Santa Clarita is a dog town. Trails, paseos, parks and quiet residential streets across Valencia, Saugus, Newhall and Canyon Country mean constant contact between dogs and people. Most of it is uneventful. When it is not, the consequences are severe, particularly for children, who are bitten on the face and head far more often than adults.
Djougourian Law Corp has recovered $1.1 million in a dog bite case and represents bite victims throughout the Santa Clarita Valley.
California’s Strict Liability Rule
This is the most favorable liability standard in personal injury law, and most victims do not know it exists.
California Civil Code Section 3342 makes a dog owner liable for damages suffered by any person bitten in a public place or lawfully in a private place, regardless of the dog’s former viciousness and regardless of the owner’s knowledge of it.
There is no “one free bite” in California. It does not matter that the dog had never bitten anyone. It does not matter that the owner had no reason to think the dog was dangerous. If the dog bit you and you were lawfully present, the owner is liable.
Lawful presence is read broadly and covers social guests, delivery drivers, postal carriers, utility and meter readers, contractors, and anyone else there by express or implied invitation, as well as anyone performing a duty imposed by law.
Beyond the statute, ordinary negligence claims remain available for injuries a dog causes without biting, such as knocking a cyclist off a bike or a pedestrian to the ground.
The American Veterinary Medical Association reports that more than 4.5 million people are bitten by dogs in the United States each year and more than 800,000 receive medical attention, with at least half of those being children.
Common Dog Bite Injuries
Puncture wounds, which trap bacteria deep in tissue and carry high infection risk. Lacerations and avulsion injuries, where tissue is torn away, requiring surgical repair, grafting and often multiple reconstructive procedures. Nerve and tendon damage, particularly in hand bites, causing lasting loss of function. Infection, including Pasteurella, Staphylococcus and Capnocytophaga, which can escalate to sepsis. Rabies exposure, requiring post-exposure prophylaxis when vaccination status is unknown. Permanent scarring and disfigurement, which for facial injuries in children carries lifelong consequences and often requires staged revision surgery into adulthood. Psychological trauma, including PTSD, nightmares and lasting fear of dogs. In children this is frequently the most persistent injury.
Where Bites Happen in Santa Clarita
Residential property. Gates left open, inadequate fencing, dogs off leash in front yards. Paseos, trails and parks. Off-leash dogs on the paseo network, the Santa Clara River trail and neighborhood parks. Sidewalks and streets. Dogs escaping properties or handled by someone who cannot physically control them. Delivery and service calls. Amazon, UPS, FedEx, postal carriers, meter readers and contractors entering yards. Apartment complexes. Common areas, laundry rooms, stairwells and pool areas. Dog parks and pet-friendly businesses.
Los Angeles County leash and licensing requirements are administered by LA County Animal Care and Control, which handles the Santa Clarita Valley. Reporting a bite to animal control creates an official record and starts the rabies observation process.
Insurance Coverage
Most dog bite claims are paid by homeowners or renters insurance, which typically carries liability limits between $100,000 and $500,000, with umbrella policies stacking above that. Some carriers exclude specific breeds or exclude animal liability entirely, so identifying coverage early matters. Where coverage is excluded, the owner’s personal assets remain reachable.
Frequently Asked Questions
What should I do after a dog bite?
Get medical care immediately, because bite infections escalate fast. Report the bite to animal control. Photograph the injuries at intervals as they heal. Get the owner’s name, address and insurance information, and the dog’s vaccination records. Get witness contacts.
Does it matter that the dog never bit anyone before?
No. Strict liability under Section 3342 does not require prior viciousness or owner knowledge.
What if it was a friend or family member’s dog?
The claim is against their insurance policy, not against them personally in any practical sense. This is what the coverage exists for, and it is a conversation worth having plainly.
What if the owner says I provoked the dog?
Provocation is a recognized defense but it is construed narrowly. Normal interaction, walking past, or a child’s ordinary behavior is not provocation.
What if I was bitten at work?
You may have both a workers’ compensation claim and a third-party claim against the dog owner.
Can I recover punitive damages?
Sometimes, where an owner knew the dog was dangerous and consciously disregarded the risk. That is a separate showing from strict liability.
What compensation can I recover?
Medical treatment including reconstructive surgery, future scar revision, lost income, pain and suffering, emotional distress and permanent disfigurement.
Contact a Santa Clarita Dog Bite Attorney
Call 818-530-0000 or request a free consultation. No fee unless we win.
