite up to the insurance limits of $100,000,$300,000, or even greater (Triple-I), so it does not necessarily mean pursuing the owner’s personal funds. And in most cases, the deadline to file a lawsuit is two years from the date of injury (CCP § 335.1).
Akaragian Law works with people hurt by dogs throughout Los Angeles. As a dog bite attorney in Los Angeles, we help identify which legal path fits your injury, who may be responsible, and what deadlines apply, so you are not sorting it out alone.
What to Expect When You Work With Akaragian Law on a Dog Bite or Dog Attack Claim
Free Consultation & Case Review: We start by listening to what happened and reviewing your injuries, where the attack took place, and who owns the dog. Then we give you honest feedback about your options.
Identifying the Legal Path and Responsible Parties: A bite, a knock-down, a chase that ends in an injury, and an attack can follow different paths. As a dog attack attorney in Los Angeles, we work out which one fits your situation and whether the owner, a landlord, or another party may be responsible.
Documenting Your Injuries: If we move forward, we, among other things, help you gather medical records, photographs, and any animal control or public health reports. Some injuries, such as scarring, take time to show their full effect.
Communication & Updates: You will know where things stand. Clear, direct communication throughout your case is something we take seriously.
Pursuing Compensation: Dog attack claims may include compensation for medical costs, lost wages, scarring, and the emotional impact from the attack. Personal injury cases are handled on a contingency fee basis, meaning you pay no attorney’s fees or costs unless a recovery is obtained.
Why Los Angeles Dog Attack Victims Choose Akaragian Law
Dog attack claims are rarely as simple as they first appear. The same injury can raise different legal questions depending on whether there was a bite, where it happened, who owns the dog, and whether you were working at the time of the incident.
Our promise is straightforward. You get honest answers about what your case looks like, clear communication throughout the process, and a team that takes the legal complexity off your plate so you can focus on recovering. You are never passed off or treated like a file number.
Akaragian Law serves as a dog attack attorney in Los Angeles for people hurt by a bite, a knock-down, or an attack. You can learn more about Armen Akaragian and verify his standing through the California State Bar’s official attorney profile. He is locally established, actively licensed, and committed to serving clients throughout Los Angeles.
What clients typically value most about working with our firm:
Clear, direct communication throughout their case
Practical guidance on claims that come with rules some people have never encountered
A team that treats them like a person, not a file number
James
“I can’t say enough good things about my experience with Akaragian Law. From the first consultation, I felt like my case was in capable hands, and that never changed.
A special shoutout to Bun, my case manager, who was on top of my case from start to finish. Every question I had, big or small, got a reply right away, and I never had to chase anyone for an update. Bun kept me informed at every stage and made a stressful process feel manageable. It’s rare to find someone who is both this organized and this attentive.
The whole team was professional, responsive, and clearly committed to getting me a good outcome. If you need legal help, I highly recommend Akaragian Law.”
What should you do after a dog attack in Los Angeles?
Get medical care first. Dog bites can carry a risk of infection, and a puncture wound can look minor at first. About 800,000 people in the United States receive medical attention for dog bites each year (American Academy of Pediatrics). In LA County bite reports from 2009 to 2011, documented treatment included oral antibiotics (26% of dog bites), tetanus vaccination (16%), and sutures (10%) (Public Health Reports data).
Get the owner’s information. Ask for the owner’s name, address, and phone number and, if they are willing to share it, the name of their homeowners or renters insurance company. Ask anyone who saw what happened for their contact information.
Report the attack. Dog bites should be reported to LA County Animal Care and Control or LA County Public Health, and a dog involved in a bite is typically quarantined for 10 days (LA County Animal Care and Control; LA County Veterinary Public Health).
Document everything you can safely. Photograph your injuries, the location, and any torn clothing. Keep your medical records, your bills, and a record of the work you miss.
Be cautious with recorded statements. It may be wise not to give a recorded statement to the insurance company until you understand your rights.
Talk to a dog bite attorney in Los Angeles about your rights. Because the filing deadline can be as short as six months when a public entity is involved and as long as two years for most private claims, acting sooner helps preserve evidence and clarifies which deadline applies to you.
Is California a strict liability state for dog attacks?
For a case brought against the owner of the dog for a bite, yes. Under Civil Code § 3342, the owner of a dog is liable for the damages suffered by a person the dog bites in a public place or while the person is lawfully on private property, including the owner’s own, regardless of the dog’s history or what the owner knew about it. That is why California is often described as having strict liability for dog bites instead of a “one bite” rule. (CACI 463).
California dog bite law treats other dog injuries differently. If a dog knocks you down, jumps on you, or chases you without biting, the claim may rest on the owner’s knowledge of the dog’s dangerous tendencies (CACI 462) (Nolo overview).
How the Law Treats a Bite and Other Dog Injuries
| Type of Injury | Legal Basis | What You Generally Must Show | Does the Dog’s History Matter? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dog bite in a public place or while lawfully on private property | Civil Code § 3342 (strict liability) | The defendant owned the dog, the dog bit you, and you were in a public place or lawfully on private property | No. Prior viciousness and the owner’s knowledge are not required |
| Knock-down, jump, scratch, or chase without a bite | Common-law negligence | Either that the owner knew or should have known the dog had dangerous tendencies, or that the owner failed to use reasonable care | Possibly |
Takeaway: A Los Angeles dog bite attorney can look at the facts of your injury and tell you which of these paths applies.
Who pays when a dog attacks you: the owner, their insurance, or a landlord?
Under California dog bite law, the dog’s owner is generally the responsible party, and the owner’s homeowners or renters insurance typically covers the owner’s responsibility.. The Insurance Information Institute (Triple-I) reports that these policies usually cover dog bite liability with limits of $100,000 to $300,000 or even more, and that an owner can be responsible for damages above the limit (Triple-I). Coverage can be limited or excluded under some policies, which is one reason we try to confirm insurance coverage early.
If the owner is a friend, neighbor, or relative, it may help to know that the claim typically goes to the insurance company, not to the owner’s personal funds. A dog bite attorney that Los Angeles families consult early can also handle the communication with the insurer, so the relationship with the owner is not put in the middle.
| Who May Be Responsible | When | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Dog owner | Strict liability for bites. Knowledge of dangerous tendencies, or negligence, for other injuries | Civil Code § 3342; CACI 462 |
| Landlord | Actual knowledge of the dangerous dog and the right to remove it. Commercial landlords can face a reasonable inspection standard | CACI 1006; Uccello v. Laudenslayer; Portillo v. Aiassa |
| Government agency | Section 3342 limits liability for police and military dogs. A six-month claim deadline applies to public entities | Civil Code § 3342(b); Gov. Code § 911.2 |
What if you were attacked by a dog while working?
An attack at work can involve two separate claims. If you were hurt on the job as an employee, such as a delivery driver, home health aide, or utility worker, California workers’ compensation generally provides medical care and wage replacement without proving that anyone was at fault (Labor Code § 3600). That system does not replace a claim against the dog’s owner. California law preserves an injured worker’s right to sue a responsible third party (Labor Code § 3852; overview in Advocate magazine), and the workers’ compensation insurer may have a right to be repaid from part of a recovery (Labor Code § 3862). How the two claims are coordinated matters.
As a dog bite lawyer in Los Angeles, Akaragian Law handles the claim against the dog’s owner. We do not handle workers’ compensation claims, but we can point you to firms that do.
Attacks on people who work outside are common enough to be tracked. According to the U.S. Postal Service, Los Angeles ranked first among cities in 2025 with 70 dog attacks on postal employees, and California recorded 673 (USPS Los Angeles release; USPS report).
What compensation is available after a dog attack in California?
A dog attack claim can seek compensation for the harm the attack caused, including medical costs, lost income, and pain, scarring, and emotional distress (Civil Code § 3281). What a dog bite settlement in California includes depends on numerous factors, including the severity of the injury, the care needed, the effect on work and daily life, and the insurance available. A Los Angeles dog bite attorney can help document each of these losses.
| Type of Loss | Examples | What Helps Show It |
|---|---|---|
| Medical costs | Emergency care, antibiotics, stitches, follow-up and future treatment, scar treatment | Medical records and bills |
| Scarring and disfigurement | Scarring on the face, hands, or arms, including changes as a child grows | Photographs over time |
| Emotional distress | Fear of dogs, trouble sleeping, anxiety after the attack | Medical or counseling records |
| Lost income | Missed work and reduced ability to work | Pay records and employer statements |
For context on scale, Triple-I reports that insurers paid $1.862 billion on 28,450 dog-related injury claims nationwide in 2025.. (Triple-I).
If a dog ran into the road and caused a crash, or chased you while you were walking, biking, or riding, the claim may overlap with our pedestrian accident, bicycle accident, motorcycle accident, or car accident practice areas.
How long do you have to file a dog bite claim in California?
The dog bite statute of limitations in California is generally two years from the date of injury (CCP § 335.1). A dog bite lawsuit in California filed after the deadline is typically barred. Three situations work differently.
| Situation | Deadline | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Adult, private owner | 2 years from the date of injury | CCP § 335.1 |
| Child under 18 | Tolled until age 18, then 2 years | CCP § 352; |
| Public entity defendant (for example, a government-owned dog) | A claim must be filed with the entity within 6 months of the incident | Gov. Code § 911.2; |
Talk with a dog bite attorney in Los Angeles early about which deadline applies to you. The earlier we start, the easier it is to preserve evidence and keep your options open.
What should parents know when a child is attacked?
At least half of the roughly 800,000 people treated each year for dog bites are children, and children are more likely than adults to be severely injured, most often on the head, face, and neck (American Academy of Pediatrics). Many bites to young children involve a dog the child already knows.
Scarring on a child can change as the child grows, which is one reason why it is wise to document injuries over time. A child’s claim also follows different timing rules than an adult’s, and a Los Angeles dog bite attorney can explain how they apply. If your child was hurt, your first job is to get him or her medical care. Ours is to help you understand the legal side so it does not add to the difficulty your family may be already carrying.
What does the data show about dog attacks in Los Angeles?
Dog attacks are not rare in Los Angeles or in California. These figures come from different sources and time periods, so they are best read as a picture and not as a single count.
| Measure | Figure | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Dog attacks on postal employees, 2025 | 70 in Los Angeles, the most of any U.S. city. 673 in California. More than 5,200 nationally | U.S. Postal Service |
| Dog-related injury insurance claims, California, 2025 | 2,830 | Triple-I |
| Animal bites reported in LA County, 2009 to 2011 | 26,169, with 88% from dogs. Hands were the most common injury site (35%), | Public Health Reports |
| Dog bites in the United States each year | More than 4.5 million | Triple-I |
Fatal attacks are handled under California’s wrongful death law. Our wrongful death attorney page explains how those claims work.
Dog Bite and Dog Attack FAQs
If you are looking for a dog bite attorney in Los Angeles, these are the questions people ask most often. If you want to talk through your situation, view all FAQs or call us directly at (818) 922-8522 for a free consultation.
-
No. Under California dog bite law, specifically Civil Code § 3342, an owner is liable for a bite that happens in a public place or while you are lawfully on private property, including the owner’s, regardless of the dog’s history.
-
Yes, and many people hesitate for this reason. A claim typically runs through the owner’s homeowners or renters insurance, not their personal assets.. However, coverage can be limited or excluded, and an owner may be responsible for the damages.
-
A dog attack lawsuit in California that does not involve a bite may rest on the owner’s knowledge of dangerous tendencies so the facts matter.
-
Dog bites should be reported to LA County Animal Care and Control or LA County Public Health, and a dog involved in a bite is typically quarantined for 10 days.
-
Homeowners and renters policies typically cover dog bites for certain dog breeds. Exclusions and limits vary by policy and insurer.
-
Typically two years from the date of injury under CCP § 335.1. For children, the deadline is tolled until age 20. A claim against a public entity requires a formal claim within six months.
-
Generally, compensation for physical injuries in a personal injury settlement is not taxable under federal tax guidelines or California law. Portions attributed to lost wages or punitive damages may be treated differently. Always consult a qualified tax professional about your specific situation.
Related Practice Areas
-
![Balance Glyph Icon - Legal Justice]()
Car Accidents
Akaragian Law handles car accident claims throughout Los Angeles, from two-vehicle collisions to multi-party crashes involving disputed liability and complex insurance issues.
-
![Balance Glyph Icon - Legal Justice]()
Truck & Semi-Truck Accidents
Commercial vehicle crashes often involve multiple parties and complex insurance coverage issues.
-
![Balance Glyph Icon - Legal Justice]()
Motorcycle Accidents
Motorcyclists face unique vulnerabilities on Los Angeles roads, and Akaragian Law understands how to investigate and develop these cases when negligent drivers cause serious injuries.
-
![Balance Glyph Icon - Legal Justice]()
Bicycle & Scooter Accidents
When drivers fail to share the road, cyclists and scooter riders are often left with the consequences. If you’re injured, Akaragian Law is here to listen to your story, explain your options, and take on the legal process for you. We’re committed to seeking accountability on your behalf.
-
![Balance Glyph Icon - Legal Justice]()
Rideshare Accident Attorney
App-based ride crashes involve layered insurance coverage and TNC-specific rules. Akaragian Law helps passengers, other drivers, and pedestrians navigate rideshare claims.
Written by Armen Akaragian. Armen is a seasoned injury attorney with over twenty years of experience and a track record of winning high-stakes injury cases. Known for his hands-on approach and care for clients, Armen has secured multi-million dollar verdicts and settlements across California. Armen has represented victims against major corporations and earned recognition as a top-rated auto accident attorney. Whether you need steady guidance or aggressive representation, Armen brings a personal touch and experience to every case.
