Long Beach Dog Bite Lawyer

Bitten by a Dog in Long Beach?

Long Beach is a city of many dogs and many public spaces. People walk their dogs in Belmont Shore, along the boardwalk in Alamitos Beach, in the neighborhoods of Bixby Knolls and Naples, and in the off-leash areas of El Dorado Park. Most of the time it’s okay. But dog bites can happen at parks, sidewalks, apartment hallways, in someone’s home, and while delivering. The injuries are usually worse than they seem at first.

California has a strict liability dog bite law. This means that if a dog bites someone who was lawfully in a public place or lawfully on private property, the dog’s owner is responsible, even if the dog never showed aggression before and even if the owner had no warning this could happen. Most often, the claim is submitted to the owner’s homeowners or renters insurance. It’s nothing personal about their savings. Knowing that changes how most people feel about making a claim.

The Law Offices of Adrianos Facchetti represent victims of dog bites throughout Long Beach and Los Angeles County. Adrianos Facchetti is a Long Beach dog bite lawyer and Long Beach personal injury lawyer. He has been handling these cases since 2006. Consultation is free. No costs up front. No attorney fees unless we get money for you.

California Dog Bite Law – What It Really Means

All dog bite claims in Long Beach are based on California Civil Code § 3342. It provides that a dog owner is liable for damages if the dog bites a person who was in a public place or was lawfully on private property at the time of the bite.

This law is different than what most people think for three reasons:

No previous bite required. The owner need not have known about the dog’s dangerousness. The dog didn’t have to have bitten anyone before. A dog doesn’t get one free bite under the law. The owner is liable if the dog bites a person who is lawfully on the premises.

Legal presence counts. A person who is bitten in a public park, on a public sidewalk, at someone’s home as an invited guest, or in the common area of an apartment building is lawfully present. Generally, someone who was trespassing is not protected under this law, but that is a rare and fact-specific situation.

Usually the claim goes through insurance. Most dog bite claims are covered by the dog owner’s homeowners or renters insurance policy. These policies usually provide dog bite liability coverage up to the policy limit. Suing that insurance is not the same as taking money directly from the person, most dog owners don’t know the full extent of their coverage until they file a claim.

Where Dog Bites Commonly Happen in Long Beach

Parks, Sidewalks, and Neighborhood Streets

El Dorado Park has designated off-leash areas where dogs interact with other dogs and people in close proximity. Bite incidents in off-leash areas are common, and the owner’s strict liability under California law applies fully even in designated dog play areas.

Belmont Shore, Alamitos Beach, and the Naples canals attract walkers, cyclists, and joggers who encounter dogs regularly on sidewalks and paths. A dog that lunges or snaps while its owner struggles to maintain control puts pedestrians at real risk.

Bixby Knolls and similar residential neighborhoods have high dog ownership and regular sidewalk activity. A dog that gets loose, charges from a yard, or reacts aggressively when approached by another person on a public sidewalk creates a classic strict liability situation.

Apartment Complexes and Common Areas

Long Beach has significant apartment density, and shared spaces, hallways, elevators, laundry rooms, courtyards, and parking areas, are frequent bite locations. A resident’s dog that encounters a neighbor, a visitor, or a delivery person in a common area and bites them is covered by the owner’s liability even though the incident happened inside a private building.

Landlord liability can also come into play. If a property manager or landlord knew a tenant’s dog had previously shown aggression and took no steps to address it, the landlord may share responsibility for a subsequent bite.

Homes, Yards, and Visitor Situations

Some of the most emotionally complicated dog bite situations happen at the home of a friend, family member, or neighbor. A child bitten while visiting a playmate’s house. A family member bitten at a holiday gathering. A contractor bitten while doing work on the property.

Being bitten at someone’s home does not mean suing them personally. It typically means making a claim against their homeowners insurance. The dog owner’s insurance carrier handles the claim, not their personal bank account. Most people feel differently about pursuing a claim once they understand how the insurance actually works.

Delivery Workers and Cyclists on Long Beach Routes

Delivery workers on Long Beach residential routes face elevated bite risk. A dog that rushes a gate when a delivery is made or attacks a worker walking up a driveway is the owner’s responsibility under California law regardless of whether the worker was expected or whether the owner was home.

Cyclists passing through neighborhoods also face sudden dog charges. A dog that runs into a cyclist’s path or jumps and bites can cause both bite injuries and crash injuries from the fall.

What if the Dog Owner Is a Neighbor, Friend, or Family Member?

This is the most common reason people are hesitant to pursue a dog bite claim, and it’s worth addressing directly.

If you file a dog bite claim in California, you are almost always filing a claim against an insurance policy, not filing a personal lawsuit against the dog owner’s savings or property. Typically, dog bites are covered under the liability portion of a homeowners or renters insurance policy. The insurance company investigates the claim, assigns an adjuster and pays the settlement up to the policy limits.

Once the insurance company gets involved, the dog owner may not have much say in the matter. Many people file dog bite claims against the insurance of a friend or neighbor and continue their personal relationship. The claim is on the policy, not the individual.

Of course, if the owner’s insurance denies the claim, refuses to pay a reasonable settlement, or if the owner doesn’t have any insurance at all, then there may be other options, depending on the situation. A lawyer can look at the situation before you make any decisions and tell you what your options really are.

What to Do After a Dog Bite in Long Beach

The actions you take in the hours and days after a dog bite can impact both your medical outcome and the strength of any future claim:

1. See a doctor the same day. Dog bite puncture wounds may seem minor but can become severely infected within 24 to 48 hours. The bite is noted in a same-day medical evaluation, treatment is provided, and a record is made that links the injury to the specific incident.
2. Report the bite to Long Beach Animal Care Services. Reporting an animal control incident helps to create an official record, provides information on the dog, and begins a bite investigation. This report may be used as evidence in a claim.
3. Take photos immediately and in the days after. Photograph the wound on the day of injury, and then over the following week as bruising, swelling, and any infection develop. The appearance of the wound changes considerably in the days following a bite.
4. Get the name, address, and contact information for the dog’s owner. Ask for proof that the dog is rabies vaccinated. Note the breed, color, and any identifying features of the dog.
5. Obtain witness contact information. Any witness to the biting, or anyone who has seen the dog act aggressively in the past, can be very helpful.
6. Do not give a recorded statement to the dog owner’s insurance company until you have spoken with a lawyer. Before you even know the full extent of your injuries, adjusters will call you quickly and ask questions that are designed to minimize the claim.
7. Track your medical progress. Write down every doctor visit, every prescription, and every day you miss work. Infections, nerve damage, and scarring often develop over weeks and need to be documented over time.

Evidence to Help Support Your Claim

The evidence in dog bite cases is different from vehicle crash cases, and there is some evidence that must be collected quickly.

1. Report of animal control. Long Beach Animal Care Services documents the bite report in a formal record with information about the dog and owner. Ask for a copy.
2. History of prior bite or aggression. The records are there with animal control if the dog has bitten someone before or has been reported for aggression and can be procured. The landlord knew about the dog, so the earlier conduct strengthens the tenant’s premises liability case.
3. Images of wounds at every stage. Photographs of puncture wounds, bruising, infection, and scar formation are all needed at various times.
4. Medical records. Every visit. Every diagnosis. Every treatment. This is the heart of the damages documentation.
5. Testimonage. Bystanders, park visitors or neighbors who have seen the attack or have known the dog to behave aggressively in the past.
6. Horse vaccination and veterinary records. The proof of the dog’s rabies vaccination status has implications for both the medical treatment and the claim.

Common Dog Bite Injuries and Long-Term Effects

Physical Injuries

Dog bites produce a specific pattern of injuries that often worsen over the days following the attack:

• Puncture wounds, deep bites that may not bleed heavily at first but create ideal conditions for infection
• Bacterial infections, including Pasteurella, Staphylococcus, and in serious cases Capnocytophaga
• Nerve damage from deep bites to hands, arms, or facial areas
• Tendon and ligament damage, particularly from bites to the hand and wrist
• Facial injuries, lacerations, avulsion wounds, and injuries to the nose, lips, or ears
• Hand and arm injuries that can affect fine motor function and grip strength
• Scarring and disfigurement that may require surgical revision

Child Dog Bite Injuries

Children face different and often more serious consequences from dog bites than adults. A child’s face is at the same height as many dogs, making facial bites more common. Children are also less able to protect themselves or signal submission to an aggressive dog.

Scarring on a child’s face or body during developmental years has long-term consequences. Scar tissue does not grow with the child; revision surgeries as the child grows are a foreseeable cost that should be part of the damages calculation. Psychological trauma following a dog attack in childhood can also be significant, affecting how the child relates to animals and public spaces for years.

Emotional and Psychological Effects

Adult bite victims frequently experience fear of dogs, anxiety in outdoor spaces, difficulty returning to areas where the bite occurred, and post-traumatic stress symptoms. These effects are real, documentable with the right professional support, and compensable as part of a dog bite claim.

What Compensation Can Cover After a Dog Bite

A dog bite claim in Long Beach can cover both the immediate economic costs and the longer-term impact of the injury. What may be available includes:

1. Medical expenses. Emergency care, hospitalization if needed, wound treatment, antibiotics, specialist visits, and all documented treatment costs.
2. Future medical treatment. Scar revision surgery, follow-up procedures, and ongoing treatment for nerve damage or infection complications.
3. Lost wages. Income missed during recovery, particularly when hand or arm injuries prevent work.
4. Pain and suffering. Physical pain from the attack and recovery process.
5. Emotional distress. Documented psychological effects including anxiety, phobias, and post-traumatic stress.
6. Counseling costs. Therapy for adults and children processing trauma following a dog attack.
7. Reduced earning capacity. If nerve or tendon damage affects long-term ability to work in a particular occupation.

For dog attacks that resulted in the death of a victim, surviving family members may have a wrongful death lawyer claim covering financial support lost, loss of companionship, and funeral expenses.

About the Law Offices of Adrianos Facchetti

Adrianos Facchetti has been representing injury victims across Los Angeles County since 2006. California State Bar No. 243213. Avvo 10.0 Top Attorney. Martindale-Hubbell AV Preeminent® 2025. BBB accredited.

Cases are handled personally in English, Spanish, and Portuguese. No case managers. No handoffs to associates.

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If you or your child was bitten by a dog in Long Beach, a free consultation is a reasonable first step. You do not need to have decided anything before you call. That is what the consultation is for.

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General information only, not legal advice. Every case is different. Past results do not predict future outcomes.