Dog bite injuries in Los Angeles, California
This page is for people bitten by a dog in Los Angeles. It explains California's dog bite rule, the deadline to file, and links to licensed lawyers with personal injury on record.
The owner is responsible[2]
In California, a dog owner is responsible for injuries when the dog bites someone in a public place or someone lawfully in a private place, even if the dog never bit anyone before and the owner did not know it was dangerous.
Deadline to sue[1]
In general, a lawsuit for injury must be filed within two years.
Steps to take[2][1]
- Get medical care and keep records.
- Get the owner's name and address and the dog's vaccination status.
- Report the bite to local animal control.
Lawyers in Los Angeles, California
The directory lists 9,698 lawyers with an active California license and an office of record in Los Angeles, California; 676 of them have Personal Injury as a practice area on record (listed in the directory's source file; origin not confirmed, not a certification).
A license record shows a lawyer may practice. It does not show experience with a specific kind of case.
You can check any lawyer's license yourself with the State Bar of California lookup.
State Bar of California license lookup · Browse these lawyers in the directory
Questions
What if I was on the owner's property?[2]
The rule applies if you were lawfully there, such as an invited guest or a person doing a job.
What if the dog had never bitten anyone?[2]
The owner can still be responsible.
You choose which lawyer to contact and what to share. Nothing you type is sent to a lawyer without your say-so.
Sources
- California Code of Civil Procedure section 335.1 (two-year injury deadline), California Legislature (official). Checked 2026-10-30.
- California Civil Code section 3342 (dog bites), California Legislature (official). Checked 2026-10-30.
This page is general information, not legal advice, and reading it does not create a lawyer-client relationship. Laws change and every situation is different. Check the official sources linked here and talk to a licensed lawyer about your facts.
Reviewed and last updated 2026-10-31. To report an error, write to notices@esqcopilot.com.