Were you or a loved one bitten by a dog in Glendale, California? You may be entitled to compensation for your medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, and more. Onyx Law Firm can help you hold the dog’s owner liable and pursue all of the money you need to recover.
Our Glendale personal injury lawyers are some of the most successful in the area, with decades of combined experience and substantial recoveries already secured for our deserving clients. If you hire us to represent you, you can count on us to bring that same level of dedication to your claim from the beginning.
Contact our law offices today at (844) 669-9529 for a free consultation. You can receive preliminary legal advice at that time without any risks.
Glendale Dog Bite Attorney
Schedule a Free ConsultationHow Onyx Law Firm Can Help After a Dog Bite in Glendale, California
Dog bite injuries can be far more serious than people realize. While California law makes it relatively straightforward to hold a dog owner liable in these cases, insurance companies will still look for ways to minimize what they owe you. Having an experienced Glendale personal injury attorney involved from the beginning can make a real difference in what you ultimately receive for your claim.
Our legal team with Onyx Law Firm can help you by:
- Investigating the attack and documenting the circumstances
- Gathering medical records, photos, and witness statements
- Identifying the dog’s owner and any applicable insurance coverage
- Calculating the full value of your damages
- Negotiating a fair settlement on your behalf
- Filing a lawsuit and taking your case to court if necessary
Reach out to our dog bite lawyers in Glendale, CA, to learn more about your legal options. We can advise you on what you should do next during your free consultation.
Founding Partner
Meet Attorney Vartan Der-Tatevossian
Vartan Der-Tatevossian is the founding partner of Onyx Law Firm. He handles personal injury, property damage, and insurance dispute cases, with over 10 years of experience.
He previously worked with the Los Angeles District Attorney’s Hardcore Gang Division and at a plaintiff’s law firm. Today, he uses that experience to guide clients and fight for the best outcome.
Vartan takes time to understand your case, explain your options, and protect your interests every step of the way.
California’s Strict Liability Dog Bite Law
California Civil Code § 3342 makes the owner of a dog strictly liable for bite injuries. This means you do not need to prove that the owner was careless or that they had any reason to believe their dog was dangerous. If the dog bit you and you were lawfully in a public place or on private property at the time, the owner is on the hook for your damages. It’s that straightforward.
This is different from the “one-bite rule” that exists in many other states. Under those laws, an owner can only be held strictly liable if they already knew their dog had a tendency to bite. California does away with that entirely in that even if the dog had never shown a hint of aggression before your attack, the owner is still responsible.
There are a few limited exceptions worth knowing about. Strict liability under § 3342 does not apply if:
- You were trespassing on private property at the time of the bite
- You provoked the dog into attacking
- The dog was a law enforcement or military animal performing official duties
It’s also important to note that § 3342 specifically covers bites. If a dog caused you harm in some other way without actually biting, you may still have a claim, but you would need to prove the owner was negligent rather than relying on strict liability.
What Damages Can I Recover After a Dog Bite in Glendale?
Dog bite victims in California can pursue compensatory damages designed to cover both the financial and personal impact of the attack.
Economic damages account for your out-of-pocket losses, including:
- Medical bills
- Future medical care
- Out-of-pocket expenses
- Rehabiltiation
- Therapy
- Lost wages/diminished earning capacity
Non-economic damages address the less tangible consequences of the attack:
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress and anxiety
- Scarring and disfigurement
- Trauma
- Loss of quality of life
California does not cap compensatory damages in most personal injury cases. In rare situations involving extreme conduct by the dog’s owner, punitive damages may also be available.
What if I’m Being Blamed for My Dog Bite Injuries in Glendale, CA?
California handles shared fault through a pure comparative negligence system, which means you can still recover compensation even if you bear some responsibility. Your award will simply be reduced by whatever percentage of fault is assigned to you.
For example, if a jury determines your total damages are $200,000 but you were 15% at fault for approaching the dog in a way that contributed to the bite, your recovery would be reduced to $170,000. There is no cutoff that bars your claim entirely, but every percentage point counts.
Our Glendale dog bite attorneys can help push back on these arguments and keep your fault share as low as possible.
How Much Does It Cost To Hire a Dog Bite Lawyer in Glendale?
Most dog bite attorneys in Glendale work on a contingency fee basis, and our firm is no exception. You won’t pay anything upfront to hire us, and there are no hourly rates or flat fees either. We only collect attorney’s fees if we recover compensation for you.
Our fee is typically around 33% of the total recovery we secure for you and will be agreed upon before your case begins. This arrangement allows anyone to hire experienced legal representation without financial risk and also means we’ll be incentivized to increase the value of your claim as much as we can.
She helped and advised us with everything that we needed to do. She handled everything and we could communicate with her with anything that we needed. With her help, the whole process of resolving the accident was very easy to go through. My family and I are grateful and will always recommend Onyx Law Firm to anyone that needs help with their accident cases.
Thanks to the team’s expertise, the case was resolved successfully. I highly recommend Onyx Law Firm and Natasha for their excellent service.
How Much Time Do I Have To File a Dog Bite Lawsuit in Glendale, California?
California’s statute of limitations generally gives you two years from the date of the dog bite to file a personal injury lawsuit. If you miss that window, the court will almost certainly dismiss your case.
However, note that the deadline might be different for your case if an exception applies. Getting a Glendale personal injury lawyer involved early on ensures that evidence is preserved and that your case is on track well before any deadline approaches.
Contact Our Glendale Dog Bite Attorneys for a Free Consultation
If you were bitten by a dog in Glendale, California, the law is likely on your side. Onyx Law Firm can help you navigate the claims process and pursue the maximum compensation your case is worth.
Our Glendale dog bite attorneys have decades of combined experience and a lengthy history of winning results that you can trust. Contact us today at (844) 669-9529 to schedule a completely free initial consultation so that we can take a closer look at your situation and help you figure out what comes next.