Long Beach Dog Bite Lawyer

Dog bite lawyers who hold negligent owners accountable for the injuries their animals cause.

If you or someone in your family was bitten by a dog in Long Beach, the owner of the animal may be liable for your injuries under California law. It does not matter whether the dog has ever bitten anyone before or whether the owner considered the animal safe. The law places the burden on the owner, not the victim.

California’s strict liability standard means you do not have to prove negligence to recover compensation. Cohen Injury Law Group fights for dog bite victims as your Long Beach, CA dog bite lawyer. Our lead attorney has been handling injury cases since 1991. Contact us to discuss your case.

Dog Bite Lawyer Long Beach, CA

A dog bite lawyer represents people injured by someone else’s animal. California imposes strict liability on dog owners, meaning the victim does not have to prove the owner was careless or that the dog had a history of aggression. If the dog bit you and you were lawfully present where it happened, the owner is responsible for your damages.

Long Beach has a large residential footprint with parks, beach paths, and mixed-use neighborhoods where people and dogs interact constantly. Bixby Park, Recreation Park, and the waterfront paths all see regular dog traffic, and bite incidents in these areas are more common than most residents realize. Long Beach Animal Care Services handles bite reports and quarantine orders, and the records from those reports often become important evidence. A dog bite attorney in Long Beach knows how to obtain that evidence, identify the owner, and build a claim that reflects the full cost of the injury.

Types of Dog Bite Cases We Handle in Long Beach

Dog bite injuries range from minor punctures to life-altering trauma depending on the size of the animal, the location of the bite, and the age of the victim. We handle dog bite cases throughout Long Beach involving the following.

• Bites in public places. Owners are strictly liable for bites that occur on sidewalks, in parks, at the beach, or anywhere the victim has a legal right to be. Long Beach’s waterfront areas and public parks see a high volume of dog-related incidents, and many involve animals that were off leash in violation of local ordinances.
• Bites on private property. If you were lawfully on someone else’s property when their dog attacked, the owner is liable. Landlords may share responsibility under a premises liability theory if they knew a tenant’s dog was dangerous and took no action to address the risk.
• Attacks on children. Children are the most frequent victims of serious dog bites. They are smaller, closer to the animal’s eye level, and less equipped to protect themselves. Facial bites in young children often require multiple reconstructive surgeries spread across several years of growth.
• Loose and unleashed dogs. When a dog escapes a yard or slips off a leash and attacks someone, the owner is liable under both strict liability and negligence. A broken fence or an open gate is evidence of the owner’s failure to control the animal, not a defense.
• Dogs with a known history. When an owner knows their dog has bitten before and still fails to take reasonable precautions, the case for damages grows considerably stronger. Prior bite reports filed with Long Beach Animal Care Services are often the most persuasive evidence available.
• Severe and catastrophic injuries. Dog attacks can cause deep lacerations, nerve damage, broken bones, and brain injuries when the victim is knocked to the ground during the attack. These cases carry higher medical costs and extended recovery timelines.
• Infections and complications. Bite wounds carry a significant risk of bacterial infection from organisms like Pasteurella and MRSA. Infections that resist treatment can lead to hospitalization, IV antibiotics, and additional surgeries. Prompt medical attention matters for both treatment and documentation.
• Fatal dog attacks. When a dog attack causes death, the victim’s surviving family may file a wrongful death claim against the owner. Fatal attacks most commonly involve very young children and elderly adults.

Why Choose Cohen Injury Law Group as My Dog Bite Lawyer in Long Beach, CA?

Attorneys Who Know How to Win Against Insurers

Dog bite claims are paid through the owner’s homeowner’s or renter’s insurance, and those carriers defend aggressively. They minimize scarring, question the severity of emotional trauma, and push settlements before the victim understands what future treatment will cost. You need attorneys who have faced those tactics and know how to dismantle them with medical evidence and documentation.

Wayne R. Cohen has been cited in the LA Times, CNBC, Fortune, and the ABA Journal for his work in personal injury law. He founded Cohen Injury Law Group and has practiced since 1991, graduated from the University of Michigan and Miami Law School cum laude, and lectures at GW Law School. Nicholas E. Cohen, Managing Partner and graduate of USC and Loyola Law School, directs litigation operations across the firm.

Wayne Cohen has recovered millions of dollars for injured clients. As your personal injury lawyer in Long Beach, CA, Cohen Injury Law Group handles dog bite cases on contingency. You pay nothing unless we recover.

What Is Important to Understand About a Dog Bite Case?

Damages, Liability, and Compensation for Dog Bite Cases

California’s strict liability statute makes dog bite cases fundamentally different from most injury claims. You do not need to prove the owner was negligent. If the dog bit you and you were lawfully present, the owner is liable for your damages.

Economic damages include emergency care, surgery, follow-up treatment, medications, and any future procedures such as scar revision or reconstructive work. Lost wages and diminished earning capacity are also recoverable when the injury affects your ability to work.

Non-economic damages cover pain and suffering, emotional distress, scarring, disfigurement, anxiety around dogs, and loss of enjoyment of life. Children who are bitten frequently develop lasting fears that affect daily routines and social interactions for years. Courts take those claims seriously when the evidence supports the psychological impact.

California’s owner liability rules apply whether or not the dog has ever bitten anyone before. In non-bite cases, such as being knocked down by a charging dog, liability must be proven through negligence.

What Are Important Aspects of a Dog Bite Case?

Dog bite claims carry practical issues that shape how the case develops. Addressing them early makes a measurable difference.

• Identifying the owner. If the dog was loose and the owner is unknown, animal control records and neighborhood canvassing may be needed to locate them. Without a named defendant, there is no one to file against.
• Insurance coverage. Most dog bite claims are paid through the owner’s homeowner’s or renter’s insurance. If the owner carries no policy, recovery becomes more difficult but may still be possible through other avenues.
• Documenting injuries. Photos of the wound at every stage of healing carry enormous weight. Reporting the bite to animal control creates an official record that strengthens the claim.
• Comparative fault. The owner’s insurer may argue the victim provoked the dog or was trespassing. California still allows recovery even when the victim shares some responsibility, but the percentage assigned reduces the payout.
• Adjuster tactics. Insurance adjusters handling dog bite claims minimize scarring, question emotional trauma, and push quick settlements before the full cost of future treatment is known.

What Is the Dog Bite Case Timeline?

How long a dog bite case takes depends on the severity of the injury and whether the victim needs ongoing treatment. Most claims follow this path.

• Medical care and reporting. Treatment comes first. Report the bite to Long Beach Animal Care Services as soon as possible afterward to create an official record.
• Investigation. Your attorney identifies the owner, confirms insurance coverage, and gathers medical records, photos, and witness statements.
• Maximum medical improvement. Settling before treatment is complete risks undervaluing the claim, particularly in scarring cases where future revision surgery may be needed.
• Demand and negotiation. A demand letter is sent to the owner’s insurer, and settlement discussions follow. Many Long Beach dog bite cases resolve during this phase.
• Litigation. If the insurer refuses to pay fair value, a lawsuit is filed. Trial may take 12 to 18 months after filing.

What Should You Bring to Your Dog Bite Consultation?

Collecting documentation before the first meeting helps your attorney evaluate the case and move quickly. Bring whatever you have from the following:

• Photos of the injury taken as close to the date of the attack as possible
• Medical records and bills from emergency and follow-up treatment
• The animal control report or the case number assigned
• Contact information for the dog’s owner and any witnesses
• Your health insurance information and any correspondence from the owner’s insurer

You do not need everything before calling. We can help gather what is missing and advise you on what to document going forward.

What Are Important California Legal Resources for Dog Bite Cases?

California’s dog bite statute provides a clear framework for victims pursuing compensation after an attack. These resources are a starting point.

• California gives victims two years to file a dog bite claim.
• Civil Code Section 1714 imposes a duty of ordinary care on every person in California.
• Civil Code Section 3333 opens the door to compensation for every form of harm the owner’s negligence caused.
• The California Courts website provides procedural resources for people filing civil claims in Los Angeles County.

Reach Out to Cohen Injury Law Group to Schedule a Consultation

Dog owners who fail to control their animals should bear the full financial cost of the harm those animals cause. If you were bitten in Long Beach, CA, Cohen Injury Law Group takes these claims on contingency with no fees unless we recover compensation. Contact us to schedule a consultation.