A dog bite can mean medical bills, scarring and time away from work, and the owner’s insurance company may start asking questions right away. This page explains how California’s dog bite law works in Los Angeles, and how our Los Angeles personal injury attorneys can help.
Looking for a Los Angeles dog bite lawyer? B&D Law Group, APLC handles dog bite cases across Los Angeles, and the first consultation is free.
California’s dog bite rule
The owner of any dog is liable for the damages suffered by a person bitten by the dog while in a public place or lawfully in a private place, including the owner’s own property, regardless of the dog’s former viciousness or the owner’s knowledge of it (Civil Code section 3342). A person is lawfully on the owner’s property when performing a duty imposed by state or federal law, or when on the property at the owner’s express or implied invitation. The statute also limits claims against government agencies using dogs in certain police or military work.
What to do after a dog bite in Los Angeles
- Get medical care. Bites can become infected, and a prompt record links the injury to the bite.
- Identify the owner and the dog. Get the owner’s name, address and contact details, and ask about the dog’s vaccination records.
- Report the bite. Inside the City of Los Angeles, LA Animal Services is the city’s animal agency. Elsewhere in the county, a different local agency may respond. Ask for the report number.
- Document everything. Photograph the injuries over time, the location and any fencing or signs, and collect witness details.
- Talk to a lawyer before giving a recorded statement. The owner’s insurer may be a source of recovery, but it is not working for you.
When the City of Los Angeles or another agency may be responsible
If a dog kept by a public agency was involved, or a public agency may share responsibility, special claim rules apply. California does not allow a lawsuit against a public entity until a written claim has been presented and acted on (Government Code section 945.4), and a claim for injury or death generally must be presented within six months of the incident (Government Code section 911.2). The City of Los Angeles accepts claims through the Office of the City Clerk online, by mail or in person at 200 North Spring Street, Room 395, City Hall, Los Angeles, CA 90012; the city does not accept claims by email or fax (see also the City Attorney claims page). Claims involving state roads, LA County or LA Metro go to those agencies, so identify the right one early.
Fault, deadlines and what a claim can cover
- Two years to file a lawsuit. Most California personal injury and wrongful death lawsuits must be filed within two years (Code of Civil Procedure section 335.1).
- Six months for government claims. If a public agency may share the blame, the written claim deadline is much shorter (Government Code section 911.2).
- Shared fault reduces, but does not bar, your claim. California follows pure comparative fault, so your compensation is reduced by your percentage of fault rather than eliminated (Li v. Yellow Cab Co. (1975) 13 Cal.3d 804).
Depending on the facts, a claim can seek compensation for medical bills, future care, lost income, reduced earning ability, property damage and the pain and disruption the injury has caused.
How a Los Angeles dog bite case usually moves
- Free consultation. You tell us what happened and we explain your options. There is no attorney fee unless we recover compensation for you.
- Investigation. We gather the reports, photos, witness information, insurance details and your medical records.
- Claim and negotiation. We present the claim to the insurance company and negotiate for a fair settlement.
- Government claim if needed. If the City of Los Angeles or another public agency may share responsibility, we prepare the written claim before the six-month deadline.
- Lawsuit if needed. If the case does not settle, we file a lawsuit in the proper California Superior Court and keep pushing toward trial.
Cases we handle for people hurt in Los Angeles
Our personal injury attorneys represent people injured in Los Angeles in cases including:
You can also read about our past case results and what clients say about working with us.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a Los Angeles dog bite lawyer cost?
The consultation is free. We handle personal injury cases on a contingency fee, which means no attorney fee unless we recover compensation for you.
How long do I have to file a dog bite claim in Los Angeles?
Most California personal injury lawsuits must be filed within two years of the injury (Code of Civil Procedure section 335.1). If a city, county or state agency may be responsible, a written claim generally must be presented within six months (Government Code section 911.2).
Is the owner liable if the dog never bit anyone before?
Generally yes. California makes a dog owner liable for the damages of a person bitten in a public place or lawfully in a private place, regardless of the dog’s former viciousness or the owner’s knowledge of it (Civil Code section 3342).
What counts as lawfully on private property?
Under Civil Code section 3342, a person is lawfully on an owner’s property when performing a duty imposed by state or federal law, or when on the property at the owner’s express or implied invitation.
Who handles a dog bite report in Los Angeles?
Inside the City of Los Angeles, the city’s animal agency is LA Animal Services. Elsewhere in the county, a different local agency may respond. Ask the agency that responds for the report number, and tell us who responded.
Related pages and nearby areas
More ways we help injured people across Los Angeles County:
- Los Angeles car accident lawyer
- Los Angeles truck accident lawyer
- Los Angeles motorcycle accident lawyer
- Los Angeles pedestrian accident lawyer
- Los Angeles bicycle accident lawyer
- Los Angeles slip and fall lawyer
- Los Angeles wrongful death attorney
- California dog bite attorneys
- Los Angeles personal injury attorneys
- Santa Monica personal injury lawyer
- Culver City personal injury lawyer
- Hollywood personal injury lawyer
- Inglewood personal injury lawyer
- Glendale personal injury lawyer
- Long Beach personal injury lawyer
- All California and Nevada areas we serve
Talk to a B&D Law Group attorney
B&D Law Group, APLC represents people hurt in Los Angeles from our Los Angeles office at 10700 Santa Monica Blvd, Suite 200, Los Angeles, CA 90025. The consultation is free, and we handle personal injury cases on a contingency fee, which means no attorney fee unless we recover compensation for you. Call (310) 424-5252 or send us your case details.
Attorney advertising. This page is provided for general informational purposes only and is not legal advice. Reading this page or contacting us does not create an attorney-client relationship. Agency procedures, fees and data on this page were checked against official sources in October 2026 and can change. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.