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Dog bite in California?Talk to a lawyer for free.

Dog owners in California are responsible from the first bite, and a homeowner's or renter's policy may cover the claim.

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I wasn't sure what to do, they made everything simple, got me into treatment and a great settlement.
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Results that speak.Millions won for injured clients.

We've won over $500 million in verdicts and settlements for our clients.

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Avvo Rating: Excellent, Top Rated Personal InjuryTop Rated by Super Lawyers
  • $6.25MPersonal injuryA confidential personal injury settlement.
  • $5MAuto accidentFor a husband and wife after the husband suffered a brachial plexus injury.
  • $2.34MAccident claimA win for a client injured in an accident.
  • $1.5MAuto accidentA win for a client injured in an auto accident.

Past results do not guarantee future outcomes, and each case is different.

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On your side, not the insurance company's

Insurance companies have a team.You should have one too.

A dog bite claim is usually handled by the owner's homeowner's or renter's insurer, and that company has its own adjusters and lawyers working on it. Their call can come within days, long before anyone knows how the wound will heal or what scar it will leave.

Before you sign anything, ask yourself:

  1. Were you in a public place, or on the property as a guest or for work, when the dog bit you?
  2. Did the dog knock you down or chase you, with or without a bite?
  3. Will the offer still cover scar care and lost pay a year from now?

From one of our car accident cases

The insurer's best offer$410,000

What we won for our client$4.4M

A car accident that left our client with a neck injury. Most people would have taken the offer. We won more than ten times as much.

Past results do not guarantee future outcomes, and each case is different.

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12 offices, one team

Dog bite lawyersnear you, anywhere in California.

Every one of our offices handles dog bite cases. Pick yours below for the local details, or call: if you can't come to us, we'll come to you.

Also serving Los Angeles, Ontario, Oakland and communities statewide. In Washington, see our Tacoma office.

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Why choose Valero Law Group?

We champion every case,big and small.

Whether your case is worth $5,000 or $5 million, we bring the same skill, attention and determination to every client we represent.

So don't let the size of your case keep you from seeking justice: every injury deserves serious representation. Let us fight for the compensation you're owed while you focus on what matters most, your recovery.

They made me feel like a priority, and they put my needs first as a client.

IsabelValero Law Group client

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Real clients,in their own words.

  • Samuel M. smiling in the Valero Law Group office with his $881,000 settlement check
    Samuel M.$881,000
  • Victoria M. smiling in front of the Valero Law Group logo wall with her $625,000 settlement check
    Victoria M.$625,000
  • Karina C. smiling in the Valero Law Group office with her $625,000 settlement check
    Karina C.$625,000
  • Angela M. smiling and pointing to her $625,000 settlement check
    Angela M.$625,000
  • Destiny H. smiling with her $500,000 settlement check
    Destiny H.$500,000
  • Javier P. smiling in the Valero Law Group office with his $375,000 settlement check
    Javier P.$375,000
Thank you Valero Law Group for getting me paid after I got bit by my neighbor's dog!
William D.Google review
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They took care of everything. The team is very professional and knowledgeable… I felt like they listened and it moved along quickly.
Jose W.Google review
I had a positive experience with Valero Law Group Injury Lawyers… The service I received was exceptional and everything went smoothly.
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What a California dog biteclaim can recover.

When a dog's owner is responsible, a claim can reach every loss the bite caused, from the emergency room and later scar surgery to the fear of dogs it can leave behind.

Economic damages

Costs with a receipt

  • Emergency care, stitches, wound care and antibiotics
  • Rabies shots, when a doctor orders them
  • Plastic surgery and scar treatment, now and later
  • Wages lost while you heal, and earning power you won't get back

Non-economic damages

Losses no bill can show

  • Pain and physical suffering
  • Scarring and disfigurement
  • Fear of dogs, anxiety and trouble sleeping
  • Activities you or your child can no longer enjoy
  • 1st biteOwners answer for a dog's very first biteCivil Code §3342 makes the owner responsible whatever the dog's past and whatever the owner knew, and a bite counts even without broken skin.
  • 2,830dog‑related injury claims in California in 2025More than in any other state. Insurers paid about $231.5 million on them, according to the Insurance Information Institute and State Farm.
  • 48 hoursfor the owner to share their details with youAfter a bite that breaks the skin, the owner must give you their name, address and phone, the dog's name and tag number, and its rabies vaccination status (Penal Code §398).

After a dog bite in California,what comes next.

What to do and what to expect in the weeks after a bite, anywhere in the state.

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  • Wash it, then get it checked
    California's health department advises washing a bite with soap under running water for five minutes, and getting medical care if it's serious or shows pain, redness, swelling or discharge. A doctor decides whether you need rabies shots.
  • Report it where it happened
    Every dog bite in California has to be reported, and the agency depends on the address: a city's animal services, a police animal control unit, the county's animal services or, in some counties, the health department itself. Your local health department can tell you which.
  • The dog is usually watched 10 days
    Under state rules, a dog that bites is isolated and watched for signs of rabies, usually for 10 days, at the owner's home, a shelter or a vet. Rabies is rare in dogs in California, but follow your doctor's advice on shots in the meantime.
  • Write down the owner and the dog
    The owner's name, address, phone and insurance company (and the landlord's name if they rent), the dog's description and license tag, and the names of anyone who saw it happen. Ask the owner for proof of the dog's rabies vaccination, photograph the wound as it heals, and keep the report number and every medical bill.
  • Who usually pays
    Usually the owner's homeowner's or renter's policy, which typically covers dog bites up to its limit, often $100,000 to $300,000; the owner owes the rest. A landlord is responsible only in narrow cases, such as knowing the dog was dangerous and being able to have it removed.
  • Two years, or six months for an agency
    California's general deadline to file a dog bite lawsuit is two years from the bite. If a police dog or a dog in a public shelter's care bit you, a written claim to the agency is usually due within six months, even for a child.
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Al Barro Foundation: supporting over 400 orphans in Mexico

From the community, for the community.

Hablamos español.

We're a Hispanic-focused firm with native Spanish-speaking attorneys. We understand your family's needs, walk you through every step in your language, and fight to get you every dollar you deserve.

Organizations we support

Sponsor of the 2024 Share the Road Scholarship

Our community outreach
  • Al Barro Foundation
  • EUNIME por Tijuana, A.C.
…they speak excellent Spanish, know how to help, and look out for their clients' best interests.
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Organizations we support

Sponsor of the 2024 Share the Road Scholarship

Our community outreach
  • Al Barro Foundation
  • EUNIME por Tijuana, A.C.

Common questionsafter a dog bite in California.

How long do I have after a dog bite in California?
Generally two years from the bite to file a lawsuit (Code of Civil Procedure §335.1). If the dog belonged to a city, county or other public agency, such as a police K-9, a written claim to that agency usually comes first, within six months. Photos of the wound, witnesses and the bite report are easiest to gather early, so it helps to call soon.
Is the owner responsible if the dog never bit anyone before?
Yes. Under Civil Code §3342, the owner is responsible for a bite in a public place or while you were lawfully on private property, whatever the dog's history. The main exceptions are trespassers, vets and kennel staff bitten while caring for the dog, and police dogs used in an arrest, though not against a bystander. Bitten on the job? Workers' compensation usually doesn't rule out a claim against a dog owner who isn't your employer.
The dog knocked me down but didn't bite me. Do I have a case?
Possibly. The dog bite law covers bites only, but an owner who was careless, for example by letting the dog run loose against a leash law, or who knew the dog was dangerous, can still be responsible for a fall, a broken bone or an injury from being chased into the street.
It's a neighbor's or friend's dog. Will reporting the bite get it put down?
Not by itself. A report is how officials make sure the dog is healthy, licensed and vaccinated. After a serious bite, animal control can seek a separate hearing to declare the dog "potentially dangerous" or "vicious", with rules like a fenced yard and a leash; a vicious dog may be put down. That process is apart from your claim, which usually goes to the owner's insurance, not their savings.
My child was bitten. What should I know?
Children are more at risk of a serious infection from a bite, and far more likely than adults to be bitten on the head or face, so it's worth having a doctor see even a small bite. A child's two years usually begin only on their 18th birthday, though not for a claim against a public agency, where a late claim for a child generally has to be accepted if it's filed within a year (Gov. Code §911.6). Any settlement needs a judge's approval.
What if the owner says it was my fault?
That doesn't automatically end a claim. The owner can argue you shared the blame, for example by teasing the dog, but under California's pure comparative fault rule a share of fault lowers an award rather than wiping it out. It depends on what happened, so talk to us.
Do I have to live near one of your offices?
No. We take dog bite cases anywhere in California. We have offices from Stockton to Palm Desert, and if you can't travel, we'll come to your home or the hospital.
What does a dog bite lawyer cost?
Nothing upfront. Your consultation is free, and no attorney's fees are owed unless we recover compensation for you. You may be responsible for case-related costs and expenses; we'll explain them before you sign.
Attorney Kyle Valero
Kyle ValeroAttorney, Valero Law Group

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Have a question about a potential case?Talk to a California dog bite lawyer today.

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