Irvine Dog Bite Lawyer

What the claim involves

An Irvine dog bite claim turns on where it happened and who pays.

A dog’s owner is generally liable for a bite in a public place or while the injured person was lawfully on private property, including the owner’s own home, regardless of the dog’s history or the owner’s knowledge of it (Civil Code § 3342). Get medical care first, even for a bite that looks small: dog bites can become infected, and the medical record is also the first record of the injury. The legal questions come next: who owned the dog, where the bite happened, and which insurance covers the owner. Scarring and nerve damage may not be clear for weeks, so an early settlement can leave out future care.

Kyle Scott has practiced law since 1991 and has run his own firm since 2003. He identifies the owner and any landlord or property manager involved, obtains the Irvine Animal Services bite report, and handles the insurance claim and, if needed, the lawsuit. If you are looking for a dog bite attorney in Irvine, your first conversation is with Kyle Scott himself.

Parks, trails, and sidewalks

A bite on a street, sidewalk, or trail, or in a park, happens in a public place, so the dog bite statute generally applies, while a knockdown by a loose dog is usually a negligence claim. Off-leash play is set apart in the city’s Central Bark Dog Park, so a bite or a fight there raises its own questions about who was in control of each dog and what the park’s rules required.

Homes, apartments, and common areas

A person is lawfully on private property when invited, expressly or by implication, or when there to perform a duty imposed by law, so a guest, delivery driver, or mail carrier bitten at an owner’s home or apartment is covered. In a rental community, the lease, the landlord’s knowledge of the dog, the pet registration, and any earlier complaints are reviewed along with the owner’s insurance.

Insurance coverage

Dog bite claims are often paid by the owner’s homeowner’s or renter’s insurance, but limits and exclusions vary, and an insurer may dispute coverage because of the dog, the household, or the property. The firm reads the actual policy, and any landlord’s coverage, before accepting an insurer’s position.

Reports, records, and deadlines

Irvine runs its own animal services through its police department and is not on OC Animal Care’s list of cities served. The city says Irvine Animal Services investigates bite reports and starts quarantines, and licensing records at the Irvine Animal Care Center, 6443 Oak Canyon, can help identify an owner. Most injury lawsuits are due in two years (Code of Civil Procedure § 335.1). A claim involving a police dog or other public property generally needs a written claim within six months (Government Code § 911.2), and claims against the City of Irvine go to its City Clerk. Unlimited civil cases are heard at the Central Justice Center, 700 Civic Center Drive West, Santa Ana.

Cases the firm reviews

Common dog bite matters.

Bites to the face, hands, and arms that leave scars

Children bitten at a neighbor’s home, a party, or a neighborhood park

Bites in apartment communities, courtyards, and other common areas, including claims involving landlords

Delivery drivers, mail carriers, and other workers bitten on the job

Knockdowns and falls caused by a loose or jumping dog on a trail or sidewalk

Bites at or near an off-leash dog park

Information that can matter

A strong claim starts with preserved evidence.

The useful records vary by case. The initial review identifies what exists, what may need to be requested, and what should be preserved before it is lost.

The Irvine Animal Services report number and any quarantine records

The owner’s name and address, and their homeowner’s or renter’s insurance information

For a rental, the landlord or property manager, the pet registration, and any earlier complaints about the dog

Photos of the wounds as they heal, and of the gate, fence, or leash involved

Torn clothing, kept as it is

Witness names and any doorbell, phone, or building camera video, which can be overwritten quickly

Medical records from the first visit forward, including wound checks, referrals, and counseling

Legal guides

Answers to common dog bites questions.

View all guides

Dog bitesWhat to Do After a Dog Bite in Orange County8 min read Dog bitesWhat Is California’s Dog Bite Law?10 min read DeadlinesHow Long Do You Have to File a Personal Injury Lawsuit in California?8 min read

Common questions

Questions about dog bite claims.

Is a dog owner in Irvine responsible if the dog never bit anyone before?

Generally, yes. Under Civil Code § 3342, a dog’s owner is liable for a bite in a public place or while the injured person was lawfully on private property, including the owner’s home, regardless of the dog’s past behavior or the owner’s knowledge. Exceptions include a person who was not lawfully on the property and some police and military dog bites.

Who takes dog bite reports in Irvine?

Irvine runs its own animal services instead of using the county’s. The Animal Services unit of the Irvine Police Department investigates bite reports and starts quarantines, and the city lists how to reach it on its Animal Services page. In an emergency, call 911. Ask for the report number, because it helps identify the dog, the owner, and the vaccination record.

What if a dog knocked me down on a trail or sidewalk but did not bite me?

You may still have a claim, but not under the dog bite statute, which covers bites. A knockdown claim is usually based on negligence, such as letting a dog run loose, and the city’s leash rules and where the dog was allowed off leash are part of that review.

Can my apartment community be responsible for a neighbor’s dog?

Sometimes the facts support a claim involving a landlord or property manager, but the dog’s owner is usually the first person responsible. The firm looks at what the landlord knew about the dog, earlier complaints, pet registrations, and emails to the leasing office, so keep copies.

Who pays for a dog bite injury?

Often the owner’s homeowner’s or renter’s insurance. Limits and exclusions vary, some policies exclude certain dogs, and a landlord’s coverage may also apply. The firm reviews the actual policy before accepting an insurer’s position on coverage.

How long do I have to file a dog bite claim in California?

Under Code of Civil Procedure § 335.1, most injury lawsuits must be filed within two years of the bite. If a public entity is involved, such as a police dog or a city park employee, a written government claim is generally due within six months under Government Code § 911.2. Report the bite to Irvine Animal Services right away, and confirm your deadlines early, because exceptions exist.

This page provides general information, not legal advice. A consultation is needed to evaluate the facts, deadlines, parties, and law that may apply to a specific matter.

Sources

Official sources.

The figures and rules of law on this page come from these official sources.

Related practice areas

Other cases Kyle Scott Law handles.

View every practice area

Dog BitesKyle Scott Law represents adults and children hurt in dog bites and dog attacks across Orange County, claims that are often paid by the owner’s homeowner’s or renter’s insurance.Traumatic Brain InjuryKyle Scott Law represents people across Orange County who suffered a traumatic brain injury, from a concussion with lasting symptoms to a skull fracture or bleeding on the brain, in a crash, fall, sports accident, or school incident caused by someone else.Sexual Harassment & AbuseConfidential representation in matters involving workplace harassment, sexual assault, child sexual abuse, abuse by people in positions of trust, and institutional failures.