What to Do After a Dog Bite in California

Get Medical Care After a Dog Bite

Seek appropriate medical attention after a dog bite, particularly when the skin has been broken or the injury involves significant bleeding, pain, swelling, or damage to the face, hands, or other vulnerable areas.



Dog bites can create a risk of infection and other complications. Prompt medical care also creates documentation of the injury, treatment, and symptoms following the attack.

For serious injuries, immediate medical needs should take priority over gathering evidence or insurance information.

Document the Dog Bite and Where It Happened

If circumstances allow, take photographs or video of the injuries and the location where the attack occurred.



Document torn or damaged clothing and any conditions that may help explain what happened, such as an open or damaged gate, broken fencing, or other containment issues.

Continue photographing the injuries during recovery. Scarring, bruising, swelling, and other effects of a dog bite can change considerably over time.

If the attack occurred in Redondo Beach or another South Bay community, local circumstances may also be relevant to the investigation.

Report the Dog Bite

Contacting the appropriate local animal control agency can create an official record of the incident and help identify the dog, its owner, vaccination information, and potentially other relevant history.



Reporting procedures can vary depending on where in California the bite occurred. Medical providers may also have reporting obligations when treating animal bites.

Keep copies of any reports, reference numbers, or other documentation connected with the incident.

Get the Dog Owner’s and Witnesses’ Information

When it is safe to do so, obtain the dog owner's name, address, phone number, and available insurance information.

Also collect contact information from anyone who witnessed the attack or saw the dog immediately before or afterward.



If the dog bite occurred at a rental property, apartment complex, or another property controlled by someone other than the dog owner, additional liability issues may need to be investigated.

Preserve Evidence of Your Injuries and Losses

Keep records related to the dog bite and your recovery, including medical records, bills, photographs, damaged clothing, prescription information, missed work, and communications involving the dog owner or insurance company.



Evidence can become particularly important when injuries result in scarring, nerve damage, infection, psychological effects, lost income, or the need for future treatment.

Do not discard potentially relevant evidence simply because the physical injuries have begun to heal.

Be Careful With Insurance Communications

The dog owner's homeowner's or renter's insurance company may contact you after the incident.



Before providing a detailed recorded statement or accepting a settlement, make sure the extent of the injuries and potential future treatment are understood. An early settlement may not account for medical care, scarring, lost income, or other damages that become clearer during recovery.

Understand California Dog Bite Liability

California generally follows a strict liability rule for dog bites under Civil Code § 3342. In qualifying cases, an owner can be held responsible for injuries caused by a dog bite even if the dog had never bitten anyone before and the owner did not know the dog was dangerous.



However, the circumstances of the attack still matter. Where the bite occurred, why the injured person was on the property, who owned or controlled the dog, and other facts can affect the claim.

Know the Deadline for a California Dog Bite Claim

California dog bite injury claims are generally subject to a two-year statute of limitations, but different deadlines can apply depending on the circumstances.



Waiting can also create practical problems even when the filing deadline has not passed. Surveillance footage can be overwritten, witnesses can become harder to locate, and other evidence can disappear.

Talk With a California Dog Bite Attorney

A dog bite attorney can evaluate liability, available insurance coverage, the extent of the injuries, and the evidence needed to pursue a claim.



Attorney Diane Chang handles dog bite cases throughout Redondo Beach, the South Bay, Los Angeles County, and California. Her experience with these cases is supported by extensive firsthand involvement with dogs as an AKC Rottweiler owner and handler.

Every case evaluation is personally reviewed by Diane.