If you or your child was bitten by a dog in Riverside, a Riverside dog bite lawyer at Bisnar Chase can help you understand your legal options and pursue compensation for your injuries. Our team gathers evidence, evaluates your losses, and handles insurance negotiations and litigation when necessary, starting with a free consultation to discuss your circumstances and possible next steps.
A dog bite claim should account for more than the initial injury. Depending on the circumstances, compensation may include medical expenses, lost income, treatment for scarring, and the emotional effects of the attack; our attorneys evaluate these losses when preparing your claim.
The legal claim focuses on financial responsibility for your injuries, not on assigning blame to the animal. We can review the circumstances of the bite, explain how California’s dog-owner liability rules may apply, and assess whether insurance coverage may be available
Our law firm has five locations throughout California to make it convenient for you to work with a lawyer specializing in dog bite injuries. Canine bite lawsuits can be complex and often require an experienced legal team familiar with animal attack cases and liability.
- We have a 99% success rate.
- 2026 Best Law Firms in the United States.
- Over $1 billion recovered for our clients.
- Serving Riverside County since 1978.
- Decades of experience with dog bite claims.
- Free consultation—no win, no fee.
If you’ve suffered from a dog bite injury, call our Riverside personal injury lawyers now at (951) 530-3711 to discuss your legal rights. When you contact our law offices, your consultation is always free.
Contact us today for help and guidance with your injuries and legal case, and let us get to work for you.
Riverside Dog Bite Attorney
Do You Need a Dog Bite Lawyer?
Some people try to handle injury insurance claims or lawsuits on their own. It can be done, but it is complex, and statistics show that you are likely to receive more when working with the right law firm, compared to going it alone.
Dog bites can be painful and traumatic, but we know how to handle these cases as efficiently as possible. We handle every aspect of your case so that you can focus on recovery. That includes:
- Filing paperwork and tracking court dates and deadlines.
- Negotiating settlements.
- Taking your case through litigation and trial when necessary.
- Assembling evidence, conducting depositions, and working with expert witnesses.
- Guidance on medical assessment options.
- Securing your money after the case is resolved.
The legal process can be long and difficult, but we shoulder that burden and simplify everything for you. Our team will not rest until justice is done.
Maximize your compensation by working with the best dog bite attorneys in your area. Our team at Bisnar Chase has the experience and expertise to fight for the justice you deserve. Contact us for a free case review today.
How Much Money is Your Dog Bite Case Worth?
California dog bite lawsuits can range from hundreds to thousands of dollars, depending on the severity of the injury and attack. The factors that influence the value of a dog bite claim can include:
- Medical Expenses
- Lost Wages
- Hospitalization
- Surgeries
- Permanent Injuries
- Pain and Suffering
- Emotional Distress (PTSD, Anxiety)
Under California dog bite laws, compensation can be obtained from a dog owner’s homeowners’ insurance policy. If you cannot reach a fair settlement through an insurance payout, your legal team may have to enter litigation. This is when someone files a lawsuit. From this point, a settlement can still be agreed upon; however, both sides will also prepare to proceed to trial if it reaches that stage.
A dog attack lawyer will typically resolve the case out of court, and the time to settle the claim can take from 6 months to 2 years. If the dog attack happened in public or at a business, it may qualify as a premises liability case, depending on the circumstances.
Dog Bite Insurance Claims
You should be careful when discussing a dog bite claim with insurance agents. Insurance companies often lowball settlement offers for dog attack claims to maintain high profit margins. If you take a lowball offer, you can no longer pursue additional compensation for your injuries.
Homeowners with pet insurance will have their claims paid out. People without insurance will likely be held liable for the desired compensation for the victim.
Be sure to consult with a Riverside dog bite injury lawyer as soon as you can. The statute of limitations for a dog bite case is typically two years. This means you have two years from the date of the accident to file a claim, though there are some exceptions. It is always best to act sooner rather than later to protect your rights.
What is the Average Dog Bite Settlement in California?
According to the Insurance Information Institute, the average dog bite settlement in California is $81,789. This is significantly higher than the national average. The amount of a settlement will vary depending on the severity of the injury, medical costs, and other factors.
California has a strict liability law for dog bites, meaning the dog’s owner is liable for any resulting damages, regardless of the owner’s knowledge of the dog’s viciousness.
Insurance Realities and Compensable Damages
Recovering financial damages after a traumatic attack involves tapping into the proper risk-pool assets. A comprehensive claim covers both immediate out-of-pocket losses and long-term quality-of-life adjustments:
Economic Damages: Includes all historical hospital bills, ongoing specialized physical therapy, projected costs for future reconstructive or plastic surgery to repair facial disfigurement, and fully documented past and future lost earnings.
Non-Economic Damages: Accounts for non-quantifiable harm, such as chronic pain, severe emotional distress, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)—issues that are exceptionally prevalent in young children who suffer attacks.
The Source of Funds: Victims rarely force an individual neighbor or family friend to pay out of pocket. Instead, claims are typically structured and negotiated through standard homeowners’ or renters’ insurance policies, which carry specific liability structures designed to cover animal-related injuries.
California Dog Bite Compensation Calculator
Disclaimer: This is just an estimate of what you may be entitled to and not a guarantee of the outcome of your specific case. This estimate is based on the severity of the injury and the potential compensation.
This calculator includes the following factors:
- Medical Expenses
- Lost Wages
- Pain and Suffering (rated 1-10)
- Scarring/Disfigurement (rated 1-10)
The calculation method used here is simplified and should not be considered legal advice. It calculates economic damages (medical expenses + lost wages) and then uses the pain/suffering and scarring ratings to create a multiplier for non-economic damages.
Navigating California Strict Liability Under Riverside Municipal Ordinances
When pursuing an injury claim, it is crucial to recognize that your case operates under two distinct layers of text: statewide statutory rules and hyper-local municipal ordinances.
| Legal Dimension | Statutory Source | Operational Mechanics & Local Standards |
|---|---|---|
| Statewide Liability | California Civil Code Section 3342 | Establishes absolute strict liability for the owner if a dog bites someone in a public space or while the victim is lawfully on private property. The victim does not need to prove prior viciousness or owner negligence. |
| Local Restraint Codes | Riverside County Ordinance Title 8 (Ch. 6.08.010/140) | Prohibits animals from running “at large”. Dogs off an owner’s private property must be secured by a substantial, physical handheld leash controlled by a competent handler. Voice commands or electronic training collars do not satisfy this requirement. |
| Negligence Presumption | Negligence Per Se Doctrine | If an owner allows an animal to roam off-leash in public, the law presumes them negligent for violating local public safety ordinances. This drastically minimizes the evidentiary burden needed to secure a successful settlement. |
| Breed-Specific Restrictions | Riverside County Breed Ordinances | While blanket breed bans are restricted statewide, Riverside County enforces mandatory spaying and neutering protocols specifically for Pit Bull breeds to actively mitigate disproportionate local injury statistics. |
4 Critical Steps to Take Immediately After an Attack in Riverside
To protect your health and preserve your right to legal recovery under California law, execute this localized action plan immediately following an animal attack:
1. Secure Urgent Medical Care: Seek immediate treatment at a regional trauma facility like Riverside Community Hospital or Riverside University Health System Medical Center. Dog punctures frequently introduce highly dangerous Pasteurella or Capnocytophaga bacteria into deep tissue, requiring prompt, professional clinical irrigation and antibiotic treatment.
2. File a Report with RCDAS: Submit a formal bite report directly to the Riverside County Department of Animal Services. An official county investigation is vital: it logs the date, confirms the owner’s identification, verifies rabies vaccination records, and places the animal under a mandatory quarantine period for evaluation.
3. Document Physical and Situational Evidence: Take immediate, high-resolution photographs of all skin tears, bruising, and torn clothing. Return to the scene to photograph environmental factors, such as broken gate latches, collapsed fence pickets, or missing warning signs.
4. Acquire Local Police Records: If emergency personnel or deputies from the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department responded to the scene, secure a copy of the official police incident log to definitively establish the timeline and baseline statement of facts.
Injuries from Dog Bites in Riverside
We are aware that many dog attacks are not necessarily the fault of the animal. They may lash out because they feel threatened, or have simply not been trained. But regardless of the cause, a dog attack can do a lot of damage.
Larger dogs are quick, muscular, and powerful. When they bite a person, the damage can be significant.
Penetrative Wounds are the Most Common
A penetrating wound occurs when a dog bites and punctures the skin. Penetrative wounds are typically caused by large and strong dogs, such as Pit bulls, Rottweilers, German shepherds, and Mastiffs.
One of the most important things to look for when examining a dog bite wound is infection. If there is an infection present, it will usually be red or dark in color and painful to touch. This can be an early sign that you should seek medical attention immediately. Penetrative wounds are the most common and usually result in the most permanent scarring.
Other typical injuries from dog bite attacks;
- Broken bones with tearing
- Infections/rabies
- Deep wounds/lacerations
- Limb amputation in severe dog bite cases
- PTSD
- Facial injuries
- Internal injuries
What is Considered a Serious Dog Bite? (Dog Bite Levels)
Signs of serious dog bites can include heavy bleeding or developing serious infections. If you have swelling, redness, significant bleeding, and other symptoms, seek immediate medical attention. Untreated dog bites can lead to serious complications, such as sepsis.
Dog behavior specialists and behaviorists use a scale when assessing dog bites, with level 5 and 6 bites being exceptionally dangerous. Level 4 (Very Serious) bites include single bites with punctures; level 3 bites include one to four tooth punctures from a single bite with no puncture deeper than half the length of the dog’s canine teeth; and level 1 and 2 bites are aggressive behaviors with no skin contact by teeth.
If you have suffered serious injuries from a dog attack, contact us for a free case evaluation. Our office is always available and here to help, and our dog bite lawyers are experienced in both trials and settlements.
In California, dog owners may be financially liable for injuries they cause. Recently, there have been severe dog attacks in Riverside County that have made the news. The number of dog attacks by homeless animals is on the rise. In September of 2022, an 8-year-old boy was also attacked in Riverside County. In another case, a 3-year-old toddler was attacked in Hemet, resulting in serious injuries.
How Do I File a Dog Bite Report with Riverside County Animal Services (RCDAS)?
To file a report, you must contact the Riverside County Department of Animal Services directly by phone or through their online reporting database. Be prepared to supply the exact geographic location of the attack, a physical description of the dog, the owner’s name/address (if known), and any medical paperwork confirming the bite broke your skin. RCDAS will dispatch an animal control officer to log the incident, confirm compliance with state-mandated rabies requirements, and issue formal quarantine documentation.
Does Riverside Title 8 Municipal Code Protect Delivery Drivers From Unleashed Dogs?
Yes. Riverside County Ordinance Title 8 explicitly protects postal workers, food couriers, and commercial delivery drivers by requiring owners to keep dogs physically restrained at all times when off their private property. Because delivery drivers have an implied invitation to step onto front walkways and porches to complete their jobs, they are lawfully on the property. If an owner opens a front door or leaves a gate unlatched and an unleased dog bites a worker, the strict liability rules of California Civil Code 3342 apply perfectly alongside local leash violations.
What Happens if a Dog Bites Someone at a Riverside Public Park vs. Private Property?
Under California’s strict liability laws, the owner is financially liable in both locations, provided the victim did not deliberately provoke the animal. However, the evidentiary strategy changes based on the venue:
- Public Parks: An attack at a public park often involves violations of local leash laws. This allows your legal team to invoke negligence per se, which quickly establishes liability based on the owner’s failure to control their pet in public.
- Private Property: If the bite occurs on private property, the primary legal hurdle is confirming you were lawfully on the premises (e.g., as an invited guest, service professional, or delivery courier) rather than trespassing.
How Does a ‘Vicious Dog’ Designation Affect Pet Owners Under Riverside County Ordinances?
Under Riverside County Ordinance No. 700 / Title 6 & 8, an animal that causes substantial, skin-breaking injury or shows a repeated pattern of aggressive pursuit can be classified administratively as a “Potentially Dangerous” or “Dangerous/Vicious” animal.
Once Animal Control hands down this formal designation, the owner faces severe operational mandates to keep the dog in the county:
- They must construct an officially approved, escape-proof, secure enclosure.
- They must post highly visible, public warning signs around their property line.
- They must secure and maintain a dedicated liability insurance policy of at least $100,000 specifically covering future animal attacks.
- Failure to strictly abide by these conditions is treated as a criminal misdemeanor and provides immediate grounds for dog impoundment.
Local Dog Bite Trends and Medical Realities
California’s 2025 emergency department data recorded 58,977 occurrences of “bitten by dog, initial encounter,” according to the California Department of Health Care Access and Information (HCAI), in a file published in September 2026.
| Dog-bite category | ICD-10-CM code | 2025 reported frequency | Verification cell |
|---|---|---|---|
| Initial encounter | W54.0XXA | 58,977 | C1826 |
| Subsequent encounter | W54.0XXD | 5,474 | C1827 |
| Sequela, or residual effects | W54.0XXS | 140 | C1828 |
Local field service officials from the Riverside County Department of Animal Services (RCDAS) attribute this localized surge to a combination of pandemic-era adoption booms and a distinct lack of subsequent community socialization. This has resulted in increasingly territorial behavior in standard residential neighborhoods.
Historical civic reporting from the City of Riverside additionally indicates that raw, unverified reports of dog-on-human biting incidents previously doubled within a compact four-year tracking window. This demonstrated the need for formalized medical and legal intervention to distinguish true skin-breaking punctures from minor behavioral encounters.
Most Recent California Dog Bite Statistics
| California statistic | Year covered | Source and qualification |
|---|---|---|
| 2,830 dog-bite and other dog-related injury insurance claims, the highest estimated count of any state | 2025 | Insurance Information Institute and State Farm iii. These are homeowners liability claims, not a count of every bite. |
| $231.5 million in total claim value | 2025 | Triple-I’s California table iii. Includes dog bites and other dog-related injuries. |
| $81,789 average cost per claim | 2025 | Triple-I and State Farm iii. This is an insurance claim average, not an average court award or a guaranteed settlement. |
| 673 reported dog attacks on postal employees, the highest state total | 2025 | U.S. Postal Service, published June 3, 2026 news.usps. Covers USPS employees only. |
| 70 reported attacks in Los Angeles, the highest city total nationally | 2025 | USPS’s city rankings news.usps. San Diego recorded 32, and Oakland recorded 27. |
California’s estimated insurance-claim count rose from 2,417 in 2024 to 2,830 in 2025, an increase of approximately 17.1%, based on the figures in Triple-I’s analysis.
Under California’s strict liability statute, dog owners can be held liable for injuries caused by their pets regardless of whether the animal has attacked before or whether the dog’s owner knew of its prior viciousness.
Under most circumstances, victims of dog attacks can seek compensation for damages under California’s strict liability for dog bites. When you hire a dog bite lawyer in Riverside under California’s statute, they will be able to determine how much compensation you will be awarded.
Will the Dog Be Put Down?
Since the dog’s owner is responsible for the attack, the animal is usually not put down unless deemed too dangerous. It will not be put down as a result of your lawsuit. The full ordinance governing dangerous animals in the County of Riverside is available. You can also report the dog attack to the Riverside Department of Animal Services.
Criminal Penalties for Dog Attacks
Approximately 40 states have dangerous dog laws. Some states have breed-specific dangerous dog laws, while others regulate all dogs. In addition, there are several penalties for violating dangerous dog laws. In some states, if your dog attacks someone, the owner can face felony charges (ex: Washington).
If the dog owner is proven to have provoked the attack, they could face additional charges for using the animal as a “weapon.” An experienced dog bite lawyer in Riverside can help you obtain fair and total compensation for your losses. The California law offices of Bisnar Chase have even successfully handled many challenging dog-bite cases in which the dog owner has tried to blame the victims.
Local Defense Tactics in Riverside County
When a dog bite claim enters litigation in the Riverside County Superior Court system (typically handled at the Historic Courthouse or the Southwest Justice Center), insurance defense attorneys rarely deny that the bite happened. Instead, they build their defense around specific statutory exceptions to California’s strict liability law.
Local case history shows that adjusters and defense teams consistently rely on three primary defense tactics to minimize payouts or push for a defense verdict.
The 3 Most Common Defense Tactics in Riverside Courts
| Legal Basis | How Defense Lawyers Present It | How to Overcome It | |
|---|---|---|---|
| The “Implied Provocation” Defense | California Civil Code § 3342 exceptions. | They argue that benign actions—like making direct eye contact, walking too close to a dog’s food bowl, or making a sudden movement—constituted “provocation” that caused the dog to bite. | Objective Evidence: Cross-examine the owner using the RCDAS behavioral evaluation log. If the animal control officer noted that the dog showed territorial aggression or level 4/5 bites without a trigger, the “minor provocation” argument fails. |
| The Trespassing Defense | Strict liability only applies if the victim is on private property. | They will claim that a delivery driver, solicitor, or neighbor stepped past a visible “Beware of Dog” sign or entered through a closed gate without explicit or implied permission, thereby classifying them as trespassers. | The “Implied Invitation” Rule: Establish that you were performing a lawful duty (such as a mail carrier, utility worker, or delivery driver), or that a front gate was unlatched and unlocked, which creates an implied invitation to approach the front door under California premises liability law. |
| Comparative Fault Allocation | California’s Pure Comparative Negligence system. | The defense attempts to shift a percentage of the blame onto the victim (e.g., “The victim saw the dog growling but chose to pet it anyway”). If they successfully shift 30% of the fault to you, they will slash your final jury award by 30%. | Eyewitness & Video Testimony: Secure Ring doorbell footage, dashcam video, or independent witness statements immediately. Proving the attack was sudden, unprovoked, and completely unexpected prevents the defense from assigning artificial blame to you. |
Riverside County Superior Court System
If you cannot resolve your case through an insurance payout and must file a lawsuit, your legal team must navigate specific regional dynamics:
The Impact of Local Leash Laws: If the attack occurred in a public space, such as the Santa Ana River Trail or a park in Jurupa Valley, then proving the dog was off-leash immediately triggers the Negligence Per Se doctrine. In local courts, if a judge rules that the owner violated Riverside County Ordinance Title 8, the jury is instructed to presume the owner automatically was negligent, leaving the defense with virtually no room to argue.
The “Friendly Dog” Trap in Depositions: Defense attorneys will routinely produce historical veterinary records to show that the dog has a gentle past and has never bitten anyone. Under California’s strict liability framework, a dog’s clean record is legally irrelevant. A skilled attorney will object to this evidence to ensure the jury remains focused strictly on the damage caused by this specific attack.
Direct Access to Critical Public Services in Riverside County
Navigating your post-accident recovery requires direct interaction with local county agencies. Use the vetted registry below to file reports and gather case evidence:
- Official Incident Reporting: File an online report or request field dispatch via the Riverside County Department of Animal Services Animal Control Division.
- Municipal Code Verification: Review local restraint parameters and updates via the Riverside County Clerk of the Board Ordinance Index.
- Public Information & Records Access: Request law enforcement dispatcher records through the Riverside Police Department Public Records Portal.
Dog Breeds Most Prone to Cause Bite Injuries
The way dogs are treated contributes to their behavior. Pit-bull-type dogs and Rottweilers have been disproportionately represented in some historical compilations of fatal attacks, but these counts do not establish breed-specific attack rates and should not be interpreted as proof that a breed is inherently dangerous.
National injury data: During 2011–2021, 468 people in the United States died after being bitten or struck by a dog—an average of 43 deaths per year, according to the CDC.
Breed context: The CDC’s historical fatality research found that multiple breeds were involved in fatal attacks and that rottweilers were the most commonly reported breed during 1995–1996. However, the CDC has not maintained a current national breed-ranking dataset, and breed identification in bite reports is often unreliable.
CDC.
Important limitation: Breed-specific “attack” rankings cannot reliably indicate which breed is most likely to bite because most bites go unreported, the dog’s breed is often unknown or misidentified, and breed population sizes are unknown. The AVMA therefore advises against calculating or comparing bite rates by breed. petful
Risk factors that are better supported: The CDC’s historical analysis found that many fatal incidents involved unrestrained dogs, dogs on the owner’s property, and multiple dogs; it also found that most victims were children.
Please contact a Riverside dog bite lawyer if you have questions about your case and to determine the best route forward. Most interactions can be done by phone to limit your travel time.
Preventing Riverside Dog Bite Injuries
Riverside County requires that dogs are spayed or neutered. This is important because spayed or neutered dogs are less inclined to become aggressive. Owners can also prevent attacks by keeping their pets on a leash and by keeping them indoors.
Dog bite prevention is an important topic for pet owners and those who interact with dogs. To reduce the number of injuries from a dog bite, adults and children should be educated about bite prevention, and dog owners should practice responsible dog ownership.
Understanding dog body language is a key way to help avoid being bitten for people of all ages. Know the signs that dogs give to indicate that they’re feeling anxious, afraid, threatened, or aggressive, and be sure to respect the dog’s reactions to interacting with or being touched by strangers.
- Ask first before petting a dog
- When meeting an unfamiliar dog, don’t reach out to pet them. A strange hand in a dog’s face may scare them, leading to a bite. Let them sniff your closed hand if you receive permission to pet a dog
- Avoid petting the top of the dog’s head
- Resist moving abruptly or jerking
- Avoid dogs who are barking or growling
- It is best to steer clear of loose dogs
- If an unknown dog approaches you, stay quiet and still. Do not run or scream
Dog Bites on Kids
If you are an owner, never leave infants and young children alone with a dog, and do not allow aggressive activities such as wrestling. If your dog seems unfriendly or aggressive, seek advice from a trainer or specialist. Children and the elderly are most prone to serious dog bite injuries, including death.
Avoiding Injury From Dogs
- You can reduce your chances of being bitten by avoiding dogs that are eating, sleeping, or nursing puppies.
- Avoid direct eye contact with a dog you do not know, and never approach an unfamiliar animal.
- It is not advisable to run or scream as that may cause the dog to give chase. Instead, remain motionless like a tree. If knocked over, you should roll into a ball and be still.
How You Can Prove You Were Bitten in a Dog Bite Case
Determine the severity of your premises liability injuries after the dog bite accident. Call the authorities and seek immediate medical attention. Once you have taken care of your well-being, do the following:
- Determine who owns the dog that attacked you. If you cannot establish this on your own, ask the neighbors surrounding the location of the dog bite accident.
- Write down the owner’s information and the contact information of anyone who witnessed the attack.
- Take photos and videos of the site of the accident and your dog bite injuries.
- Keep records of your medical expenses and lost wages.
- Report the incident to animal control and health services. This will establish a record of the dog’s dangerous behavior.
- Write a journal documenting your daily struggles since the accident.
You should also check whether the dog is up to date on all its vaccinations and request the dog’s medical history. These steps will help your dog bite attorney strengthen your personal injury claim.
Don’t Let Insurance Companies Blame You for Your Injuries
It is a standard tactic for insurance adjusters to claim that you provoked an animal or that you were trespassing when the attack occurred. They do this because they want to lowball your settlement or deny your claim entirely.
Under California law, a dog owner cannot escape liability simply by claiming they didn’t know their dog was aggressive. With over four decades of experience, Bisnar Chase has successfully dismantled these exact defense tactics.
We collect forensic medical data, secure Riverside County Animal Services investigation reports, and locate local video surveillance footage to prove exactly what happened, protecting your right to a full financial recovery.
Helping Local Plaintiffs
Bisnar Chase is a proud member of the Riverside Chamber of Commerce. We have been serving injured plaintiffs in our community for over four decades and will fight for you.
With so little to lose and so much to gain, why wait any longer? Call us now at (951) 530-3711 for your free consultation. We are here to serve our community and ensure Riverside residents get the justice they deserve.
Experienced Riverside Dog Bite Attorneys in Your Area
Contact the experienced Riverside dog bite attorneys now at the law offices of Bisnar Chase at (951) 530-3711 for a free case review of your dog bite case.
You will most likely be entitled to compensation covering the cost of your pain, suffering, and medical bills. In addition, our firm operates on a contingency basis. In the rare case that we can’t deliver you your compensation, you don’t have to pay us at all.
Brian Chase
Articles, blogs, and content have been reviewed by legal in-house staff. Brian Chase is the managing partner of Bisnar Chase Personal Injury Attorneys, LLP. He is the lead trial lawyer and oversees cases handling dangerous and defective products that injure consumers. Brian is a top-rated injury attorney with numerous legal honors and awards for his work relating to auto defects and dangerous products. His firm has recovered over $1B for its clients. Brian is a frequent speaker for CAOC, Dordick Trial College, and OCTLA, covering personal injury trial techniques.
Serving California Since 1978
Bisnar Chase is a top-rated personal injury law firm with a national reputation. The firm has been in business since 1978 and has represented thousands of clients. Based in Newport Beach and with offices across California, Bisnar Chase has recovered over $1 billion in settlements and verdicts, emphasizing superior client representation above all.
