The attack happens fast. One moment you’re walking down the street, the next you’re bleeding and in shock. If you’ve been bitten by a dog in San Diego, the confusion hits just as hard as the physical pain.
Will your wounds get infected? Who’s going to pay these medical bills? Can you actually do anything about this?
California law provides powerful protection for victims like you.
California dog bite law doesn’t mess around when it comes to dog attacks. This law makes dog owners strictly liable for bite injuries, period. No excuses, no “my dog has never done this before” stories.
Here’s what the law says: “The owner of any dog is liable for the damages suffered by any person who is bitten by the dog while in a public place or lawfully in a private place.”
This strict liability applies whether you were:
Unlike other states with “one bite” rules, California protects you from the first attack. You don’t need to prove the owner knew their dog was dangerous.
This law applies regardless of the dog’s past behavior, and the owner is responsible even if they took precautions to try to prevent the bite.
Every minute counts after a dog attack. What you do right now can protect both your health and your legal case.
Don’t worry if you can’t do everything perfectly.
We’ve helped clients who missed some of these steps still recover compensation. The most important thing is getting medical care and creating whatever record you can.
The insurance company will look for any excuse to deny your claim, so the more evidence you gather now, the stronger your case becomes later.
The costs from a dog attack add up fast. California law recognizes that victims shouldn’t be stuck paying for someone else’s failure to control their pet.
Medical expenses pile up quickly:
Lost income hits your family:
Pain and suffering damages cover:
California does not have a statutory cap on compensatory damages in dog bite cases. However, punitive damages are only available in rare cases where the owner’s conduct was particularly reckless or intentional.
The dog owner bears primary responsibility, but other parties might be liable depending on what happened.
This includes bites on the owner’s own property if you were invited or had business there.
Multiple parties often share responsibility, which means more sources of compensation for your injuries.
California’s strict liability law includes specific exceptions:
What seems like provocation to an insurance adjuster might not hold up in court, and property boundaries can be more complicated than they appear.
We’ve seen too many victims walk away from valid claims because someone convinced them an exception applied when it didn’t.
The reality? The dog owner’s insurance company has one goal: paying you as little as possible. They have teams of adjusters and lawyers working to deny or minimize your claim.
That’s where we come in. We know their games because we’ve been fighting these battles for years.
We handle the insurance company tactics:
The bullies are banking on you giving up because the system seems stacked against you. We won’t let you stand alone through this confusion and temptation to settle for less than you deserve.
You have exactly two years from the dog attack to file a legal claim in California. Miss this deadline and you lose your right to compensation forever.
Don’t wait to protect your rights:
For children under 18, the statute of limitations is paused until they reach adulthood, giving them two years after their 18th birthday to file.
Still, pursuing the claim sooner usually helps preserve evidence and strengthens the case.
We’ve made it our mission to help injury victims fight back against insurance companies and irresponsible pet owners. Watching our clients hurt over the years has seared into us the burning desire to take on these bullies.
Our approach is simple:
Take care of your health.
What sets us apart:
We’re infuriated by seeing anyone under-served when trying to recuperate after being hurt. We refuse to back down to insurance companies that feed on the misfortune of injured victims.
Your pain and suffering don’t have to be your burden alone. The insurance companies are banking on you doing nothing or accepting whatever scraps they offer.
This is your life. It’s not okay that you’re hurting. It’s not okay for you to shoulder this burden alone. It’s not okay for you to be taken advantage of.
Contact DP Injury Attorneys today for a case review. We won’t let the insurance company bullies push you around while you’re already suffering.
Arthur Paul D’Egidio is the Managing Partner of DP Injury Attorneys, a San Diego personal injury law firm. With more than 12 years of experience in California injury law, he has dedicated his practice to representing clients in a wide range of personal injury matters, including car accidents, workers’ compensation, slip and falls, catastrophic injury, and wrongful death cases.
Arthur received his Juris Doctor from the Thomas Jefferson School of Law and is a member of the State Bar of California as well as the San Diego County Bar Association. He has received numerous accolades for his work, including being named a Super Lawyer for seven straight years by Thomson Reuters and a “Top 40 Under 40” by the National Trial Lawyers.
