Dog Bite Lawyer in Los Angeles

According to the American Veterinary Association, dogs are a cherished part of approximately 38.4% of U.S. households. Every year, a small percentage of these pets bite and injure people: an estimated 800,000 dog bite victims require medical attention. At least half of those injured by dogs are children, who may face a lifelong fear of dogs.

When this occurs, the physical, emotional, and financial repercussions on the victim’s life can be dramatic, compelling them to hire a dog bite attorney in Los Angeles. An experienced attorney can help prepare injured individuals for what to expect at each stage of the legal process and ensure that they present the strongest possible claim for monetary compensation.

At Moaddel Kremer & Gerome LLP, we are committed to helping those who have been injured by dangerous dogs. In California, if you have sustained a serious dog bite injury, you may be entitled to compensation, so call our law office for a free initial consultation.

Dog Bite Liability in California

Unlike some other states, California does not observe the ‘one bite rule’ when it comes to dog bite cases. Under California Civil Code 3342, which is the ‘bite statute,’ a dog owner is strictly responsible for any injuries caused by their dog, even if the animal has never bitten anyone or shown a history of aggression and the owner took all necessary precautions to prevent an animal attack. This is known as strict liability.

This bite law applies to bites that occur in public or anywhere that the attack victim had a lawful right to be, such as a visitor on the owner’s property. It does not apply if:

It is not the owner who is being sued
The victim trespassed on the owner’s property
The dog was a law enforcement animal on duty
The victim was partially to blame for their injuries
The victim assumed the risk of being bitten (e.g. a veterinarian)

If one of these exceptions applies, dog bite victims cannot hold the owner liable under the doctrine of strict liability. However, they may still be able to seek financial compensation for their emotional and physical injuries by proving the owner was negligent. This includes proving that the owner knew or should have known that their dog was dangerous due to a past bite.

Compensation in a Dog Bite Attack

When you file an animal bite lawsuit, you may recover maximum compensation for all of your losses. This includes economic damages, such as medical bills and lost wages if you had to take time off of work, and non-economic damages, like emotional trauma and permanent disfigurement.

Among the types of compensation you can recover in a legal claim are:

Medical treatment costs for broken bones, nerve damage, lacerations, and other injuries
Future medical expenses
Treatments like physical therapy and psychology visits for mental trauma
Lost wages
Loss of income if you are left disabled
Pain and suffering
Emotional distress
Mental anguish
Loss of consortium
Loss of enjoyment of life
Property damage

Under certain circumstances, California allows dog bite victims to recover punitive damages, which are intended to punish an especially negligent or malicious defendant and deter similar conduct in the future.

For example, if the owner unlawfully ordered the dog to attack you or was negligent in controlling a dog with known aggressive tendencies, you may be awarded punitive damages. Your Los Angeles personal injury lawyer may pursue this option if it applies to your dog bite case.

What Should I Do If I Have Suffered a Dog Bite?

When a dog attacks you, you’re likely to be frightened and possibly traumatized, but there are steps you can take to protect your right to file a personal injury lawsuit.

Get the dog owner’s contact information, such as name, address, and phone number.
Obtain the contact information of anyone who witnessed the dog bite or dog attack. When filing an insurance claim or lawsuit, witness accounts will help you build a clear picture of what happened.
Contact law enforcement to file a dog bite report. Animal control could investigate the incident as well, providing you with additional documentation.
See a doctor as soon as possible for medical care. Infections caused by dog bites can require antibiotic treatment. Those with liver disease, diabetes, and illnesses suppressing the immune system may be at greater risk for severe infections. A medical report is also an important piece of evidence in a dog bite claim.

If you have been bitten by a dog, you should seek the advice of an experienced personal injury attorney. At Moaddel Kremer & Gerome LLP, our legal team has handled many dog bite cases for clients and can help you build a strong case for maximum compensation.

How Long Do I Have to File a Dog Bite Lawsuit?

Under California law, a dog bite or other canine-related injury is considered a personal injury claim. The statute of limitations for most claims in California is two years. A dog bite lawsuit must therefore be filed within two years of the date when the bite occurred, or you may lose your right to claim compensation.

This is why it’s so important to file an action in a timely manner. A Los Angeles dog bite attorney at our law firm will help you identify the at-fault party, collect the necessary evidence, and file a bite injury claim before the window of opportunity closes.

Is a Landlord Liable If a Tenant’s Dog Bites Me?

You’re visiting a friend in an apartment complex when another tenant’s dog attacks and leaves you with severe lacerations. Can you hold the landlord responsible?

California case law suggests that it’s possible under certain circumstances. In Uccello v. Laudenslayer (1975), the court found that a landlord could be held liable for a tenant’s dog if they knew about the animal and its dangerous propensities but did nothing to have it removed. In Donchin v. Guerrero (1995), the court found that if a dog escapes the landlord’s property due to defects like a broken fence, the landlord is liable for off-site injuries. Your Los Angeles dog bite attorney will advise you whether a landlord is a potential defendant in your case.

Why Should I Hire a Dog Bite Lawyer?

If the negligent dog owner has homeowners insurance or renters insurance, their insurer will investigate your bite claim. While some companies make a fair settlement offer, many do not, and without fully understanding the value of your damages, you may accept less than what you need and deserve, especially if you’re recovering from a severe injury.

Moreover, many homeowners’ and renters’ insurance policies have a cap on dog bite coverage. Taking legal action against the dog’s owner may be necessary if your medical costs exceed this threshold. A dog bite attorney at Moaddel Kremer & Gerome LLP will negotiate with the insurance company for an amount that reflects your losses and pursue additional legal action against the liable party if necessary.

Speak to an Experienced Dog Bite Lawyer in Los Angeles Today

When an aggressive dog leaves you with serious and even disfiguring physical injuries, you shouldn’t suffer alone. You deserve a compassionate advocate who will protect your interests and give you legal advice you can trust. To speak to an experienced attorney at Moaddel Kremer & Gerome LLP, contact our law firm today.

What should I do first after being involved in an accident?

After you are involved in an accident, the first thing to think about is your health. It is normal to be frightened or in shock but take a deep breath and assess your injuries. Where do you feel pain? How severe is the pain? If you are on the ground, can you safely get up? If you are in a vehicle, are you able to get out of the vehicle? If not, you should probably call for immediate medical attention.

Next, consider your surroundings. Where did the accident happen? How did it happen? What caused the accident? Are there any witnesses near the area? Whether you believe the accident was your fault or not, never admit fault to anyone at the scene. The more documentation you have regarding the accident the better. Take photographs and/or video of the scene, have anybody you are with do the same. Even if don’t feel injured, you never know what you may feel like in the coming hours or days so don’t just act like nothing happened. If you are at a place of business, ask for a manager and insist on completing a report. If you had a motor vehicle accident, call the police and make a report.

Then contact an attorney to consult with about your accident. Attorneys such as those at Moaddel Kremer LLP who specialize in the field of personal injury will discuss your case with you and help you decide if you should file a personal injury claim.

How do you know if you have a personal injury claim?

There are many different aspects to consider when determining whether you have a good personal injury claim. In order to recover for your injuries, you must be able to prove that someone else was at fault for your accident. The other person (or entity) must have either been negligent, reckless or committed an intentional act in causing the accident. For instance, if the other driver in a motor vehicle accident rear-ended your vehicle, it is highly likely that the other driver will found to be negligent. If someone hit you inside a bar without provocation, that is an intentional act for which a lawsuit for assault and battery can be brought. If the accident was only partially your fault and partially the fault of another, you can still make a personal injury claim based on the percentage for which the other party was at fault. You can expect that the other party will do their best to minimize their responsibility no matter the circumstances.

An experienced and skillful attorney can help you identify the potentially responsible parties that may not be clear to the average person. For example, the entity or entities responsible for a dangerous road or sidewalk may require research that is not always easily accessible for the public. Sometimes it takes the analysis of experts in the field to determine whether the manufacture or design of certain products should be held responsible when the product fails. It takes the collaboration of both attorney and client to fully understand the potential claim.

After you believe you can prove someone else was at fault, the next step is to prove the accident caused your damages. You can recover for both physical injury and emotional distress in the past and future. You can also recover for time that you missed from work or if you are unable to work in the future as a result of the accident. This is where the importance of seeking immediate medical treatment comes in. If you delay in obtaining medical treatment, the other party will argue that you could not really have been injured. The sooner you receive treatment, the easier it will be to get compensation. Moaddel Kremer has connections with doctors that will see you immediately and evaluate your injuries. Even if you do not have medical insurance, you can receive treatment on a lien basis where you do not have to pay anything for your treatment upfront.

How do you make a personal injury claim?

Once attorney and client make the decision to go forward with the claim, the next step is to contact the responsible parties. The attorney will normally send a letter of representation to the other party involved and/or their insurance company to put them on notice of the claim. The attorney can then communicate with the other party on the client’s behalf and allow the client to focus on recovering from their injuries. The attorney will gather your medical records and bills to send to the responsible party to prove your damages.

The other party will start their own investigation of the incident by gathering documents and talking to potential witnesses. Your attorney will advocate your position and give them your version of events. The other party will almost always disagree with how you think the accident happened in an attempt to minimize their exposure. After being presented with the evidence supporting your claim, the other party will decide whether to make an offer or deny responsibility.

What is the difference between a claim and a lawsuit?

In California, there is a 2-year statute of limitations to file a personal injury lawsuit. This gives the injured party 2 years from the date of the accident to go forward with the lawsuit. The lawsuit puts your claim into the court system and there are a number of rules that the parties must abide by once a lawsuit is filed. This allows the parties time during those 2 years to gather the necessary information to make a decision about how to proceed depending on what information is obtained. This also allows the client to receive the proper medical treatment, talk to witnesses and find out as much as possible about what happened.

You don’t have to wait the full 2 years but sometimes it is beneficial to not file the lawsuit immediately. Before you file the lawsuit, both sides may be motivated to negotiate to see if a settlement can be reached before going through the lawsuit process. There are instances when the insurance company would rather pay a settlement than have to fight a righteous lawsuit. Many cases resolve prior to a lawsuit being filed.

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Rita Trujillo

20:10 27 Feb 25

Excellent service

Janene Zdawczyk

20:35 28 Jan 25

With their expertise, they were able to get the maximum insurance payout for me. They work as a team and are very responsive to all your questions. They took time to go over everything with me. I would definitely recommend them to all my family and friends.

Raymundo Gutierrez

20:35 22 Oct 24

Professional services, empathy with client, and positive out come with case.

landy mendez

06:19 10 Sep 24

Carl & Priscilla were very wonderful to work with, very helpful & nice. Everything went quick & smoothly :)

Manny Hernandez-Rivera

03:56 12 Jun 24

I obtained the Law Services of Moaddel and Kremer after my automobile accident on 07/23. They fast, courteous, professional and place all their attention on my medical and family needs.Thank you for you attention to detail and always keeping me posted on the status of my case.This accident was awful and painful but with all of your help my family and I were okay.God bless you and yours. Best regards Manny and Family.

Wayne Chen

01:24 08 Mar 24

Carl and his staff were the best I’ve ever worked with! They are friendly, experienced, and very knowledgeable. The process was seemingly painless and I didn’t ever have to go to their office to get everything done. More importantly, they maximized my settlement. I highly recommend to everyone!

Naga Simi B

14:47 05 Mar 24

Moaddel Kremer is the first person I’ve called whenever I was in a collision and incurred personal injury. The reason is because I trust their advice and they have never misguided me and I’ve never lost a case with them. They have always stayed the course no matter how difficult the case. You can rely on them to come through for you! I highly recommend them as your go-to law firm.

samuel gonzalez

23:10 16 Feb 24

I had a vehicle accident back in 2020 where I was initially placed at fault. Thankfully I hired this firm and they immediately changed the course of my case. My case settled a couple months later and I received great results. Through the years I have referred family and friends to Carl Kremer and his team and they have also had positive results.

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