West Hollywood Dog Bite Lawyer

Under Civil Code § 3342 you do not have to prove the owner was careless or knew the dog was dangerous. That removes the hardest element of an ordinary negligence case. The statute does not apply to bites suffered by a trespasser, and it does not cover every police or military dog performing its duties.

Injuries that are not bites — a large dog knocking someone off a bicycle on the Santa Monica Boulevard sidewalk, for example — fall outside § 3342 and are brought as ordinary negligence or as a violation of the leash requirement instead. Both routes are available in the same case.

Most bite claims are paid by the owner's homeowner's or renter's liability coverage, not out of pocket. In a city where a large share of residents rent, renter's insurance is the common source of recovery, and many tenants do not realize their policy covers this.

Where a bite happens in a building's shared space — a lobby, elevator, courtyard, or garage — the building's own liability policy can also be in play if management knew about a dangerous animal on the property and did nothing. We look for both.

Get medical care the same day. Bite wounds to the hand and face carry a meaningful infection risk, and scarring claims depend on a clear photographic record from the first week onward.

Photograph the wound before and after it is cleaned, keep the animal control case number, and write down the owner's name, address, and the dog's license and vaccination status while you still have contact with them.