Keosian Law Practice Areas

Dog Bite Attorneys

Skilled representation for victims of dog bites and animal attacks

Call Now: (866) 222-2020

Overview

At Keosian Law LLP, our dog bite attorneys provide dedicated representation for individuals who have been injured by dog bites and animal attacks throughout Los Angeles and Southern California. Under California Civil Code Section 3342, dog owners are strictly liable for injuries their dogs cause—meaning you do not need to prove the owner knew the dog was dangerous.

Los Angeles County consistently reports among the highest dog bite rates in the nation, with thousands of attacks each year at parks, sidewalks, apartment complexes, and private homes. Dog bite injuries can be physically devastating and emotionally traumatic, often resulting in serious wounds, permanent scarring, disfigurement, nerve damage, and psychological trauma including PTSD and anxiety.

Whether you were bitten while jogging in Griffith Park, walking through your neighborhood, visiting a friend's home, or at a public event, our attorneys have the knowledge and resources to pursue full compensation under California's strict liability laws and help you on the path to physical and emotional recovery.

Common Dog Bite Injuries

  • Deep puncture wounds and lacerations requiring stitches or staples
  • Severe scarring and permanent disfigurement—especially to the face and hands
  • Infections including cellulitis, pasteurella, and MRSA
  • Crushed or broken bones from powerful bite force
  • Nerve damage causing numbness or loss of function
  • Torn muscles, tendons, and ligaments
  • Rabies exposure requiring post-exposure prophylaxis treatment
  • Emotional trauma, PTSD, and severe anxiety around animals
  • Injuries requiring reconstructive or plastic surgery
  • Fatal injuries in severe mauling attacks, particularly to children and elderly

Liability Under California's Strict Liability Law

California's dog bite statute provides strong protections for victims. Understanding how liability works is essential to maximizing your recovery:

Strict Liability for Dog Owners

Under California Civil Code §3342, dog owners are liable for bite injuries regardless of whether the dog had a prior history of aggression. Unlike "one bite rule" states, California does not require proof that the owner knew the dog was dangerous. If you were lawfully present where the bite occurred, the owner is responsible.

Landlord & Property Owner Liability

In apartment complexes and rental properties throughout Los Angeles, landlords may share liability if they knew a tenant's dog was dangerous and failed to take action. This is common in multi-unit buildings where aggressive dogs are allowed to roam common areas without restraint.

Non-Bite Animal Attack Injuries

California's strict liability statute specifically covers bites. However, non-bite injuries—such as being knocked down by an aggressive dog—can still be pursued under general negligence theories. Our attorneys evaluate every angle to maximize your claim.

Dog bite cases in Los Angeles are filed in Los Angeles Superior Court. Most claims are covered by the dog owner's homeowners or renters insurance, with typical coverage limits of $100,000 to $300,000 or more.

What Compensation Covers

Dog bite injuries often require extensive medical treatment and cause lasting physical and emotional harm. Available compensation includes:

  • Emergency & Surgical Care: Emergency room treatment, wound repair, infection treatment, tetanus shots, and rabies prophylaxis.
  • Reconstructive Surgery: Plastic surgery and scar revision procedures for facial and visible scarring and disfigurement.
  • Ongoing Medical Treatment: Follow-up care, physical therapy, wound care, and treatment of complications.
  • Lost Wages: Income lost during treatment and recovery, including self-employment income.
  • Scarring & Disfigurement: Compensation for permanent scarring, especially on the face, hands, and other visible areas.
  • Pain and Suffering: Physical pain from the attack, treatment, and recovery process.
  • Emotional Distress: PTSD, anxiety, nightmares, fear of dogs, and psychological treatment costs.
  • Children's Injuries: Special damages for children including scarring that will be visible throughout their lives and long-term psychological impacts.

The Legal Process for Dog Bite Claims

Dog bite claims require prompt action to preserve evidence and protect your rights. Here is how Keosian Law handles these cases:

  1. Free Case Evaluation: We assess the circumstances of the attack, identify the dog owner, and explain your legal rights under California law—all at no cost.
  2. Evidence Collection: We obtain animal control reports, photograph your injuries throughout the healing process, collect witness statements, and research the dog's history of aggression.
  3. Insurance Identification: We identify the owner's homeowners or renters insurance policy and file a claim directly with their insurer.
  4. Medical Documentation: We coordinate with your treating physicians and plastic surgeons to fully document your injuries, treatment plan, scarring assessment, and psychological impacts.
  5. Demand & Negotiation: We present a comprehensive demand to the insurance company backed by medical evidence, wage loss documentation, and expert scar assessments.
  6. Litigation & Trial: If the insurer refuses to offer fair compensation, we file suit and present your case to a Los Angeles jury.

Why Choose Keosian Law for Dog Bite Cases

Dog bite cases require attorneys who understand California's strict liability laws and know how to maximize recovery. Here is why Los Angeles victims trust Keosian Law:

  • Strict Liability Expertise: We understand the nuances of California Civil Code §3342 and how to build airtight cases under strict liability.
  • Child Injury Advocacy: Children are disproportionately affected by dog bites. We advocate aggressively for young victims who suffer lasting physical and emotional scars.
  • No Fees or Costs Unless We Recover: No attorney fees or costs unless we recover for you.
  • Scar Documentation Expertise: We work with plastic surgeons and scar assessment specialists to fully document the long-term impact of scarring and disfigurement.
  • Proven Negotiation Results: We consistently recover fair compensation from homeowner and renter insurance policies throughout Los Angeles.

If you or your child has been bitten by a dog, contact Keosian Law today for a free consultation. We will fight for the compensation you deserve.

Frequently Asked Questions

Find answers to common questions about our legal services and processes.

California Civil Code Section 3342 imposes strict liability on dog owners for bite injuries. This means the owner is liable if their dog bites someone in a public place or lawfully in a private place, regardless of whether the dog had any history of aggression or whether the owner knew the dog might bite. This strict liability makes California one of the most victim-friendly states for dog bite claims.

Dog bite victims may recover compensation for all medical expenses (emergency treatment, surgery, reconstructive surgery, physical therapy), lost wages during recovery, permanent scarring and disfigurement, pain and suffering, emotional trauma and psychological treatment (including PTSD, anxiety, fear of dogs), and in severe cases, wrongful death damages if the attack was fatal.

You can still pursue a claim even if the dog owner is someone you know. In most cases, the dog owner's homeowner's or renter's insurance will cover the claim, not the owner personally. This allows you to obtain compensation for your injuries without destroying the relationship. The insurance company handles the claim and pays the settlement.

While California has strict liability, there are some defenses:

  • Trespassing: No liability if you were trespassing when bitten
  • Provocation: If you provoked the dog, liability may be reduced or eliminated
  • Assumption of risk: Limited applicability, mainly for veterinarians or handlers
  • Comparative negligence: Your compensation may be reduced by your percentage of fault

Our attorneys anticipate these defenses and build strong cases to counter them.

After a dog bite: seek immediate medical attention (dog bites carry serious infection risks), report the incident to local animal control, document your injuries with photographs (including during healing), get the dog owner's information and insurance details, identify any witnesses, keep all medical records and bills, and contact a dog bite attorney before speaking with insurance companies.

If the dog owner cannot be identified, recovering compensation is more challenging but not impossible. We can investigate to try to identify the owner, check if the attack occurred on property where the owner or occupier may bear some responsibility, and explore whether any other parties may be liable. Additionally, your own medical insurance or California's victim compensation programs may provide some coverage.
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