San Francisco Dog Bite Lawyers
The Barnes Firm’s best San Francisco’s dog bite attorneys know all about the statutes, ordinances, codes, and laws that we can use to maximize your settlement or verdict, and we’ll utilize this knowledge and experience to hold negligent dog owners accountable for any injuries they’re responsible for.
What You Can Expect With The Barnes Firm:
- FREE Consultation
- Our Best Attorneys In The Bay Area Are Available 24/7
- No-Fee Promise – You Get Compensation First!
Let’s go over your options together, and answer any questions you may have so that you know you’re making the right choice for you and your family.
That’s where San Francisco’s dog bite attorneys at the Barnes Firm can help. Your chances of a financial settlement improve substantially with defense attorneys specializing in dog bites.

Before You Approach Someone Else’s Dog
- Never pet a dog without the owner’s permission. Make sure you don’t startle the dog; let the dog see you and sniff you before you pet it.
- The old expression “let sleeping dogs lie” is good advice. If a dog is sleeping, eating, or tending to its puppies, leave it alone.
What To Do When Someone Else’s Dog Approaches You
Even if you feel threatened and are tempted to panic, do your best to stay calm. Don’t move or make loud noises.
Alert animal control if you see a stray dog behaving strangely.
What To Do When Someone Else’s Dog Starts To Attack You
- Acting calm won’t always stop a dog from attacking. Dog attacks usually start with the dog trying to knock or drag a person to the ground.
- To prevent this, use an item like a purse or jacket to form a barrier between yourself and the dog.
- If this doesn’t work and the dog brings you down to the ground, curl your body into a fetal position with your hands over your ears and neck to protect your head.
External Wounds
The sharp teeth of a dog can do severe damage to your appearance. Deep gashes and lacerations can be so serious that they often require stitches. Even with proper medical attention, permanent scarring and other forms of disfigurement may result. These physical injuries further jeopardize your health with the danger of infections they can cause.
Internal Wounds
Dog attacks have been known to cause damage to the nervous systems of victims, stemming from injuries to the brain or spinal cord.
Invisible Wounds
Even if you have no external or internal physical injuries, dog bites can cause trauma and other life-altering psychological damage. The shock and terror of an attack can linger long after physical wounds have healed.
What Victims Can Do After the Attack
- After such a terrifying experience, it may be difficult to think clearly, but it’s crucial that you do your best to keep a clear head.
- Your first priority should be your physical well-being. Have yourself treated by a medical professional as soon as possible.
- While you receive medical attention, your physician will document your injuries. But for further documentation, get someone you trust to gather contact info from witnesses and take photographic evidence. You won’t want to think about the attack, but it’s in your best interest to describe what happened with as much detail as possible and have the trusted person write down the account you give.
- Alert the dog’s owners, so they can take steps to prevent future attacks.
Contact the San Francisco Dog Bite Attorneys at the Barnes Firm
If you or a loved one have had the misfortune of being one of those 750,000 we mentioned earlier, you may be entitled to compensation. The Barnes Firm, San Francisco Dog Bite Attorneys, will fight for your rights with lawyers specializing in dog bites.
When you need San Francisco Dog Bite Attorneys, it’s time to contact the defense attorneys at The Barnes Firm.
Our team of attorneys want to hear from you.
If you’ve been injured in a car accident, slip and fall, construction accident, or have suffered another type of personal injury contact our team today.
Free Case Evaluation or call us: (800) 800-0000Client Reviews
What our clients are saying about us
Melinda S.
“I am so happy with my pay out and resolution. Everyone at the Oakland office of The Barnes Firm was helpful, polite, and kept me informed. I was very comfortable working with Landon. He was so nice, really patient, very professional, but still down to earth. He explained everything to me perfectly. Also, he fought a really good fight, and he settled my case very well. I will definitely refer him to family and friends. Thank you all so very much.”
Answers to Your CA Dog Bite FAQs
As a parent, the first step after your child is bitten by a dog is to get them immediate medical attention. Even minor bites can have serious consequences for small children if left undiagnosed or untreated. Report the incident to local authorities and gather information about both the dog and its owner.
Read More: Top Reasons Why Kids are at Greater Risk of Dog Attacks
The most important thing you can do after being attacked by a dog is get medical attention. Even seemingly minor dog bites can lead to serious infections or complications. Identifying the dog and its owner, if possible, is important for both medical treatment purposes and for potential legal action.
If you’re attacked by a dog as a delivery driver, your immediate actions should prioritize health and safety. Seek medical attention promptly to document and treat any injuries, regardless of their severity. Reporting the incident to your employer is crucial for workplace safety records and potential compensation claims. Contacting local authorities or animal control will help document the incident and establish a record of the dog’s behavior, which can be crucial for any legal proceedings.
Read More: What Delivery Drivers Need to Know About Dog Bite Liability
After being attacked by someone’s dog, you can pursue compensation by filing a personal injury claim against the dog owner’s homeowner’s insurance or through a civil lawsuit. An experienced dog bite lawyer at The Barnes Firm can evaluate your case for free, gather evidence such as medical records and witness statements, negotiate with insurance companies on your behalf, and if necessary, represent you in court to help secure the compensation you deserve for your injuries and losses.
In a dog bite case, a dog’s lack of prior aggression can be a mitigating factor, but it does not automatically absolve the owner of liability. According to California law, even if the dog has no history of aggressive behavior, the owner can still be held accountable if negligence or inadequate control led to the incident.
Dog attacks can result in a range of injuries, from puncture wounds and lacerations to nerve damage, fractures, and infections. Facial injuries are also particularly common, especially in children who are often at eye level with dogs during an attack.
Suing a dog owner following an attack in California does not mean the dog will be put down. Determining if the dog will be euthanized following an attack depends on several factors, including the severity of the injuries, the dog’s history of aggressive behavior, and whether the owner was negligent in controlling the dog. Courts may order measures like training, increased restraint, or even removal of the dog from the owner’s care, depending on the circumstances.
Under California law, you have recourse if a dog attacks your pet, service animal, or farm animal. You can pursue compensation for veterinary bills, emotional distress, and other damages or losses resulting from the attack.
Written by The Barnes Firm, reviewed by Richard Barnes

