Local office in Salinas, CA30 E. San Joaquin St, Suite 203-ADirections

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

In Salinas, get any bite treated, report it to Hitchcock Road Animal Services at (831) 769-8856, 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 Salinas office(831) 215-546224/7 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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This law firm was great to work with: cooperative, friendly, helpful.
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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

The owner's insurer has 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, not to the owner personally, 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 Salinas

Local dog bite lawyers,right here in Salinas.

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

We're on East San Joaquin Street in south Salinas, just off South Main Street. Come in, or we'll come to you anywhere from Castroville to King City.

Nearby officesSan JoseModestoStockton

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 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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Highly recommended for personal injury. Team is very knowledgeable.
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Just wanted to say what a pleasure it was to work with Leticia R. She was very professional and helped point me in the right direction.
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What you can recover aftera dog bite in California.

In California, a dog's owner is responsible for what a bite cost you when it happened in a public place, or while you were lawfully on private property, including the owner's own home or yard (Civil Code §3342).

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 Salinas,what comes next.

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

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  • Report the bite
    California requires every dog bite to be reported, and the report starts the rabies check. In Salinas and unincorporated Monterey County, call Hitchcock Road Animal Services Field Services at (831) 769-8856, weekdays 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., or use its online report form. If the dog is still loose and attacking, call right away; after hours, call 911. In Monterey, Seaside, Marina, Soledad and the other cities, call that city's animal control.
  • Police or shelter dog? Shorter deadline
    Most dog bite lawsuits must be filed within two years. If a public agency is responsible, for example for a police dog or a shelter dog, a written claim is usually due within six months: to the City of Salinas for its police, to Monterey County for the Sheriff's Office, and to Hitchcock Road Animal Services for its shelter. We can file it for you.
  • 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. Rabies is found in skunks and bats in Monterey County, so follow that advice.
  • 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.
  • The 10-day quarantine
    After a bite, the dog is quarantined for 10 days, usually at home or at a vet, under the County Health Department's orders. If it stays healthy for those 10 days, health officials can rule out rabies from that bite. We can request a copy of the bite report for you.
  • Was the dog on a leash?
    In Salinas, a dog has to be on a leash held by someone who can control it or securely fenced in, and the same goes in unincorporated Monterey County. If a loose dog knocked you down or chased you into the street, the owner can be responsible even without a bite. Note whether the dog was loose, and photograph the place and your wounds as they heal.
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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 Salinas.

Is the owner responsible if the dog never bit anyone before?
Yes. Under California's dog bite law (Civil Code §3342), the owner is responsible from the first bite, 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 typically covers dog bites up to its limits. And reporting the bite doesn't mean the dog will be put down: it's quarantined, and after a serious bite, Salinas or the County may hold a hearing on whether it's "potentially dangerous" or "vicious", 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. Salinas doesn't allow dogs to run loose, so if the dog was off its leash, that can help show the owner was careless.
A police dog bit me. Do I have a claim?
It depends on what happened. California's dog bite law doesn't apply when a police dog bites a suspect during an arrest or an investigation, but it can apply to a bystander who had nothing to do with it. A claim about Salinas Police goes to the City of Salinas, and one about the Sheriff's Office to Monterey County, usually within six months, so call us early.
How long do I have after a dog bite in Salinas?
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 get even a small bite checked. For a child, the two-year limit usually doesn't start until they turn 18, but a claim against a public agency still has the six-month deadline. Any settlement for a child has to be approved by a judge.
Do you have an office in Salinas?
Yes. Our office is at 30 E. San Joaquin St, Suite 203-A, Salinas, CA 93901, in south Salinas just off South Main Street. 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 Salinas 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.

(831) 215-5462

24/7 line: (800) 985-9565

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