Treat the wound properly
Emergency or urgent care the same day, even for a bite that looks small. Infection and nerve damage are diagnosed early or badly.
Personal injury
Long Beach Dog Bite Lawyer
California does not give a dog one free bite. If a dog bit you or your child in a public place or anywhere you had a right to be, the owner is responsible whether or not the dog had ever bitten before. The consultation is free.
Patrick S. AguirrePersonal injury attorney · Long Beach & Downey offices, serving all of California4.7 out of 5 from 40+ Google reviews. 25+ years of experience Patrick handles your case personally
Call now 562-471-3512 Free consultation No fees or costs unless we win Callback request
Talk with our office
Leave your contact information and, if helpful, a short general summary. The office will follow up.
Thank you.
The office received your contact request. If your matter is urgent, call 562-471-3512.
The law
Strict liability under Civil Code 3342
Civil Code 3342 makes the owner of a dog liable for the damages suffered by any person bitten while in a public place or lawfully in a private place, including the owner’s own property. It does not matter whether the dog had shown aggression before or whether the owner knew of any. You do not have to prove the owner was careless. You have to prove the bite, the injury, and that you were somewhere you were allowed to be.
The statute has limits. It applies to bites, not to a dog that knocks someone down or causes a fall; those injuries are still recoverable, but under ordinary negligence, which requires showing the owner failed to control the animal. The statutory rule requires lawful presence on private property. The exception for government police or military dogs is limited to the circumstances in 3342(b)–(d), and does not apply to a bite victim who was not involved or suspected of involvement in the conduct that prompted use of the dog. Other legal claims may also require review.
Sources: Civil Code 3342(a)–(d).
Who pays
The owner, the insurer, and sometimes the landlord
Most dog-bite claims are paid by the owner’s homeowner’s or renter’s insurance, which typically covers injuries the policyholder causes to others. Some policies exclude particular breeds or dogs with a bite history, and some owners have no coverage at all, which is why identifying the owner and the policy in the first days matters more than in a car crash, where a policy is presumed.
A landlord is not automatically responsible for a tenant’s dog. California courts hold a landlord liable only when the landlord actually knew the dog was dangerous and had the power to remove it, for example by enforcing the lease. Property managers who received prior complaints are the usual route to that proof.
The owner will look for a share of fault. Provoking the animal, ignoring a warning, or reaching over a fence are the arguments, and California’s comparative fault rule reduces a recovery by any share a jury assigns. A young child is held to a child’s standard, not an adult’s.
The injury
Why dog-bite cases are about the long term
Bites tear rather than cut. Puncture wounds infect easily, facial bites on children often need plastic surgery and revision as the child grows, and nerve and tendon damage to hands can be permanent. The psychological injury is real and, in children, common: fear of dogs, nightmares, and anxiety about going outside are compensable harms when a treating professional documents them.
Because scarring matures over a year or more, a dog-bite claim presented in the first weeks is almost always presented too early. The claim should be valued when the treating physicians can say what the permanent result will be.
What is at stake
What a dog-bite claim covers
- Emergency care, wound treatment, antibiotics, and rabies prophylaxis when the dog cannot be verified
- Plastic or reconstructive surgery, including future revisions for a growing child
- Physical therapy for hand, arm, and leg injuries
- Counseling for trauma and fear, especially in children
- Lost wages for the injured person or a parent who missed work to provide care
- Pain, suffering, and permanent scarring or disfigurement
The report
Long Beach Animal Care Services and the ten-day quarantine
Report the bite to Long Beach Animal Care Services, or to the animal control agency for the city where it happened. California requires a dog that bites a person to be quarantined for ten days for rabies observation, and the bite report is what starts that process. The report also fixes the owner’s identity, the dog’s vaccination status, and any prior bite history, all of which the insurer will otherwise dispute.
If the bite happened at a rental, a business, or a park, ask for the incident report there as well. Get the names of anyone who saw it and photograph the wound the same day, then again as it heals.
Deadlines
Two years, with more time for children
A lawsuit must be filed within two years of the bite under Code of Civil Procedure 335.1. For a minor, the two years generally do not begin to run until the child turns 18, but the evidence does not wait: the owner moves, the dog is rehomed, and the witnesses forget. Report and document now even if the lawsuit is years away.
The first days
What to do this week
Identify the dog and the owner
Name, address, phone, and whether the dog is vaccinated. If the owner refuses, the animal control report is the way to get it.
Report the bite
Long Beach Animal Care Services or the local agency. Ask for the report number and the quarantine result.
Photograph everything
The wound on day one and as it heals, torn clothing, and the place it happened, including any fence, gate, or leash.
Do not accept a quick payment
An owner or insurer offering to pay the emergency bill in exchange for a release is asking you to give up the scar before you know what it will look like.
The office
How the Law Offices of Patrick S. Aguirre handles dog-bite cases
The office identifies the owner and every available policy, obtains the animal control file and any prior complaints, and documents the injury through to the point where treating doctors can describe the permanent result. Claims involving children are handled with the court approval a minor’s settlement requires. When the insurer’s number does not reflect the scar, the case is filed in Los Angeles Superior Court.
The office has represented injured people in Long Beach and across Los Angeles County for nearly three decades. The firm now has offices in Long Beach and Downey, and speaks Spanish.
Frequently asked questions
Common questions
The dog belonged to a friend or relative. Do I have to sue them?
The claim is presented to their homeowner’s or renter’s insurer, which is what the policy exists for. A lawsuit is filed only if the insurer refuses to pay what the injury is worth, and even then it is normally the insurer, within the policy’s limits, that pays.
The owner says my child provoked the dog. Does that end the case?
No. Provocation is a comparative fault argument that can reduce a recovery, and a young child is judged by what a child of that age would understand. The owner still has to prove it.
The dog did not bite me. It jumped on me and I fell and broke my wrist. Is that covered?
Not under the strict-liability statute, which is limited to bites, but the owner can still be liable for failing to control the dog. Leash rules and the owner’s knowledge of the dog’s behavior become the evidence.
How long do I have if the person bitten is a child?
The two-year limitations period generally does not start until the child turns 18, but a claim should be documented and presented much sooner. Any settlement for a minor is reviewed and approved by the court, which protects the child’s recovery.
Selected case results
Personal injury results
A selection from 55 documented results
$2,850,000
Slip-and-fall matter
Premises liability
$320,000
Civil injury matter
Maricopa County, Arizona
$480,000
Slip-and-fall matter
Premises liability
$520,000
Civil injury matter
Maricopa County, Arizona
$360,000
Motor-vehicle collision
Los Angeles Superior Court
Client experiences
What clients say
★★★★★
Patrick and his staff were very helpful with taking care of all the bills and legalities, so we can focus on healing.
★★★★★
Got my money and my vehicle fixed. Don’t hesitate to give them a call.
★★★★★
Patrick helped me with a dog bite case. He was able to get me more than I expected and was easy to work with. … I would recommend his services.
★★★★★
Patrick is very reliable, trustworthy, and will definitely be able to help you out. Cost is very reasonable.
Meet your attorney
Law Offices of Patrick S. Aguirre
A Professional Law Corporation
The future of your case may depend on a successful outcome. It can be stressful to go through the legal process alone—but thankfully, you don’t have to.
The Law Offices of Patrick S. Aguirre will stand up for clients’ interests and rights, providing high-quality representation in personal injury cases and criminal defense matters throughout California from its Long Beach office.
We work with you and for your best interests. Our legal team is compassionate, hard-working, and tenacious—fighting to get the job done right when it matters most. No case is too complicated or insignificant for our full attention. Our clients may move forward into a brighter future free from worry about past mistakes.
We’re the legal team that never gives up. When you need an attorney who will fight for what’s right, turn to us, and we’ll do everything in our power to help. No matter how challenging your situation may seem, there is hope.
“Courage is the most important attribute of a lawyer.”
Robert F. Kennedy
Free consultation
Start your free consultation
Tell us how to reach you and the office will call you back to discuss your accident and your options.
Callback request
Talk with our office
Leave your contact information and, if helpful, a short general summary. The office will follow up.
Thank you.
The office received your contact request. If your matter is urgent, call 562-471-3512.