Riverside Dog Bite Lawyer

A dog bite is a deeply traumatic event that can leave you physically injured and emotionally traumatized. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 4.5 million people are bitten by dogs each year, and if you were bitten by someone else’s dog, you could have a case for financial compensation.

While California law holds dog owners strictly liable, securing a fair settlement from their insurance company is a complex and often adversarial process. A compassionate and assertive Riverside dog bite lawyer from Kohan & Bablove Injury Attorneys can review the details of what happened and champion your rights. We fight to ensure you receive full compensation for medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering. Let us manage the legal complexities so you can focus on your recovery.

Bitten by a Dog in Riverside? We Hold Owners Accountable. No Fee Unless We Win.

California’s strict liability law makes dog owners legally responsible for bite injuries, even if their dog had never shown aggression before. You only need to prove their dog bit you while you were lawfully on the property. A skilled Riverside dog bite lawyer uses this law to build a powerful case on your behalf.

We fight to recover maximum compensation for all of your losses. This includes not only your immediate medical bills but also the cost of future procedures like plastic surgery, lost wages, and the significant pain and emotional trauma the attack caused. In many cases, this compensation is paid through the owner’s homeowner’s insurance policy.

We handle all cases on a contingency fee basis, meaning you pay absolutely no upfront costs. We only get paid if we successfully recover money for you. Your time to file a claim is limited. Contact our dedicated personal injury attorneys today for a free, no-obligation consultation.

Why Choose Kohan & Bablove Injury Attorneys for Your Dog Bite Claim?

After the trauma of a dog attack, the attorney you choose is your most important decision. You need a firm with proven strength and personal commitment. At Kohan & Bablove Injury Attorneys, we are defined by a legacy of success, securing 7-figure results for our clients. As recognized top trial attorneys in Southern California, our reputation ensures insurance companies take your claim seriously from the very beginning.

While our victories are formidable, our practice is founded on personal service. You will work directly with your attorney, never a paralegal, and receive a legal strategy tailored to your needs. The most powerful testament to our approach is our satisfied clients’ testimonials, which highlight our exceptional results and compassionate guidance. When you choose our firm, you are choosing a partner who will fight relentlessly for your recovery.

What to Do Immediately After a Dog Bite in Riverside

The moments after a dog bite are chaotic, painful, and frightening. Knowing what to do immediately following an attack is critical for protecting both your health and your legal rights. The steps you take can significantly impact your physical recovery and your ability to secure fair compensation for your injuries from the responsible owner.

Step 1: Get to a Safe Location and Seek Immediate Medical Treatment

Your first priority is safety. Immediately get away from the animal to prevent a further attack. Then, seek prompt medical attention from an urgent care center or hospital, even if the wound seems minor. Dog bites carry a very high risk of serious bacterial infections, as well as diseases like rabies and tetanus. Seeking immediate medical care not only ensures proper treatment but also creates an official medical record that links your injuries directly to the attack. This documentation is vital evidence for your claim.

Step 2: Identify the Dog and Its Owner

If you can do so safely, get the name and contact information of the dog’s owner. Politely ask for their homeowner’s or renter’s insurance details, as this is typically the policy that provides coverage for bite incidents. Note the dog’s breed, color, and size. This information is crucial for filing an official report and a potential insurance claim.

Step 3: Report the Bite to Riverside County Animal Control

Filing an official report is an important step for public safety and for your case. Contact Riverside County Animal Control to file a formal bite report. This creates an official, third-party record of the attack that can be used as key evidence. Animal control will also investigate to ensure the dog has its proper vaccinations and does not pose a further threat to the community.

Step 4: Document Everything (Photos, Witness Info, Medical Bills)

Preserve as much evidence as you can. Use your smartphone to take clear photos of your injuries immediately after the bite and throughout the healing process. Photograph the location where the attack occurred and the dog itself, if it is safe. If anyone witnessed the incident, ask for their name and phone number. Keep a detailed file of all your medical bills and records related to the injury.

Step 5: Contact Our Lawyers Before Speaking to Any Insurance Company

Before you give any statement to the owner’s insurance adjuster, contact a skilled Riverside dog bite lawyer. Insurance companies aim to minimize their payouts. They may try to get you to accept a quick, lowball offer or make a statement that could hurt your claim. A dedicated personal injury attorney will protect you from these tactics and handle all communications to ensure you fight for the maximum compensation you deserve.

Riverside Dog Bite Lawyer: Determining Who Is to Blame for a Dog Bite

When you are injured by a dog in Riverside, determining who was at fault begins with understanding California’s powerful protections for victims. The process can be complex, but the law is on your side. Unlike many other states that use a “one-bite rule,” California operates under a “strict liability” statute for dog bites (California Civil Code § 3342). This is a crucial distinction, as it means the owner is held responsible for the very first time their dog causes an injury—the dog does not get a “free bite,” and the owner cannot claim they were unaware of the dog’s potential to be dangerous.

This law simplifies the process of holding an owner accountable, as you do not need to prove they were careless or negligent in the traditional sense. However, building a successful and compelling claim still requires a thorough investigation.

A skilled Riverside dog bite lawyer from our firm will build a powerful case by gathering the necessary evidence to prove the key facts required by law:

• The defendant was the legal owner of the dog that bit you. 
• The bite occurred while you were in a public place or lawfully on private property (not trespassing). 
• You were actually injured as a result of the bite. 
• The dog’s bite was the direct cause of your injuries and subsequent damages. 

Beyond proving these core legal requirements, a deeper investigation is essential to build the strongest possible case and counter potential defenses from the insurance company. Our team will discover the answers to a variety of critical questions to paint a full picture of the incident:

• Was the dog leashed at the time? 
• Was the dog behind a fence, and were you in the enclosed area? 
• Did the dog owner try to restrain the animal before or during the attack? 
• Has the dog bitten before? (While not required for strict liability, a history of aggression can be crucial). 
• What kind of training, if any, had the dog received? 

By meticulously proving the essential elements required by law and thoroughly documenting the full circumstances of the attack, we can effectively hold the owner legally and financially responsible. Our ultimate goal is to ensure you receive the maximum compensation available for your medical bills, lost wages, and the significant pain and suffering you have endured.

Breed Could Be Important

There are certain dog breeds that are more likely to be kept for their intimidating reputation and physical presence. Sometimes these animals are poorly trained or encouraged to be aggressive by their owners. In Riverside, municipal codes define what a potentially dangerous dog and a vicious dog are. If the animal is considered to be a serious threat, it may be removed by the authorities.

According to these codes, a dog is considered potentially dangerous even if it is only chasing livestock or other animals. In other words, if a dog pursues other animals, this would be an indication of tendencies that could worsen over time and eventually result in danger to people.

When proving negligence, your Riverside dog bite lawyer may conduct depositions to determine if the dog who bit you was displaying any of these tendencies prior to the attack. As these questions are asked under oath, they must be answered truthfully under penalty of law.

Common Injuries After a Dog Bite

We encourage you to contact our office to speak with a Riverside dog bite lawyer, regardless of how serious your injuries are after a dog bite. However, the more medical care your injuries require, the more money you are likely to receive from a lawsuit. A few of the more common injuries are as follows:

• Cuts and lacerations
• Puncture wounds from teeth
• Broken bones
• Internal bleeding
• Head trauma
• Loss of fingers or even hands
• Infection of the bite location

All of these require urgent medical care, and some will even create the need for surgery and a prolonged recovery time. Your medical bills should be paid for by the negligent dog owner.

Who Pays for Your Damages? Identifying Sources of Compensation

After a dog bite, a common concern is how medical bills and other losses will be paid. Many victims worry they will have to sue the owner directly, potentially causing financial hardship, especially if the owner is a neighbor or friend. Fortunately, in the vast majority of cases, compensation does not come from the owner’s personal savings.

Filing a Claim Against the Owner’s Homeowner’s or Renter’s Insurance

The primary source of compensation in a dog bite case is the owner’s homeowner’s or renter’s insurance policy. These policies almost always include liability coverage, which is specifically designed to cover injuries that occur on the owner’s property or are caused by their negligence—including dog bites. When you file a claim, it is made against the large insurance corporation, not the individual’s personal assets. A skilled Riverside dog bite lawyer knows how to navigate these claims and negotiate directly with the insurance adjuster to secure a fair settlement that covers all your damages.

What if the Dog’s Owner is a Friend or Family Member?

This is a common and emotionally delicate situation. It is crucial to remember that you are not seeking money from your loved one’s savings; you are accessing the insurance coverage they pay for precisely for these types of accidents. Filing a claim allows you to get the compensation you need for your serious injuries without causing them financial harm. People have this insurance to protect themselves and their guests from unforeseen events. A personal injury attorney can manage all communications with the insurance company, preserving your personal relationship while professionally handling the claim and ensuring your medical bills are paid.

Compensation for All Your Injuries – Physical and Emotional

A dog bite is a deeply traumatic event, and the harm it causes goes far beyond the initial wound. California law allows victims to seek compensation for the full range of their damages—covering not only their financial losses but also the profound personal impact of the attack. A skilled Riverside dog bite lawyer ensures that every aspect of your suffering is accounted for when fighting for justice.

Medical Expenses (including plastic surgery for scars)

This is the foundation of your claim. We fight to recover compensation for all past, present, and future medical costs related to the bite. This includes the initial emergency room visit, stitches, infection treatment, and any follow-up appointments. Crucially for dog bite victims, this also covers the high cost of cosmetic or plastic surgery to revise and minimize the appearance of permanent scars, helping to restore both physical appearance and confidence.

Lost Wages and Future Earning Capacity

A serious injury often means missing time from work. We will fight to recover all the income you lost while you were unable to work during your recovery. If your injuries or scarring are severe and permanently affect your ability to perform your job or earn the same level of income, we can also seek damages for this diminished future earning capacity. This ensures you are not left with a long-term financial hardship.

Pain, Suffering, and Emotional Trauma (PTSD, Cynophobia)

The emotional toll of a dog attack is often the most significant damage. We fight for substantial compensation for your non-economic losses, including the physical pain of the injury and the lasting psychological trauma. This can include Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), anxiety, nightmares, and the development of a debilitating fear of dogs (cynophobia). This compensation acknowledges the human cost of the attack and the impact it has on your quality of life. An experienced personal injury attorney knows how to demonstrate this suffering to secure the full value you deserve.

Common Mistakes That Can Hurt Your Riverside Dog Bite Claim

After the trauma of a dog attack, the steps you take are critical. While your focus is on healing, certain mistakes can severely damage your ability to recover fair compensation. An experienced Riverside dog bite lawyer can guide you past these pitfalls.

Delaying Medical Treatment

Your health is the top priority. Dog bites carry a high risk of dangerous infections. Legally, delaying medical care is a critical error. It creates a gap in your record that the owner’s insurance company will exploit. They will argue that if your injuries were serious, you would have sought immediate help, or that your injury was caused by something else. Seeking prompt medical attention protects your well-being and creates a clear, undeniable link between the bite and your injuries.

Giving a Recorded Statement to the Insurance Company

The owner’s insurance adjuster will likely contact you and ask for a recorded statement. It is crucial to politely decline until you have spoken with an attorney. Adjusters are trained negotiators whose goal is to minimize their company’s payout. They ask carefully worded questions designed to get you to downplay your pain, suggest you provoked the dog, or inadvertently accept partial blame. Anything you say will be recorded and used against you. A personal injury attorney should handle all communications to protect you from these tactics.

Accepting the First Lowball Settlement Offer

Shortly after the bite, you may receive a quick settlement offer. This is a strategy designed to make you go away for the lowest possible amount. This initial offer rarely accounts for the full, long-term costs of your injury, such as future plastic surgery for scarring or therapy for emotional trauma. Once you accept an offer, you lose your right to seek any further compensation, even if your condition worsens. It is vital to have your claim fully evaluated before considering any settlement from the insurer.

Settling Out of Court

Many of our clients are able to settle their injury claims out of court. By building a strong case for why you deserve compensation, we can present the at-fault party with the facts and may be able to convince them to settle due to overwhelming evidence.

In this case, you may receive the compensation your injuries require without ever stepping foot into a courtroom. To discuss this option with a Riverside dog bite lawyer, call our office and schedule your free consultation.

Schedule a Free Consultation with Our Riverside Dog Bite Lawyers

You do not have to face the aftermath of a dog attack alone. Contact Kohan & Bablove Injury Attorneys today to schedule a free, no-obligation consultation with our experienced Riverside dog bite lawyers. We will listen to your story with compassion, explain your legal rights under California’s strict liability laws, and outline a clear path toward securing the compensation you deserve. We handle all cases on a contingency fee basis, which means you will never pay any attorney fees unless we successfully recover money for you. Take the first step toward justice and recovery. You can schedule a free, no-obligation legal consultation with a Newport Beach car accident lawyer at Kohan & Bablove, Injury Attorneys by calling us at 949.506.4511 or filling out the contact form at the bottom of this page.

Address: 20371 Irvine Ave, Suite 110, Newport Beach, CA 92660 Phone: 949.506.4511