Dog Bite Attorney
in Orange County

Orange County Dog Bite Lawyers Holding Owners Accountable

Dog bite injuries can be physically devastating and emotionally traumatic, especially when children are the victims. California is a strict liability state for dog bites, meaning the owner is responsible for injuries their dog causes regardless of whether the dog has bitten anyone before. You do not need to prove the owner knew the dog was dangerous. Under California Civil Code Section 3342, if a dog bites you while you are in a public place or lawfully on private property, the owner is liable.

At The Le Firm APC in Lake Forest, attorney Harrison Le fights for dog bite victims throughout Orange County. As a former public defender with 20+ jury trials and over $10M recovered, Harrison Le brings the preparation and courtroom skill needed to secure full compensation for your injuries.

California's Strict Liability Dog Bite Law

Unlike many states that follow a "one-bite rule," California holds dog owners strictly liable for bite injuries under Civil Code 3342. This means our Orange County dog bite attorneys do not need to prove the dog had a history of aggression. If the bite occurred while you were lawfully present, the owner is responsible. This applies whether the incident happened at a park in Irvine, on a sidewalk in Lake Forest, or at a neighbor's home in Mission Viejo.

For injuries caused by a dog that did not involve a bite, such as being knocked down or chased, California negligence law still provides a path to compensation. Our Lake Forest personal injury attorneys evaluate each case to determine the strongest legal theory for recovery.

Common Dog Bite Injuries in Orange County

Dog bite injuries often require extensive medical treatment and can leave lasting physical and emotional scars. Our Orange County dog bite lawyers handle cases involving:

• Deep puncture wounds and lacerations requiring stitches or surgery
• Permanent scarring and disfigurement, especially to the face and hands
• Reconstructive and plastic surgery for severe bite wounds
• Infections, including rabies exposure and bacterial infections
• Nerve damage and loss of function
• Emotional trauma, PTSD, and anxiety, particularly in children

Child Dog Bite Cases in Orange County

Children are the most frequent victims of dog bite attacks and often suffer the most severe injuries because of their size. Bites to a child's face, neck, and head are common and can require multiple reconstructive surgeries over the course of their development. The emotional impact on a child can be lasting. Our Lake Forest dog bite attorneys handle these sensitive cases with care while aggressively pursuing every dollar of compensation the family is entitled to under California law.

Who Can Be Held Responsible Besides the Owner?

Strict liability under section 3342 runs against the dog's owner. Other people can be responsible through ordinary negligence, and in a serious bite they often matter because the owner may have little insurance. A landlord who actually knew a tenant's dog was dangerous and could have required its removal can owe a duty to the people it later injures, under Uccello v. Laudenslayer (1975) 44 Cal.App.3d 504. Someone keeping or watching the dog, a business that keeps a dog on site, or a property owner whose broken gate let it out can also share responsibility.

Civil Code section 3342.5 adds a separate rule: the owner of a dog that has bitten someone has a duty to take reasonable steps to prevent another bite, and when a dog has bitten people on two separate occasions, a court can order whatever is needed to prevent it happening again.

When the Strict Liability Rule Does Not Apply

• Injuries that are not bites. A knockdown or a chase into traffic is a negligence claim under Civil Code section 1714, often supported by a leash law violation.
• Trespassers. The statute protects people in a public place or lawfully on private property, including mail carriers and invited guests.
• Police and military dogs, in defined situations, and only where the agency has a written policy on the dog's use. A bystander is never covered by that exception.
• Dog professionals. In Priebe v. Nelson (2006) 39 Cal.4th 1112, the California Supreme Court barred a kennel worker's strict liability claim for a bite from a dog in the kennel's care.

What to Do After a Dog Bite in Lake Forest or Garden Grove

• Get medical care the same day. Hand and face bites can become infected deep in the wound.
• Report the bite. OC Animal Care handles bite reports for Lake Forest at (714) 796-6421. Garden Grove has its own Garden Grove Animal Care Services.
• Get the owner's name, address, and insurance, and ask whether the dog's rabies vaccination is current.
• Photograph the wounds right away and every few days as they heal. Scarring is a large part of a bite claim's value.
• Do not give a recorded statement to the owner's insurer before talking with a lawyer.

How Long Do You Have to File?

Two years from the bite for most claims, under Code of Civil Procedure section 335.1. If a public entity owned the dog or controlled the property, a written government claim is due within six months under Government Code section 911.2. For a child, the two-year period is generally paused until their eighteenth birthday under section 352, but waiting costs evidence, and a settlement for a child needs a judge's approval.

Compensation for Dog Bite Victims in Orange County

As your dog bite attorney in Orange County, The Le Firm APC pursues maximum compensation including emergency room and hospital bills, plastic and reconstructive surgery costs, ongoing medical treatment, lost wages, pain and suffering, emotional distress, and scarring damages. Many dog bite claims are covered by the owner's homeowner's or renter's insurance policy.

We represent dog bite victims in Lake Forest, Irvine, Mission Viejo, Laguna Hills, Laguna Niguel, Rancho Santa Margarita, and all of Orange County. Your consultation is free, and there is no fee unless we win your case. Contact The Le Firm APC today.

Frequently Asked Questions

The dog has never bitten anyone before. Do I still have a case?

Yes. California has no one-bite rule. Civil Code section 3342 makes the owner liable regardless of the dog's past behavior or the owner's knowledge of it.

The dog belongs to a friend or relative. Will a claim hurt them?

In most cases the claim is paid by the owner's homeowners or renters insurance, which is what that coverage is for. We handle those conversations with care.

I was knocked down but not bitten. Can I recover?

Often, yes. Knockdowns are brought as negligence claims rather than under the bite statute, frequently supported by a leash law violation, and they can involve serious injuries like broken hips and wrists.

Will the dog be put down if I file a claim?

Your injury claim and any animal control proceeding are separate. Whether a dog is declared dangerous is decided by animal control and the court, not by your claim, and most cases end in conditions on how the dog is kept.

For more detail, read our guides to California dog bite law and who pays in Orange County and what a Lake Forest dog bite claim is worth. Local pages: Garden Grove dog bites and Irvine dog bites.