California Dog Bite Lawyer
California Dog Bite Attorney
Dogs are popular pets throughout California, but they can sometimes act aggressively with little to no warning, and some can bite and cause severe injuries. If you were recently bitten by someone else’s dog, you are likely to have many questions about your options for recovering your damages. A California dog bite lawyer can help you make sense of your situation and assist you in pursuing fair compensation for your injury.
Representing Dog Bite Victims in California
Easton & Easton has extensive professional experience representing injured clients in a wide range of complex personal injury cases throughout California, including dog bite claims. Just like in any other type of personal injury case, the injured victim must establish fault for their damages before they can claim compensation from the defendant. This can be more straightforward in dog bite cases than in other personal injury cases due to strict liability.
However, there is always potential for unexpected complications to arise with even the most seemingly straightforward personal injury cases. Do not assume that you can manage your case on your own, even if you believe the fault for your damages is perfectly clear. The right attorney can not only streamline your case and ensure you meet all of the procedural requirements for your dog bite claim, but they can also help you maximize your recovery.
Ultimately, it is important to connect with a California dog bite lawyer you trust as quickly as possible after your accident. You have a limited time to gather evidence to support your case and file it with the court. Our California personal injury lawyers will meet with you to assess the full extent of your damages and explain the options you have for resolving your case. Our goal for every client is the maximum recovery in the shortest possible time frame.
Proving Strict Liability for a Dog Bite
In California, the strict liability rule applies to any case involving a dog attacking a person, as long as the victim did not provoke the attack and they were legally present at the location where the attack occurred. Under the strict liability rule, the dog’s owner is fully liable for any damages the pet inflicted on the victim. Your California dog bite lawyer can help you determine how to assert strict liability in your case.
Success with your personal injury claim will require proof of fault as well as proof of the full extent of your damages. Dog attacks can result in serious physical injuries. Bites can cause puncture wounds, broken bones, and crushing injuries. A dog can also knock a victim to the ground, potentially causing bone fractures throughout the body or head injuries. The victim may face a long road to recovery, so proving fault will be crucial for obtaining compensation.
Building Your Personal Injury Case for a Dog Bite in California
Your attorney can help you resolve any disputes regarding liability for the dog attack you experienced. This may require obtaining camera footage, witness testimony, or other evidence to prove that you did not provoke the attack and were lawfully present where the attack occurred. Once you have established strict liability, your attorney can assist you with holding the dog owner accountable for the damages you suffered.
In a personal injury suit, the plaintiff has the right to claim compensation for economic and non-economic damages they suffered because of the defendant’s actions. Economic damages are direct financial losses, such as medical expenses and lost income, if the victim is unable to work for an extended period of time due to their injuries. Additionally, they can also claim compensation for anticipated future economic losses.
Non-economic damages, on the other hand, are more subjective and difficult to assign monetary values. The plaintiff has the right to seek compensation for physical pain, emotional distress, and trauma they have suffered because of the dog attack. There is no set formula the plaintiff must use to calculate non-economic damages, and California does not limit pain and suffering compensation in these cases.
Your California dog bite lawyer can help you determine a suitable amount that reflects the overall severity of your injuries, how long it will take for you to reach maximum medical improvement, and whether your injuries caused any permanent harm. For example, a head injury has the potential to cause lifelong disability. Dog attacks are also traumatic and may result in long-term psychological distress for the victim.
Resolving Your Dog Bite Case in California
The right attorney will be an invaluable asset for filing your dog bite case and recovering maximum compensation for your damages. It is important that you connect with an attorney as quickly as possible after the incident so they can immediately begin working on your case and guiding you toward the compensation you need to recover as much as possible. Easton & Easton is confident we possess the skills and experience necessary to resolve your dog bite claim.
Our team will meet with you to listen to your story and determine whether you have grounds for a personal injury suit. If so, we can explain the process of building and filing your case and assist you with determining the full extent of damages you may be able to recover from the defendant. You may be able to settle a dog bite case privately through settlement negotiations, but you may also need to resolve the case in court through litigation.
Whatever your case requires, you will have a dedicated legal representative ready to answer questions and address concerns through all phases of your case when you choose Easton & Easton to represent you. We have decades of experience helping injured clients throughout California with all types of difficult personal injury cases, and we can put this experience to work for you as we help you recover from a damaging and traumatic dog attack in California.
FAQs
How Do You Prove Strict Liability for a Dog Bite?
You can prove strict liability for a dog bite by showing that you were legally present where the attack occurred and that you did not provoke the attack. Strict liability applies even if a dog has no known history of biting, and the owner is fully responsible for the damages the pet inflicted. Your California dog bite lawyer can help you resolve any disputes regarding strict liability for your injury.
What Happens to the Dog After It Bites Someone in California?
After a dog has bitten someone in California, the dog will usually need to be quarantined and undergo a medical examination to ensure it does not carry rabies or any other diseases. In most cases, dogs are returned to their owners as long as they are not deemed threats to public health and safety. However, if it is determined that the dog is dangerously aggressive or poses a serious health risk, the court may order it to be euthanized.
How Much Compensation Can You Claim for a Dog Bite in California?
The amount of compensation you can claim for a dog bite in California largely depends on the extent and severity of the damages the dog inflicted. In any personal injury case, the injured plaintiff has the right to seek full compensation for any economic losses they suffered, such as medical bills, lost income, and property damage, and they also have the right to seek pain and suffering compensation that reflects the severity of their experience.
Why Do I Need to Hire a California Dog Bite Lawyer?
You need to hire a California dog bite lawyer because you are more likely to succeed with your case and more likely to maximize your compensation with legal counsel on your side. Additionally, your attorney will know how to streamline your proceedings, potentially helping you resolve your case more quickly than you expected. It is always worth investing in trustworthy legal counsel for any type of personal injury case in California.
What Does It Cost to Hire a California Dog Bite Lawyer?
The cost of hiring a California dog bite lawyer will be determined by the total value of your case when you choose Easton & Easton to represent you. Under our contingency fee agreement, you will only pay a fee if and when we win your case, and we will only charge a percentage of the total compensation we recover for you. There is no fee if we are unable to obtain a recovery for you, so there is no financial risk in hiring our firm to represent you.
The attorneys at Easton & Easton know how devastating a dog attack can be and want to do everything we can to help you recover as much as possible. If you are struggling with the effects of a dog attack in California, we can help you build a comprehensive civil suit seeking maximum compensation for your damage. Contact us today to schedule your consultation with a California dog bite lawyer and learn how we can help with your case.
Your Story Is Important To Us.
CALL US SO WE CAN HEAR IT.

The superior client service Easton & Easton provides has earned the firm an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau.

Easton & Easton is honored to have been chosen anew each year since 2014 by U.S. News & World Report and Best Lawyers as one of the "Best Law Firms" for the Southern California Metro Area.

Easton & Easton is honored to have been chosen by the LA Times Reader's Choice Poll as "The Best Personal Injury Law Firm in Orange County" for 2018.

Doug and Brian Easton have been selected as Top 100 Trial Lawyers for California each year since 2014 — honors given to less than 1% of attorneys.

Doug and Matt Easton have each been chosen as one of The Best Lawyers in America for Plaintiff's Personal Injury Litigation. Best Lawyers lists attorneys who have earned selection through exemplary legal work that attracts the notice of their colleagues. Lawyers cannot buy their way onto this list.

Brian and Matt Easton were recently honored for their efforts in securing a $1,850,000 verdict for a client in 2016, which was selected as one of the Top 50 Personal Injury Verdicts in California by TopVerdict.com.

Doug and Brian have each been selected by Super Lawyers, an honor given to less than 5% of attorneys. Matt Easton has been selected among Super Lawyers' Up-and-Coming Top 25 in Orange County and Top 100 in Southern California, an honor given to less than 1% of attorneys under 40 years old.

Easton & Easton is honored to have been chosen as one of the "10 Best Personal Injury Law Firms” in all of Southern California" each year Since 2015 based on client satisfaction — one of the highest honors we could ever hope to achieve.

Easton & Easton received the “People Love Us On Yelp” award in 2016 due to the exceptional client satisfaction reviews given by our clients over the years.

Doug and Matt Easton have each been featured as Premier 100 Trial Attorneys for California since 2015 — honors given to less than 1% of attorneys.

Brian and Matt Easton have each earned lifetime appointment to the Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum — The Top Trial Lawyers in AmericaTM through the results achieved for their clients. This is an honor given to less than 1% of attorneys in the United States.

Doug Easton has held the “AV Preeminent” Rating for over 30 years and Matt Easton received this prestigious distinction in 2015. The "AV Preeminent" rating is the highest possible rating for both legal ability and ethical standards, and is based on the legal profession’s oldest peer review rating system, dating back to 1887.

Doug, Brian, and Matt Easton have all been chosen as one of the "10 Best" Personal Injury Attorneys in Southern California each year since 2015 based on client satisfaction, an honor given to less than 1% of personal injury attorneys - and Easton & Easton houses three of them.

Brian Easton was selected to the American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA) in 2015. ABOTA is one of the most premier associations of trial attorneys and judges, requiring a certain number of jury trials as lead counsel and approval by a majority vote of the ABOTA board.

Matt Easton has been selected each year since 2014 as one of the Top 40 Trial Lawyers Under 40 for California by The National Trial Lawyers — an honor given to less than 1% of attorneys.

Doug and Matt Easton have each been chosen as one of The Best Lawyers in America for Plaintiff's Personal Injury Litigation. Best Lawyers lists attorneys who have earned selection through exemplary legal work that attracts the notice of their colleagues. Lawyers cannot buy their way onto this list.

Both Doug and Matt Easton have been selected as Top Personal Injury Attorneys by Avvo with scores of 10 out of 10 based on their skill, experience, results, peer evaluations, and client reviews.

Matt Easton has been selected as one of the Top 10 Personal Injury Attorneys Under 40 in California for 2015 by the National Association of Personal Injury Attorneys — an honor given to less than 1% of personal injury attorneys under the age of 40.

Doug, Brian, and Matt Easton have all been selected by the National Association of Distinguished Counsel among the Nation's Top One Percent of Attorneys each year since 2017.

“We look for the human story behind every injury or wrongful death. We prepare our cases for trial; reaching out to the jury with the most compelling evidence possible for the best verdict possible. Insurance companies know this and come to the table prepared to negotiate in good faith. Call us to see how we can turn your story into fair compensation.”
Partner W. Douglas Easton
What Our Clients Say
Coming out of my first auto accident as an adult, a very difficult and scary time to navigate and understand, I was so incredibly thankful to have been put in contact with Easton & Easton. I honestly was lost with how to handle paperwork, doctors, medical costs and what next steps were, and from the moment I spoke with Travis Easton and my case manager Katie, my mind was put at ease. They have made the entire process stress free for me as I recovered, and I am so grateful for them and their genuine care for my case. Communication from the start has been fantastic, especially making clear what my expectations for the entire process would look like, and I truly believe they have my best interest at heart. 100% I would recommend their firm for anyone that is needing representation! Read more…
My experience with Easton & Easton has been amazing! Gabriel Mendoza and my case manager Katie have been so helpful and taken so much stress off my plate. They’ve been super informative and honest and given me very clear expectations. They’ve taken such a terrible experience (my accident) and eased my mind about the outcome. I can’t thank them enough!! Read more…
Ive used them twice and never been disappointed. Read more…
The Easton & Easton Law Firm is amazing! The entire team is very helpful and caring. They were always there to answer all my questions. They directed me through the entire process and stayed with me every step of the way. This team is outstanding and were wonderful to work with. Because of the tremendous effort they put on my case they were able to win my difficult personal injury case. I couldn’t have asked for a better law firm to handle my case. They are the Best! Thank you for your patience, professionalism, & guidance! I definitely recommend this firm to handle your case. They go out of their way to fight for your rights. THANK YOU… Read more…
I could not be more pleased with the services provided by the Law Offices of W. Douglas Easton. The senior partner Mr. Easton took the time to meet with me and my wife while I was still in the hospital, where he gave my family hope that there was light at the end of a very long, and very dark tunnel. Matt Easton then worked my case, and because of his dedication, experience and expertise I received a settlement that was larger than I EVER thought possible. It was truly astounding! Matt and the entire team at Easton & Easton looked out for me throughout my recovery, and in the end they gave me my life back. Five stars is not enough. Thanks Matt! Thanks Easton & Easton! Read more…
Brian and everyone at Easton and Easton are simply the BEST at what they do. Brian is thorough, easy to talk to, and truly cares about his clients. If you want a family of attorneys with perseverance and determination to fight for you, give Easton and Easton a call. I am glad I did. Read more…
What an amazing law firm, talk about going above and beyond to make such a painful experience go so well. I have referred a co-worker and a family member to them as well and everyone had such a great experience as I had. Read more…
I can’t say enough amazing things about my experience with Travis Easton at Easton & Easton. Travis and his entire team (Katie, Amy, Dee, Michelle, & Araceli) are phenomenal. It provided me a lot of comfort to know I was being so well taken care of. I was especially impressed that every document for the case was perfectly written and specific to me. Nothing was generic, which shows the level of care and attention they put into each individual case. I had such a great experience and would highly recommend Travis Easton and his firm to anyone going through a personal injury. Travis took a bad situation and made the best of it for me. Thank you again, I’m forever grateful!!
-Allee
Retaining Easton and Easton was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made! From the initial consultation to our final meeting, they were nothing short of exceptional. I was forced to retain their services after firing my previous attorney for not handling the case properly. I dealt with Gabriel and Brian (partner) exclusively throughout the case. They did as promised and were great communicators throughout the entire process. I will recommend them to anyone I know going through a personal injury case. They were ultimately able to untangle the mess caused by my previous lawyer and get a result that I was extremely happy with. Their staff is exceptional as well and provided top notch customer service. Amera was also extremely helpful and easy to deal with as well.
I was in a pretty bad car accident and decided to have Easton & Easton represent me, Travis Easton to be specific. Travis Easton and his paralegal made the whole process effortless. They were so understanding and helpful! The entire thing was a gigantic mess, yet Travis managed to make it run like clockwork. I would HIGHLY recommend Easton & Easton! If you are ever in need of a personal defense attorney Easton & Easton is the firm to represent you!
They are the best law firm in Orange County period. Choosing them to represent me was the best decision of my life.
My life changed in a matter of seconds after a catastrophic spinal cord injury that left me disabled. Brian Easton and his team worked on my case non stop for 3 years and provided me the justice I deserved. I couldn’t have been more content.
I was treated with utmost respect and I felt like I was being represented by a close family member. The responses to my questions were quick and clear. What E & E has done for me is phenomenal.
My sincere thanks to Brian, Matt, Travis, Doug, Gabriel and Amera. They are what they are because of their dedication to provide high quality and professional service to their clients.
Brian Easton and his team, Gabe Mendoza and Amera Hajali, helped me during a very difficult time in my life. I had a significant injury from a car accident, and wound up seeking out Easton & Easton when I was having difficulties getting help from my doctors. The Easton team took a lot of stress off of me while acting as my advocates to help me get the care I needed, and saw my case all the way through to a healthy settlement.
They are the BEST!
I have nothing but good things to say about Easton and Easton. Brian handled my case professionally and communicated with me effectively throughout the process. He made sure that the process was effortless and as hands free as possible. This was super important for my busy schedule. I highly recommend Easton and Easton if you are ever found in a situation that you need an attorney.
I would highly recommend Easton & Easton.
I was rear ended on my home and pushed into a semi-truck. I was not sure how to go about even using an attorney.
Brian, Gab and Amera were so good about helping me thru the process and representing me.
I was able to concentrate on getting myself better knowing they had my back, taking care of the details and keeping me informed along the way
The best Law firm by far. I would highly recommend Easton & Easton, LLP and ask for Gabriel Mendoza and staff. He and his colleagues did and exceptional service. Thank you for everything. Job well done!