A dog bite can mean stitches, an infection, scars and, for children, real fear of dogs. On top of that you may be dealing with medical bills, time off work and a dog owner who is a neighbor, a friend or a stranger at the park. The Law Offices of Brent W. Caldwell represents people bitten by dogs in Huntington Beach and across Orange County. Our office is on Beach Boulevard, and the consultation is free.
Most dog bite claims are paid by the owner’s homeowner’s or renter’s insurance, not by the owner personally. Brent Caldwell worked for insurance companies before he represented injured people, so he knows how these claims are valued and where insurers push back.
California has a strict liability dog bite statute, Civil Code section 3342. If a dog bites someone who is in a public place, or lawfully in a private place (including the owner’s property), the owner is liable for the damages, even if the dog had never bitten anyone before and the owner had no reason to expect it.
That means you usually don’t have to prove the owner was careless. The main questions become whether the dog bit you, whether you were where you were allowed to be, and how badly you were hurt. The statute covers bites. If a dog knocked you down or chased you into traffic without biting, the claim is usually based on negligence instead, for example an owner who let the dog run loose in violation of a leash law. See Orange County dog bite laws for more detail.
Local rules often matter in a dog bite case, especially when the dog wasn’t under control:
Children are often bitten on the face and head because of their height. When a child is hurt, future scar revision and counseling can be part of the claim.
A claim can include medical bills (past and future), lost wages, pain and suffering, emotional distress and the cost of scar treatment. What a claim is worth depends on the injuries and the insurance available. See how much you can sue for a dog bite.
Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. See more case results.
The consultation is free, and we handle dog bite cases on a contingency fee: no attorney fees unless we recover compensation for you. Your written fee agreement explains how fees and case costs work.
In California, an injury claim from a dog bite generally must be filed within two years. If a public agency is involved, for example a police dog, different rules apply and a written claim is usually due within six months. The exact deadline depends on the facts, and a child’s claim may have a different deadline. See California personal injury deadlines.
Do I have a claim if the dog never bit anyone before?
Usually, yes. Under Civil Code 3342 the owner is liable for a bite in a public place or lawfully in a private place, whether or not the dog had a history.
The dog belongs to a friend or family member. Do I have to sue them?
Most claims are paid by the owner’s homeowner’s or renter’s insurance. Many people make a claim against the policy without a lawsuit.
Who do I report a bite to in Huntington Beach?
OC Animal Care, which handles animal control for the city: (714) 935-6848, or (714) 259-1122 after hours. Call 911 for a serious attack.
What if I was bitten at Dog Beach?
Dogs there must still be on a leash no longer than six feet. A bite there can be a claim like any other public-place bite.
What if a dog knocked me down but didn’t bite?
You may still have a claim, but it’s usually based on negligence, such as a loose or unleashed dog, rather than the bite statute.
See our Huntington Beach personal injury page, or our Orange County dog bite lawyer page if you were bitten elsewhere in the county.
Bitten by a dog in Huntington Beach? Call (714) 752-4670 or send us a message for a free case evaluation. No attorney fees unless we recover compensation for you.