Beverly Hills Dog Bite Attorney

How Our Beverly Hills Dog Bite Lawyers Can Help

Most dog bite cases follow the same practical arc. We start by making sure you are getting the medical care you need, then move quickly to obtain the Animal Control report, identify the owner and their insurance, and preserve the photographs and witness information before they disappear. From there we document your injuries fully and build the timeline of what happened.

When the owner’s insurer offers a fair resolution, we negotiate it. When they deny responsibility, blame you for the attack, or offer far less than your claim is worth, we are prepared to file suit and take the case to trial. Throughout, you focus on recovering while we handle the records, the deadlines, and the insurance company.

You do not need to have all the answers before you call. A lawyer can review what happened, explain your rights under California law, and help you avoid the missteps that weaken a claim.

A Beverly Hills dog bite attorney can preserve the evidence and handle the insurer while you focus on your treatment and recovery.

Common Dog Bite Injuries

Dog bites cause far more than the small punctures people picture. A frightened or aggressive dog can inflict deep, complicated wounds, and the damage often runs below the surface. These are the injuries we see most often in Beverly Hills dog attack cases:

Puncture Wounds and Deep Tissue Damage

A dog’s teeth do not just cut — they crush and tear. Puncture wounds can look small on the outside while reaching muscle, tendon, and nerve underneath. Because the wound is deep and narrow, it is also hard to clean, which is why bites carry such a high risk of serious infection.

Infection From a Dog Bite

Dog mouths carry bacteria such as Pasteurella and Capnocytophaga, and any bite that breaks the skin raises the risk of infection, including in rare cases exposure to rabies. Infections can turn a wound that looked minor into a hospital stay, which is why same-day medical care and a documented record of treatment matter so much.

Facial Injuries and Permanent Scarring

Bites to the face, lips, cheeks, and scalp are common, especially for children whose faces are at a dog’s level. These wounds often need stitches or reconstructive plastic surgery and can leave permanent scarring and disfigurement that affect a person for the rest of their life.

Nerve and Blood Vessel Damage

A deep bite can sever nerves and damage blood vessels, causing numbness, weakness, chronic pain, or lasting loss of function in a hand, arm, or leg. Some of these injuries require surgery, and some never fully heal.

Broken Bones and Crush Injuries

Large dogs can break bones when they bite down or knock a person to the ground. Crush injuries to the hand and fingers are especially common when a victim raises an arm to protect their face, and they can leave lasting stiffness and loss of grip.

Head Injuries From a Knockdown

When a large dog lunges or jumps, the victim can be knocked hard onto pavement. That fall can cause a concussion or a more serious head injury, entirely apart from the bite itself. Older adults and small children face the greatest risk in these knockdowns.

Injuries to Children

Children are bitten more often than any other group, and their injuries tend to be worse. A child is closer to a dog’s mouth, less able to protect themselves, and more likely to be bitten in the face and head — leaving scars and trauma that can last a lifetime.

Emotional Trauma and PTSD

The harm from a dog attack is not only physical. Many victims live with anxiety, nightmares, a new fear of dogs, and post-traumatic stress long after the wounds have closed. California law recognizes this emotional harm as a real, compensable injury.

Loss of a Limb or Function

In the most severe attacks, a bite can lead to amputation or permanent loss of the use of a hand, finger, or limb. These are life-altering injuries that change how a person works, lives, and cares for their family — and their value must account for a lifetime of impact.

Fatal Dog Attacks

Fatal dog attacks are rare, but they happen, and children and older adults are the most vulnerable. When a family loses a loved one to a dog attack, California’s wrongful-death law allows the survivors to seek accountability and compensation for their loss.

Not sure how serious your injury is or who is responsible? A free, confidential consultation can help you understand your options before you talk to the owner or their insurance company.

California's Dog Bite Strict Liability Law (Civil Code 3342)

California is a strict liability state for dog bites. Under Civil Code section 3342, a dog’s owner is legally responsible for a bite regardless of the dog’s past behavior or whether the owner had any reason to think the dog was dangerous. You do not have to prove the dog bit someone before, and you do not have to prove the owner was careless. The statute applies whenever the victim was bitten in a public place or was lawfully on private property. Here is how it generally works:

• Bitten in a public place — On a sidewalk, in a park, on Rodeo Drive, or anywhere you have a right to be, the owner is strictly liable under Civil Code section 3342.
• Lawfully on private property — The same rule applies when you were invited or had a legal right to be there. That includes guests, mail carriers, delivery drivers, housekeepers, and other workers and business visitors.
• Trespassers — Strict liability generally does not apply to someone bitten while unlawfully on private property, though a separate negligence claim may still exist depending on the facts.
• Police and military dogs — Civil Code section 3342(b) exempts a governmental agency’s police or military dog when the dog is being used properly in the line of duty.
• Provocation — If the victim provoked the dog, California’s comparative fault rule may reduce — but does not automatically bar — the recovery.

California rejects the “one-bite rule” that many other states follow. Under Civil Code section 3342, an owner is responsible from the very first bite — no history of aggression required.

Steps to Take After a Dog Bite in Beverly Hills

What you do in the first hours and days after a dog bite can protect both your health and your claim. If you are able, take these six steps:

For a fuller walkthrough of what to do in the moments after an attack, see our guide on what to do after a dog bite in California .

How to Prove a Dog Bite Case

Because California uses strict liability, a dog bite case is usually less about proving fault and more about proving who owned the dog, that you were lawfully present, and the true extent of your injuries. Solid evidence is what turns a claim into a full recovery. Helpful evidence often includes:

• The Animal Control report documenting the attack and identifying the dog and its owner
• Your complete medical records — emergency care, wound treatment, surgery, and follow-up
• Date-stamped photographs of the wound as it heals and of any permanent scarring
• The owner’s identity and homeowner or renter insurance information
• Photos of the location, any fencing or gates, and torn or bloodied clothing
• Witness statements from anyone who saw the attack
• Proof of lost wages, such as pay stubs and an employer letter
• Expert input from treating physicians, plastic surgeons, or mental-health providers on future care

Damages You Can Recover in a Beverly Hills Dog Bite Case

California law lets dog bite victims recover both economic damages — the concrete, out-of-pocket losses — and non-economic damages for the human cost of the attack. CACI 3903, the jury instruction on economic damages, guides how those losses are measured. What your claim is worth depends on the severity of the injury, the treatment you need, the scarring, and how the attack has affected your life. A recovery cannot undo the harm, but it can provide accountability and the resources to heal.

Compensation may include:

• Emergency care, surgery, antibiotics, and hospital bills
• Future medical treatment, including reconstructive and plastic surgery
• Lost wages and lost earning capacity during recovery
• Pain, suffering, and emotional distress
• Permanent scarring and disfigurement
• Anxiety, PTSD, and the cost of mental-health treatment
• Loss of a limb or the use of a body part
• In fatal attacks, wrongful-death damages, including funeral and burial costs, for the surviving family

Most dog bite claims are paid through the owner’s homeowner or renter insurance policy. Coverage limits vary widely, and some policies exclude certain breeds, which can affect how much insurance is available. Where an owner handled a dog with malice or reckless disregard for safety — for example, encouraging an attack or ignoring a known danger — Civil Code section 3294 may also allow punitive damages, proven by clear and convincing evidence.

Who Can Be Held Liable for a Dog Bite

A dog bite case often has more than one responsible party, and naming each one early protects your claim. Identifying everyone with potential liability — and every applicable insurance policy — can be the difference between a claim that is fully covered and one that is not.

The dog’s owner. The owner is the primary defendant under Civil Code section 3342 and is strictly liable for the bite, even with no prior sign of aggression. In most cases their homeowner or renter insurance provides the compensation.

Property owners, landlords, and dog handlers. A property owner or landlord who knew a dangerous dog was on the premises and failed to act can share liability under ordinary negligence principles — the duty of reasonable care to lawful visitors recognized in Rowland v. Christian (1968) 69 Cal.2d 108. A dog walker, pet-sitter, kennel, or groomer who negligently mishandles a dog can also be held responsible. These overlap with premises liability claims when an unsafe condition contributed to the attack.

California Dog Bite Laws That Protect You

California gives dog bite victims unusually strong protection. Civil Code section 3342 imposes strict liability on the owner for a bite in a public place or while the victim was lawfully on private property, with a narrow exemption under section 3342(b) for a governmental agency’s police or military dog used properly in the line of duty. Because California rejects the common-law “one-bite rule,” you do not have to prove the dog ever bit anyone before — the owner is on the hook from the first bite.

Other laws reinforce those rights. California’s Food and Agricultural Code sections 31601 through 31683 set up the process for declaring a dog “potentially dangerous” or “vicious” and imposing restrictions, and local Beverly Hills and Los Angeles County ordinances require owners to license, leash, and control their dogs — a violation of those rules can be powerful evidence of negligence. Where a victim’s own conduct played a part, California’s comparative fault rule may reduce the recovery in proportion to fault rather than barring it. A dog attack can also overlap with a premises liability claim, and you can learn more about the practical first steps in our blog on what to do after a dog bite in California or explore our full range of personal injury practice areas .

How Long Do You Have to File a Dog Bite Claim in California?

In California, a dog bite victim generally has two years from the date of the attack to file a personal injury lawsuit under Code of Civil Procedure section 335.1. If you miss that deadline, you usually lose the right to recover, no matter how strong the case. Different rules can apply in specific situations: a claim against a government entity — for instance, one involving a police dog — typically requires a written government claim within six months under Government Code section 911.2, and a child’s claim is generally tolled under Code of Civil Procedure section 352 until they turn 18.

Because these deadlines are strict and the exceptions are fact-specific, it is best to speak with a lawyer soon after the attack so you do not lose your right to recover.

How Much Does a Beverly Hills Dog Bite Lawyer Cost?

Etehad Law offers free, confidential consultations and handles dog bite cases on a contingency fee basis. That means there are no attorney fees unless we recover compensation for you, and no upfront cost to have your case reviewed. Hiring a lawyer should relieve pressure, not add to it.

Why Families Across Los Angeles Trust Etehad Law

For more than a quarter-century, injured people across Los Angeles have turned to Etehad Law after someone else’s negligence upended their lives. We bring the same preparation and persistence to every dog bite case, and we do not get paid unless we recover for you.

More than a quarter-century representing injured people in Beverly Hills and across Los Angeles.

A track record of preparing every case thoroughly and taking on owners and insurers that resist accountability.

Free, confidential consultations and contingency fees — you pay no attorney fees unless we recover for you.

Meet Your Beverly Hills Dog Bite Legal Team

Simon P. Etehad

Founder & Lead Attorney, Etehad Law

Simon P. Etehad founded Etehad Law and has spent more than 25 years helping injured people in Beverly Hills and across Los Angeles. The firm has handled over 2,000 cases and works to document each client’s injuries fully, hold negligent dog owners and insurers accountable, and pursue the full compensation California law allows.

Associate attorney Erik Harper also represents injured clients at the firm.

• Experience: 25+ years · 2,000+ cases closed
• Recognition: Super Lawyers · FIDF Western Region President
• Verified profile: Avvo

When you work with Etehad Law, you get a team that returns calls, keeps you updated, coordinates your medical care, and handles the insurance companies so you can focus on recovery.

Call for a Free Consultation With a Beverly Hills Dog Bite Lawyer

A serious dog bite affects your health, your finances, and your peace of mind. Etehad Law can review what happened, explain your legal options, and handle the insurance company while you focus on healing. Reach out today for a free, confidential consultation.

Call (310) 550-1220 or fill out the form to request a free consultation.

Free consultation. No attorney-client relationship is created unless the firm reviews and accepts your case in writing.

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• Premises Liability
• What to Do After a Dog Bite in California
• Wrongful Death
• Brain Injury
• All Personal Injury Practice Areas

Frequently Asked Questions About Dog Bites in California

No. California is a strict liability state under Civil Code section 3342. The owner is responsible for a bite even if the dog never showed aggression before and even if the owner had no reason to think the dog would bite. That is a major difference from the “one-bite rule” many other states follow.

Provocation is a common defense, but it rarely ends a case by itself. California uses a comparative fault rule, so even if a victim’s conduct played some part, it typically reduces the recovery in proportion to fault rather than eliminating it. Whether provocation applies at all depends on the specific facts, which is why the evidence and witness accounts matter.

In most cases the owner’s homeowner or renter insurance policy pays. Coverage limits vary, and some policies exclude certain breeds, so identifying the policy early and confirming what it covers is an important part of the case. Where more than one party is responsible, there may be more than one policy available.

Every case is different. The value depends on the severity of the injury, the medical care you need, whether there is permanent scarring, lost income, emotional harm, and the available insurance. We do not put a number on a case until the records are in and, where needed, the medical experts have weighed in. An honest valuation waits for the facts.

Generally two years from the date of the attack under Code of Civil Procedure section 335.1. A claim against a government entity, such as one involving a police dog, usually requires a written claim within six months under Government Code section 911.2, and a child’s claim is generally tolled until age 18. Because the exceptions are fact-specific, it is best to talk with a lawyer soon after the attack.

It is usually best not to give a recorded statement or accept an early offer before speaking with a lawyer. Adjusters move quickly to lock victims into statements and low settlements that can cap recovery. Routing the insurer to your attorney protects both your health decisions and the value of your claim.

Children are bitten more often than any other group, and their injuries are frequently to the face and more severe. A child’s claim is generally preserved until they turn 18 under Code of Civil Procedure section 352, but evidence still disappears quickly, so it is wise to document the attack, report it to Animal Control, and speak with a lawyer promptly.

Nothing upfront. Etehad Law offers a free, confidential consultation and handles dog bite cases on a contingency fee basis, which means you pay no attorney fees unless we recover compensation for you.

Possibly. Dog bites often look small on the surface while causing deep tissue damage or infection that appears days later, and puncture wounds are especially deceptive. Getting prompt medical care and preserving the evidence protects you if a wound turns out to be more serious than it first seemed.

Attorney advertising. This page is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice.

Submitting a form or contacting the firm does not create an attorney-client relationship. An attorney-client relationship is formed only after the firm reviews and accepts your case in writing.

Laws and deadlines vary depending on the facts of your case, and the information here may not reflect the law that applies to your situation. Speak with a licensed attorney about your specific case.

Need Help After a Dog Bite?

Talk to a Beverly Hills dog bite lawyer before you give a recorded statement, sign anything, accept an offer, or let an important deadline pass.

Confidential consultation. No fee unless we win.

Credentials & Legal Profiles

Before choosing a Beverly Hills dog bite attorney, many people want to review credentials, ratings, and professional profiles. Use the links below to learn more about Etehad Law and Simon P. Etehad.

Disclaimer

This information is for general purposes only and is not legal advice. Reading this page does not create an attorney-client relationship with Etehad Law. Every dog bite case is unique, and results depend on the specific facts, evidence, and applicable California law involved. Past results do not guarantee future outcomes. If you or a loved one was bitten or injured by a dog in Los Angeles County, contact a qualified personal injury attorney for guidance about your individual situation.