Dog Bite Claims
Bakersfield · Kern County, California
Dog bite cases are unusual in that the law is mostly on the injured person’s side from the beginning. The work is in proving what the bite actually cost.
California is a strict liability state
Under California law a dog owner is liable for a bite that occurs in a public place or while the injured person is lawfully on private property, regardless of whether the dog had ever bitten anyone before and regardless of whether the owner knew of any viciousness. There is no free first bite in California.
Liability is usually conceded — the injury is not
Because fault is generally clear, the dispute moves to damages: the severity of the wound, the risk of infection, whether scarring is permanent, what revision surgery would involve, and what the psychological aftermath looks like, particularly in children.
Scarring is a permanent injury
Facial and hand scarring should be evaluated by a plastic surgeon and documented as a lifelong condition, not a healed cut. Photographs taken across the whole course of healing are among the most persuasive evidence in the file.
Where the recovery comes from
Homeowner’s and renter’s insurance commonly covers dog bite claims, which means pursuing the claim usually does not mean pursuing a neighbor’s personal savings — a concern clients raise often, and a real one worth discussing plainly.
California generally allows two years from the date of the bite to file suit. Where the injured person is a minor, different timing rules can apply — a question worth asking early rather than assuming.