Reviewed by Adrianos Facchetti, Esq., California State Bar No. 243213
Dog bites can happen in an instant, but the physical and emotional aftermath often lasts much longer. If you or your child was bitten by a dog in Glendale, you may be dealing with wound care, stitches, scarring, or the lingering anxiety that comes after a frightening attack. On top of the medical side, you may also be facing calls from an insurance adjuster who is trying to settle quickly or minimize what happened.
Many dog bite victims in Glendale are unsure whether they have a legal claim, especially if the dog has never bitten anyone before or if the bite happened at a friend’s or neighbor’s home. California law on this point is more straightforward than most people expect, but knowing how it applies to your specific situation matters. A Glendale personal injury lawyer at the Law Offices of Adrianos Facchetti can review what happened, explain your options, and help you understand the next steps after a dog bite injury.
Bitten by a Dog in Glendale? You May Have a Case
This page is written for a range of people who may have been affected by a dog bite in Glendale, including:
- Adults bitten while walking, jogging, or visiting a home
- Children bitten at a park, school area, or family gathering
- Tenants or visitors bitten inside an apartment complex or shared courtyard
- Delivery workers, mail carriers, or service providers bitten while doing their job
- People bitten on sidewalks, in parks, at businesses, or on private property
- Anyone bitten by a friend’s, neighbor’s, family member’s, or stranger’s dog
If any of these situations sounds familiar, it’s worth understanding what California law says about your right to recover compensation. If the bite happened on someone else’s property and unsafe conditions played a role, our Glendale premises liability lawyer page covers related property owner responsibility in more depth.
Why Choose the Law Offices of Adrianos Facchetti for a Glendale Dog Bite Case?
- Personal injury-focused practice representing injury victims throughout Southern California
- Free initial consultation to review the facts of your case
- No upfront legal fees, and no attorney’s fees unless compensation is recovered
- Personalized case review rather than a one-size-fits-all approach
- Evidence-focused claim preparation, including medical records, photos, and witness information
- Experience communicating with insurance companies on behalf of injured clients
California Dog Bite Law: How Strict Liability Works
California follows a strict liability rule for dog bites under California Civil Code § 3342. In plain terms, this means a dog owner may be held responsible if their dog bites someone in a public place or while the person is lawfully on private property, even if the dog has never bitten anyone before and even if the owner had no reason to think the dog was dangerous.
This is different from the legal rule in many other states, where a victim sometimes has to prove the owner knew the dog had a history of aggression. California generally does not require that proof.
What You Usually Need to Show
In most cases, a dog bite claim under California’s strict liability statute requires showing that you were bitten by the dog and that you were either in a public place or lawfully on the property where the bite occurred, such as an invited guest, a tenant, a delivery worker, or someone with a legal right to be there.
What If the Dog Never Bit Anyone Before?
This is one of the most common questions people have and often a source of confusion. Under California’s strict liability rule, the dog’s bite history is generally not required to hold the owner responsible. A first-time bite can still result in a valid claim.
What If the Bite Happened at Someone’s Home?
Many dog bite victims are bitten by a friend’s, family member’s, or neighbor’s dog, which can feel uncomfortable to pursue legally. In practice, these claims are typically handled through the homeowner’s or renter’s insurance policy, not as a personal financial dispute between you and the other person. An attorney can help explain how this process generally works in your specific situation.
Common Dog Bite Injuries
Dog bites can range from minor to severe, and injuries often include the following:
- Puncture wounds
- Torn skin
- Facial injuries
- Hand and arm injuries
- Leg and ankle injuries
- Nerve damage
- Infections
- Scarring
- Disfigurement
- Anxiety and emotional trauma
- Injuries to children, which may differ from adult injuries due to height and body size
- The need for surgery or scar revision in more serious cases
In rare cases involving severe nerve damage, permanent disfigurement, or significant long-term disability, a claim may fall under our Glendale catastrophic accident lawyer practice, which focuses on injuries with lasting, life-changing impact.
What Compensation May Be Available After a Dog Bite?
Compensation in a dog bite case depends heavily on the severity of the injury and the specific facts involved. Categories that may apply include:
- Emergency care and urgent care visits
- Stitches and wound cleaning
- Medication
- Rabies evaluation or vaccines, if needed
- Infection treatment
- Surgery
- Plastic surgery or scar revision
- Follow-up care and physical therapy
- Lost wages
- Reduced ability to work
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Scarring and disfigurement
- Future medical care
Medical Bills and Future Treatment
Dog bite wounds sometimes require more than initial treatment. Scar revision surgery, additional follow-up visits, or treatment for nerve damage may be needed well after the bite itself has healed.
Lost Income
If your injury kept you from working, whether due to the physical wound or follow-up medical appointments, lost income may be part of your claim.
Scarring, Pain, and Emotional Trauma
Scarring, especially on visible areas like the face or hands, can have a lasting impact beyond the physical injury. Many dog bite victims also experience ongoing anxiety, fear of dogs, or other emotional effects that are a legitimate part of a claim.
What To Do After a Dog Bite in Glendale
- Get medical care, even if the bite seems minor at first.
- Photograph the injury as soon as possible and again as it heals.
- Get the dog owner’s name, address, and contact information if possible.
- Identify any witnesses who saw what happened.
- Report the bite to the proper local agency. Glendale residents may need to contact local animal services, Pasadena Humane, or the Glendale Police Department depending on the situation and timing. It’s best to confirm current reporting instructions directly with the City of Glendale or Pasadena Humane.
- Keep all medical records and receipts related to your treatment.
- Do not rush into accepting an early insurance settlement before understanding the full extent of your injury.
- Speak with a Glendale dog bite lawyer to understand your options.
Where Dog Bites Can Happen in Glendale
Dog bite incidents can occur in a variety of settings around the city, including apartment complexes, residential streets, sidewalks, parks, shared courtyards, and retail parking lots. This can happen in neighborhoods throughout Glendale, including areas like Downtown Glendale, Montrose, Adams Hill, and Verdugo Woodlands, as well as along busy corridors like Glenoaks Boulevard and Brand Boulevard. Bites near schools or in neighborhood walking areas are also common locations where these incidents occur.
Who May Be Responsible for a Dog Bite?
Depending on the circumstances, responsibility for a dog bite may fall on more than one party, including the following:
- The dog’s owner
- A person handling the dog at the time, such as a dog walker
- A dog sitter who had control of the animal
- A property owner, in limited circumstances where the property itself created a hazard
- A landlord, in limited circumstances involving known dangerous animals on the property
- A business owner, if the attack happened on commercial property
- Homeowner’s insurance or renter’s insurance, which often covers the financial responsibility for the claim
Dog Bites Involving Children
When a child is bitten by a dog, the situation often calls for extra care and attention. Because of their height, children are more likely to suffer facial injuries during a dog attack than adults. Scarring from these injuries can have long-term physical and emotional effects as the child grows.
Beyond the physical wound, emotional trauma from a dog attack can last well beyond the time it takes the skin to heal. Some children develop a lasting fear of dogs or experience anxiety in situations that remind them of the incident.
If your child was bitten, it’s important to document their medical care closely, take photos of the injury as it heals, and keep notes on any behavioral changes you notice afterward, including sleep issues, anxiety, or reluctance to go outside. This documentation can become an important part of understanding the full impact of the incident.
How Our Glendale Dog Bite Lawyers Build Your Claim
Building a strong dog bite claim typically involves gathering several types of evidence, including:
- Medical records documenting the injury and treatment
- Photographs of the wound and the recovery process
- Animal control or police reports, if filed
- Witness statements from anyone who saw the incident
- Information about the dog’s ownership
- Records of any prior complaints or known aggressive behavior, if available
- Details about applicable homeowner’s or renter’s insurance coverage
- Surveillance footage, if the incident occurred on commercial property or in a location with cameras
- Expert opinions, particularly in cases involving scarring, surgery, or significant emotional trauma
How Long Do You Have to File a Dog Bite Claim in California?
California generally allows two years from the date of the injury to file a personal injury lawsuit, including most dog bite claims. However, exceptions and shorter deadlines may apply depending on the specific facts of your case, such as if a government entity is involved.
This information is general and should not be treated as a guarantee of your specific deadline. Because deadlines can vary and evidence can become harder to gather over time, it’s a good idea to speak with a lawyer as soon as possible after a dog bite.
Talk to a Glendale Dog Bite Lawyer Today
If you or your child was bitten by a dog in Glendale, you don’t have to figure out your next steps alone. The Law Offices of Adrianos Facchetti offers a free consultation to review what happened and explain your legal options in plain language.
There is no upfront fee and no attorney’s fee unless compensation is recovered on your behalf. We serve Glendale and nearby Southern California communities.
Call or contact the firm today to schedule your free consultation.
This page provides general information only and is not legal advice. Every case depends on its own specific facts. For guidance about your situation, please consult with a licensed attorney.
