Compassionate Dog Bite Attorney in Torrance, CA

Reviewed by David Gammill, California trial attorney · Last reviewed: August 21, 2026

If a dog bit you in Torrance, California law is on your side in a way it is not for most injuries: the owner is strictly liable. Under Civil Code § 3342, California’s dog bite statute, you do not have to prove the owner was careless, and you do not have to prove the dog ever bit anyone before. If the bite happened in a public place, or somewhere you had a right to be, the owner answers for the harm. The work of a dog bite case is documenting the injury, the dog, and the insurance, and doing it before the evidence scatters.

• Strict liability: the owner is responsible for a bite even if the dog never showed aggression before. No “one free bite” in California.
• Insurance usually pays: dog bite claims are commonly covered by the owner’s homeowners or renters policy, so a claim usually means dealing with an insurer, not a neighbor’s wallet.
• Report every bite: the animal control report is the official record that proves the incident and surfaces the dog’s history.
• Children are the hardest hit: child victims often face facial injuries, scarring, and lasting fear, and the law accounts for all of it.
• The deadline: most California dog bite lawsuits must be filed within two years of the bite.

A Word From David

I love dogs. My own dog, Shorty, is a spoiled very good girl. But sometimes an interaction with an animal goes badly wrong, and when it does, the person bitten should not be the one who pays for it. That is what the law is for, and that is where we come in.

Why Dog Bite Claims Are More Provable Than Most Injury Cases

Most injury cases turn on proving someone was careless. A California dog bite case usually does not. Under § 3342, the questions are whether the dog bit you and whether you were lawfully where you were. The dog’s past does not matter, and neither does what the owner knew. Courts have even held that “bite” does not require broken skin: a dog that clamps onto your clothing and pulls you down has bitten you in the eyes of the law. Our plain-English guide to the statute covers the exceptions, which are narrow: trespassers, police dogs in defined situations, and people whose paid work is handling dogs.

If the dog hurt you without biting, by knocking you off a bike or off your feet, you may still have a case. Those claims proceed on ordinary negligence, and they turn on evidence about how the dog was controlled, which is why the investigation below matters just as much.

What to Do After a Dog Bite in Torrance

1. Get medical care the same day. Bites carry a real infection risk, and the medical record is the anchor of your claim.
2. Report the bite to animal control. The report creates the official record of the incident, identifies the dog and owner, and surfaces any earlier complaints about the same animal.
3. Photograph everything. The wounds before treatment, your torn clothing, the location, and the dog if it is safe to do so.
4. Get names. The owner’s contact and insurance information, and every witness.
5. Do not negotiate on the doorstep. Do not accept a cash offer, sign anything, or give the owner’s insurer a recorded statement before you have talked to a lawyer.

Where the Money Actually Comes From

Most people hesitate to bring a claim against a neighbor or a friend. Here is the reality: dog bite liability is commonly covered by homeowners and renters insurance, so the claim is usually handled and paid by an insurance company, not by the owner personally. That same reality cuts the other way, too. The insurer’s adjuster works for the insurer, and the early, friendly settlement offer is almost always priced before the true cost of scar revision, therapy, or a child’s future treatment is known. Once you sign a release, the claim is over, no matter what care you need later.

What Your Claim Can Include

California law entitles a bite victim to the full measure of damages: emergency care and every stage of future treatment, including reconstructive and scar revision work; therapy for trauma, which is common after an attack and fully compensable, especially for children; lost wages while you heal; and non-economic damages for pain, disfigurement, and the fear that follows many victims long after the wounds close. The value of any case depends on its own facts, and no outcome is ever guaranteed; what we can promise is that we will not recommend a settlement before the full picture of your injuries is known.

Common Injuries We See in Dog Attack Cases

• Puncture wounds and lacerations, often to the hands, arms, and face
• Infections, including the deep-tissue infections bites are known for
• Nerve and tendon damage affecting grip and movement
• Scarring and disfigurement requiring revision surgery
• Psychological trauma, including a lasting fear of dogs in child victims

Who We Pursue Besides the Owner

Strict liability reaches the dog’s owner, but the investigation does not stop there. Depending on the facts, a claim may also reach a person who was keeping or controlling the dog when it attacked, or a landlord who actually knew a tenant’s dog was dangerous and could have removed it. And if the dog that bit you had bitten before, Civil Code § 3342.5 imposes a duty on its owner to prevent the next bite, which makes the earlier report powerful evidence in your case. If the dog was a police or government dog, the rules and the deadlines change sharply: a written government claim is generally due within six months under the Government Claims Act deadline.

The Deadline on Your Claim

Most California dog bite lawsuits must be filed within two years of the bite under CCP § 335.1, California’s two-year statute of limitations. The clock works differently for minors, and it is far shorter when a public entity is involved. The practical deadline is earlier than any legal one: animal control records, witness memories, and photographs are all at their strongest in the first days.

Frequently Asked Questions

The owner says the dog has never bitten anyone. Does that matter?
No. Section 3342 applies “regardless of the former viciousness of the dog or the owner’s knowledge of such viciousness.” A first bite is fully covered.

I was bitten at the owner’s house. Can I still recover?
Yes, if you were there lawfully: an invited guest, or someone doing a job the law sends onto the property, like a mail carrier. Trespassers are the exception.

The bite did not break the skin, but I was hurt. Do I have a case?
Possibly yes. California courts have held that a dog seizing you with its jaws counts as a bite even through clothing, and injuries from the resulting fall are recoverable.

Will the owner have to pay out of pocket?
Usually the claim is paid by the owner’s homeowners or renters insurance. That is what the coverage exists for.

What does it cost to hire you?
Nothing upfront. We work on a contingency fee: a fee is collected only if we win, under a written agreement that complies with California law.

Talk to a Torrance Dog Bite Lawyer

Gammill Law Accident & Injury Lawyers represents dog bite victims in Torrance and across the South Bay, including Redondo Beach, Gardena, Carson, Lomita, and the Palos Verdes Peninsula. If a dog attacked you or your child, get your free case evaluation or call 310-750-4149. You will speak with people who handle these cases, and you will pay no fee unless we win. You can also see our Torrance personal injury attorney page for the full picture of how we work.

Disclaimer: This page is educational and informational in nature. It does not constitute legal advice for any specific situation, and reading it does not create an attorney-client relationship. Every case turns on its own facts, and no result is guaranteed; consult a licensed California attorney about your own circumstances.