Orange County Dog Bite Lawyer

Last updated: October 2026 · Reviewed by Faud Haghighi, Esq., Founder & Lead Trial Attorney

How Can an Orange County Dog Bite Lawyer Help?

An Orange County dog bite lawyer uses California’s strict-liability dog bite law to hold the dog’s owner responsible, usually through the owner’s homeowner’s or renter’s insurance, and pursues compensation for medical care, scarring, lost income, and the emotional effects of an attack.

Dog bites can cause deep puncture wounds, infections, nerve damage, and permanent scars, and children are often bitten on the face. Many people hesitate to make a claim because the dog belongs to a neighbor, friend, or relative, but these claims are usually paid by insurance rather than by the owner personally. The Law Offices of Faud Haghighi represents dog bite victims throughout Orange County and Southern California from offices in Aliso Viejo and Tustin, and Faud Haghighi handles each case personally.

Is a Dog Owner Always Responsible for a Bite in California?

Generally, yes. Under California’s dog bite statute, the owner is liable when the dog bites someone in a public place or someone lawfully on private property, including the owner’s own property, even if the dog had never bitten anyone before and the owner had no reason to think it was dangerous (Civ. Code §3342).

The owner can raise defenses, for example that the victim was trespassing or provoked the dog, or that a person who works with dogs professionally assumed the risk. Where the victim shares some responsibility, California’s comparative fault rule reduces the award rather than eliminating it; a person with $50,000 in losses found 15% responsible still recovers $42,500.

Who Else Can Be Responsible for a Dog Attack?

Besides the owner, a landlord, property manager, or business can sometimes be responsible, depending on what they knew and what they could control.

• Landlords: a landlord can be liable for a tenant’s dog if the landlord actually knew the dog was dangerous and had the ability to remove it, for example by ending the lease (Uccello v. Laudenslayer (1975) 44 Cal.App.3d 504).
• Property managers and HOAs: if they knew of a dangerous dog in common areas and failed to act.
• Dog walkers, sitters, and kennels: if their carelessness allowed the attack.
• Businesses that allow dogs on the premises, depending on the facts.

Claims against a landlord, HOA, or business are a form of premises liability, which turns on what the property owner knew and could control.

What Should You Do After a Dog Bite?

Clean the wound, get medical care quickly to prevent infection, identify the dog and its owner, and report the bite to animal control.

1. Wash the wound and get medical care. Dog bites carry a high risk of infection, and a doctor will also evaluate rabies exposure.
2. Identify the dog and owner: names, address, phone number, and the dog’s vaccination status if possible.
3. Report the bite. In Orange County, bites can be reported to OC Animal Care at (714) 796-6421 or through its online form, or to your city’s animal services if your city has its own (OC Animal Care). A dog involved in a bite is generally quarantined for 10 days to check for rabies.
4. Photograph the injuries right away and as they heal, and keep torn or bloody clothing.
5. Get witness names and note any cameras.
6. Don’t sign anything or give a recorded statement to the owner’s insurer before talking with a lawyer.

What if a Child Was Bitten?

Children are especially vulnerable to dog attacks and often suffer bites to the face, head, and neck, which can leave scars that need future treatment as the child grows. A child’s claim should account for future scar revision, counseling for fear or anxiety, and the long-term effect of visible scarring. For claims against private parties, the two-year deadline generally doesn’t start until the child turns 18 (CCP §352), but waiting makes evidence harder to gather. Any settlement for a minor must be approved by the court.

Who Pays for a Dog Bite Claim?

Usually the dog owner’s homeowner’s or renter’s insurance, which commonly includes liability coverage for dog bites, not the owner’s personal savings. Some policies exclude certain breeds or dogs with a bite history, and some owners have umbrella coverage. If the bite happened at a business or rental property, that property’s commercial liability coverage may also apply. Your own health insurance can pay for treatment while the claim is pending. Read more about the insurance adjuster’s role.

What Is a Dog Bite Claim Worth?

It depends on the severity of the wounds, the treatment needed, scarring and disfigurement, emotional effects, lost income, and the insurance available. A claim can include emergency care, surgery and plastic surgery, infection treatment, future scar revision, counseling, lost wages, and pain, suffering, and disfigurement. Facial scarring and injuries to children often call for a careful look at future treatment. There is no reliable “average dog bite settlement”; the photos, medical records, and an honest picture of future treatment drive value. Read more about what affects the value of a personal injury case.

How Long Do You Have to File a Dog Bite Claim?

Generally two years from the bite to file a lawsuit, with a later start for injured children and a six-month claim deadline if a public agency’s dog or property is involved.

This page explains California law in general terms as of October 2026. Laws change and exceptions apply, so it is not legal advice about your situation.

How Does Faud Haghighi Handle Claims Against People You Know?

Dog bite claims are often simple on liability but contested on value, especially for scarring and emotional harm. Faud Haghighi has practiced law in California since 2012, has handled hundreds of cases, and handles each case personally. We document the injuries and their future treatment, deal with the insurer, and handle the claim respectfully when the owner is someone you know. If the insurer won’t pay fair value, the case can be filed in the Orange County Superior Court.

We represent dog bite victims throughout Orange County and Southern California, including Huntington Beach, Newport Beach, Laguna Hills, Lake Forest, Tustin, and Irvine, as part of our Orange County personal injury practice.

Bitten or attacked by a dog? Call (949) 313-7656 or request a free consultation. There is no attorney fee unless we recover for you.