Dog Bite Lawyer in Los Angeles

Who is liable for a dog bite in California?

In many states an owner is responsible only if they knew the animal was dangerous, which is known as the “one free bite” rule. California does not work that way. Civil Code section 3342 makes the owner liable when a dog bites a person in a public place, or a person who was lawfully on private property. The old rule that an owner gets a warning first does not apply here.

The exceptions are few and specific: a person who entered the property without permission, and police or military dogs in certain duties. “He was only playing,” “he has never done this” and “you scared him” are not defenses under this statute, although they are what is often said at the scene. People who work in landscaping, delivery, meter reading or home services are often bitten while lawfully on the property, and they are fully covered by section 3342. Other parties can also be responsible, such as a landlord or business that controlled the property, depending on the facts.

What insurance pays after a dog bite?

Dog bite claims almost never come out of the owner’s own pocket. They go against insurance, which is what the coverage exists for:

• A homeowner’s or renter’s policy, which normally covers dog bites and is paid for every month. In many cases the owner does little beyond reporting the incident.
• A landlord’s or business’s liability policy, when the dog was kept on property they controlled.
• Medical payments coverage and your health insurance, which can pay treatment as it happens. Health insurance may later claim reimbursement, and that is negotiated before you receive a net figure.

What compensation can you recover after a dog bite?

• Medical expenses, past and future, including emergency care, surgery and follow-up treatment.
• Scarring and disfigurement, and plastic or reconstructive care where needed.
• Lost earnings and loss of future earning capacity.
• Pain, suffering and emotional distress, including fear of dogs after an attack.
• Wrongful death damages for the family under Code of Civil Procedure section 377.60 in the rare case of a fatal attack.

A case’s value cannot be known before the medical picture is clear. Bites to children are both the most common and the most severe, and the full effect of an injury to a child can take time to appear.

How long do you have to file a dog bite claim in California?

• Two years from the date of the bite to file an injury lawsuit, under Code of Civil Procedure section 335.1.
• Until age 18, held open for a child’s claim, which gives much more time than most families believe. Do not wait, because evidence and records are easier to gather early.
• Six months to present a written claim if a public entity is involved, under Government Code section 911.2.

Other facts can shorten or extend these periods, so have your date confirmed at the start.

How much does a dog bite lawyer cost in Los Angeles?

No fee unless there is a recovery. Broukhim Legal PC takes dog bite cases on a contingency fee, so there is nothing to pay up front and the fee is paid out of what is recovered. If nothing is recovered, no fee is owed. The fee agreement is put in writing and signed before any work starts, as California law requires, and it also explains how the costs of running the case are handled. Your first conversation is free, confidential and carries no obligation.

Dog bite lawyers across Los Angeles County

Broukhim Legal PC represents injured people throughout Los Angeles County from its office at 550 S Hill Street in downtown Los Angeles. Each city page covers the local police or Sheriff report, the courthouse that hears the case and how a claim against that city is presented:

See all locations we serve, or tell us about the bite for a free case review.

Meet your Los Angeles dog bite lawyer

Bejan Broukhim, Founder and Lead Attorney
State Bar of California, license number 183036

Bejan Broukhim brings years of California legal experience to injury and mass tort cases and personally reviews each one. He earned his J.D. at the University of West Los Angeles School of Law, served as a judicial extern in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court and the Van Nuys Superior Court, and appeared in preliminary hearings as a certified law clerk with the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office. Every case is prepared from day one as though it will go to trial.

Office: 550 S Hill Street, Suite 1390, Los Angeles, CA 90013, serving all of Los Angeles County and California. Get directions