After a dog bite in Los Angeles, get medical care right away, identify the dog and its owner, report the bite to animal control, and document your injuries and the scene. California's strict liability dog bite law generally makes the owner responsible even if the dog never bit anyone before. Talk to a lawyer before giving statements to an insurer or accepting a settlement.
1. Get Medical Care Immediately
Your health comes first. Even a bite that looks small can become infected, and animal bites can transmit bacteria and, in rare cases, rabies. Prompt treatment helps prevent complications and creates medical records that connect your injuries to the attack. Follow your doctor's instructions, finish any antibiotics and keep every follow-up appointment, including physical therapy or wound care. Bites to the face and hands, and bites to children, deserve particular attention because of the risk of scarring and nerve damage.
2. Identify the Dog and Its Owner
If you can do so safely, get:
- The owner's name, address and phone number
- The dog's vaccination history, especially rabies
- A description or photo of the dog
- The exact location of the attack
This information is important both for your medical care and for establishing who is legally responsible.
3. Report the Bite
Report the incident to your local animal control agency and, for serious attacks, to the police. An official report creates a record, helps confirm the dog's vaccination status and may protect other people from a future attack. It can also become valuable evidence in your claim.
4. Document Everything
As soon as you are able, gather:
- Photos of your injuries, taken regularly as they heal, and of the location
- Names and phone numbers of witnesses
- Your written account of what happened before, during and after the attack
- Medical bills, treatment records and appointment dates
- Torn or bloodied clothing
Detailed records make it much harder for an insurer to downplay what happened.
5. Understand California's Dog Bite Law
California follows a strict liability rule for dog bites under Civil Code § 3342. In general, an owner is responsible for bite injuries that happen in a public place or while the victim is lawfully on private property, even if the dog has never bitten anyone and even if the owner had no reason to think it was dangerous. That makes these claims different from many other injury cases, where you must prove carelessness. Defenses can still come up, such as claims of provocation or trespassing, so the details matter. Learn more about dog bite claims in Los Angeles.
6. Be Careful With Insurance Companies
An insurer, often the owner's homeowner's or renter's carrier, may contact you soon after the attack. Adjusters may try to minimize your injuries or offer a quick settlement before you know how well the wound will heal. Early offers rarely account for scarring, scar revision surgery, emotional trauma or future complications. Before giving a recorded statement or accepting anything, get legal advice. It also helps to know the common tactics adjusters use, and to stay off social media while your claim is open.
7. Talk to a Dog Bite Lawyer
A lawyer can investigate the attack, gather medical and witness evidence, handle the insurance company, calculate the full impact of your injuries and pursue compensation through settlement or, if needed, trial. Dog attacks can also happen at businesses, apartment complexes and hotels, which may bring other responsible parties into the picture. As one example, our firm obtained a $362,000 result in a dog attack case at an extended-stay hotel. Every case is different, and past results do not predict future outcomes.
Speak With Insider Accident Lawyers
If you or your child was hurt by a dog, you do not have to handle the aftermath alone. Acting quickly helps preserve evidence and protect your claim. Call 424-INSIDER or request a free case review. You pay no attorney's fee unless we recover compensation for you.
