Practice Areas · Injuries
Dog Bite Cases
San Diego Injuries
Dog Bite Cases in San Diego
Under California law, a dog owner is generally strictly liable when their dog bites someone in a public place or lawfully on private property, the owner does not get 'one free bite.' Victims may recover for medical treatment, scarring and disfigurement, lost wages, and pain and suffering.
Crudo Law helps dog-bite victims, including children, pursue the owner's homeowner or renter insurance for the full cost of their injuries and recovery.
Strict
CA owner liability
2 years
Filing deadline
Free
Case consultation
Full value
What we pursue
By the Numbers
Dog Bite Cases, by the numbers
$1.57 billion1
US insurer payouts for dog bite and dog-related injury claims, 2024
Paid across 22,658 homeowners/renters claims nationwide, with the claim count up nearly 19% from 2023 (Triple-I/State Farm data).
$69,2721
Average cost per dog bite insurance claim in the US, 2024
Up from $58,545 in 2023, driven by higher medical costs and larger settlements, judgments, and jury awards.
~4.5 million2
People bitten by dogs each year in the United States
Most dog bite victims are children (Insurance Information Institute).
$81,7892
California average cost per dog bite claim, 2025 (state with the most claims)
California recorded the highest number of dog bite claims of any state in 2025 at 2,830 claims, up from 2,417 in 2024.
Strict liability3
California dog owners are liable for bites under Civil Code Section 3342
The owner is liable regardless of the dog's former viciousness or the owner's knowledge of it; California has no 'one-bite' defense.
Do You Have a Case?
Signs you may have a claim
- ✓Bitten or injured by someone else's dog
- ✓In a public place or lawfully on private property
- ✓Facing medical bills or scarring
- ✓A child was injured
The Process
How your case moves forward
Here is how a dog-bite claim typically proceeds.
- Free consultation
- We review the incident and identify the responsible owner and insurance.
- Treatment & documentation
- We document injuries, scarring, and the care you need.
- Claim & negotiation
- We pursue the owner's insurance for the full cost of your injuries.
- Resolution
- We settle for fair value, or file suit when necessary.
Frequently asked
Common questions
Is the owner automatically responsible?+
In most California cases, yes, owners are strictly liable for bites in public or where the victim was lawfully present, regardless of the dog's history.
What if the dog belongs to a friend or family member?+
Recovery usually comes from the owner's homeowner or renter insurance, not their personal pocket, so pursuing a claim need not damage the relationship.
My child was bitten, what should I do?+
Seek medical care, photograph the injuries, and call us. Children's cases involve special considerations, including scarring over time.
What does it cost to talk to you?+
Nothing, the consultation is free. Call (858) 622-7280.
Related practice areas
Sources
- Insurance Information Institute (Triple-I), Triple-I/State Farm: US Dog-Related Injury Claim Payouts Hit $1.57 Billion in 2024 (2025). https://www.iii.org/press-release/triple-i-state-farm-us-dog-related-injury-claim-payouts-hit-157-billion-in-2024-041625
- Insurance Information Institute (Triple-I), Spotlight on: Dog bite liability (2025). https://www.iii.org/article/spotlight-on-dog-bite-liability
- California Legislative Information (State of California), California Civil Code Section 3342 (Dog Owner Liability for Bites) (1988). https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?sectionNum=3342.&lawCode=CIV
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