Local office in Modesto, CA3509 Coffee Rd, Suite D8Directions

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

Get the bite treated, report it to Modesto Police Animal Control at (209) 552-2470, and talk to us before you talk to the dog owner's insurer.

  • No fee unless we winWe only get paid when you get paid.
  • Zero upfront costYour consultation is free, with no obligation.
  • Hablamos españolNative Spanish speakers. No confusion. No delays.
  • Available 24/7We'll meet you at your home or hospital.
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Call our Modesto office(209) 780-751524/7 line: (800) 985-9565

No attorney's fees unless we recover compensation. Clients may be responsible for case costs. Read the disclaimer

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They were extremely helpful and got me a great settlement. I definitely would recommend them.
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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.

Recognized for excellence

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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Here to protect your interests, not the insurance company's

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

After a dog bite, the claim usually goes to the owner's homeowner's or renter's insurance, and that insurer has adjusters and lawyers of its own. An adjuster may call within days, and what you say can shape the rest of your claim.

Before you sign anything, ask yourself:

  1. Did the dog bite you, or knock you down?
  2. Does the owner have homeowner's or renter's insurance, or a landlord who knew about the dog?
  3. Will the settlement cover your scars and treatment months from now, not just today?

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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Our office in Modesto

Local dog bite lawyers,right here in Modesto.

Not every firm that advertises in Modesto has an office here. We do.

Our office is on Coffee Road at Sylvan Avenue in north Modesto, about 4 miles from downtown. We'll come to you anywhere in Stanislaus County.

Nearby officesStocktonFresnoSan Jose

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

400+five-star Google reviews

Real reviews fromour clients.

  • 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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Leti was incredibly attentive throughout every step of my case. … She followed up consistently, answered all my questions promptly, and always made me feel like a priority.
Eric C.Google review
Valero Law Group is great. They are very knowledgeable. I truly recommend them.
Armando N.Google review

What you can recover aftera dog bite in California.

When the owner is responsible, a claim can cover everything the bite cost you: the care you've had and the care you'll need, the pay you lost, and the scars and distress it left behind.

Economic damages

The costs you can add up

  • Emergency care, stitches and hospital bills
  • Follow-up care, including reconstructive or scar surgery
  • Physical therapy and rehabilitation
  • Lost wages and lost earning capacity

Non-economic damages

The harm that has no receipt

  • Pain and physical suffering
  • Scarring and disfigurement
  • Anxiety and emotional distress
  • Lost enjoyment of life
  • 1st biteThe owner is responsible from the first biteThere's no "one free bite" in California. It doesn't matter that the dog never bit anyone before or that the owner didn't know it was dangerous, and a bite counts even if it didn't break the skin.
  • $81,789The average dog bite insurance claim in California in 2025California had 2,830 dog bite and other dog-related injury claims that year, more than any other state, according to the Insurance Information Institute and State Farm. It's an average, not what any one case is worth.
  • 80%What you keep if you were 20% at faultIf the owner blames you, say for reaching over a fence, California's pure comparative fault rule reduces your award by your share of the blame instead of erasing it.

After a dog bite in Modesto,what comes next.

The bite report, the quarantine, the owner's insurance and deadlines, explained.

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  • Get medical care
    Get any bite checked, even a small one: dog bites can spread germs that cause infection, and your doctor can tell you whether you need rabies shots.
  • Report the bite
    California requires every dog bite to be reported, and the report starts the rabies check. In Modesto, call Modesto Police Animal Control through dispatch at (209) 552-2470. In Ceres, Patterson, Waterford, Hughson and the county's unincorporated areas, it's Stanislaus Animal Services at (209) 558-7387. Elsewhere, call your own city's animal control. The dog is then usually quarantined for 10 days, at home or at the county shelter on Cornucopia Way; a dog that bit while running loose, or isn't vaccinated against rabies, isn't eligible for home quarantine.
  • Find out who insures the owner
    Write down the owner's name, address and phone number, and ask for their insurance company. A homeowner's or renter's policy typically covers dog bites up to its limits, often $100,000 to $300,000. If the owner rents, note the landlord's name too.
  • Was the dog on a leash?
    In Modesto, a dog in public must be on a leash no longer than 8 feet and under its owner's complete control, except in posted dog parks. In the county's unincorporated areas, the limit is the same off the owner's property. Note whether the dog was loose, and photograph the place and your wounds as they heal.
  • Get a copy of the bite report
    The report names the dog, its owner and its rabies vaccination, and whether the dog was quarantined. Where Stanislaus Animal Services took the report, it processes copy requests within 10 days. For a bite in Modesto itself, we can get the report for you.
  • Police or shelter dog? Shorter deadline
    If a public agency is responsible, for example for a police dog or a dog at a public shelter, a written claim is usually due within six months: for Modesto Police, to the City of Modesto; for the Sheriff, to Stanislaus County. We can file it for you.
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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 Modesto.

Is the owner responsible if the dog never bit anyone before?
Yes (Civil Code §3342). The law covers you in a public place or while you were lawfully on private property, for example as a guest in the owner's home or a mail carrier on the job. It doesn't cover trespassers, and vets and kennel staff bitten at work usually can't use it.
The dog belongs to a friend or neighbor. Will they have to pay out of pocket?
Not necessarily. Dog bite claims are often made against the owner's homeowner's or renter's insurance policy, which exists for exactly this. And reporting the bite doesn't mean the dog will be put down: it's quarantined, and animal services may look at whether it's dangerous, a public-safety process separate from your claim.
The dog knocked me down but didn't bite me. Do I have a case?
Possibly. California's dog bite law covers bites, but if a dog knocked you down, jumped on you or chased you into the street, the owner can still be responsible if they were careless, for example by letting the dog run loose, or if they knew it was dangerous. If the dog was off its leash, that can help show the owner was careless.
How long do I have after a dog bite in Modesto?
Most dog bite lawsuits must be filed within two years of the bite (Code of Civil Procedure §335.1). If a public agency is responsible, such as a police department or a public shelter, a written claim is usually due within six months. Call us early so no deadline slips by.
My child was bitten. What should I know?
Children are more likely than adults to be bitten, and their injuries tend to be more severe, so a doctor should see your child after any bite. For a child, the two-year limit usually doesn't start until they turn 18, except a claim against a public agency. Any settlement for a child has to be approved by a judge.
Can a landlord be responsible for a tenant's dog?
Only in some cases. In a 1975 case from Modesto, where a tenant's dog attacked a five-year-old girl visiting a rented house, the Court of Appeal held that a landlord can owe a duty of care when the landlord actually knew the dog was dangerous and could have had it removed, for example by ending the lease (Uccello v. Laudenslayer). It depends on what the landlord knew, so talk to us.
Do you have an office in Modesto?
Yes. Our office is at 3509 Coffee Rd, Suite D8, Modesto, CA 95355. Come in if you like, or we'll come to you, at home or in the hospital. Call (800) 985-9565 any time, 24/7.
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 Modesto dog bite lawyer today.

Your consultation is always free, with no obligation. We're happy to answer any questions and walk you through your options. No pressure, just honest answers.

(209) 780-7515

24/7 line: (800) 985-9565

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