Los Angeles Dog Bite Lawyer

Do I Have to Prove Negligence to Recover Compensation for a Dog Bite in California?

California doesn’t follow a “one bite” rule. Pet owners can be strictly liable for any injuries their dog causes. In other words, you don’t have to prove negligence to recover compensation. Under Los Angeles dog bite laws, the dog’s owner is liable if:

• Their dog bites and injures someone
• The attack occurred while the victim was in a public place or lawfully in a private place, including the dog owner’s property

Los Angeles dog owners could be strictly liable even if their dog had never displayed aggressive or vicious propensities in the past.

However, there are situations where a dog owner can escape liability. Strict liability dog bite laws won’t apply if:

• You provoked the animal to bite you
• You were trespassing at the time of the dog bite
• The dog was a law enforcement animal
• You assumed the risk of the dog bite

In these theories, you may have to prove the dog owner was negligent to recover damages.

Dog owners may be negligent if they:

• Allow their dog to roam the neighborhood
• Fail to keep the dog in a proper enclosure
• Fail to keep the dog on a leash in public
• Don’t use warning signs to warn visitors about an aggressive dog on their property

Under Los Angeles leash laws, all dogs must remain on a leash and under the owner’s control anytime they’re off the owner’s property. Dog owners who violate the leash law may be found “negligent per se” if someone is hurt because they violated the law.