Last updated
By Ron McMinn, Esq. | Official sources rechecked November 9, 2026.
Read this article in Español.
If a dog bites you at a California dog park, the owner is usually responsible for your damages under Civil Code section 3342, even if the dog had never bitten anyone before. You generally have two years to sue a private owner. A claim against a city is not automatic just because the park is public, but if the city’s own conduct or a dangerous condition of the park is part of the case, that claim is usually due within six months.
A lawsuit filed November 3, 2026, in Los Angeles Superior Court alleged a dog bite at a West Hollywood dog park and lasting injuries. Those are allegations in a reported court filing, not findings by a court or by this firm. We are not naming the people involved. The rest of this article explains the California rules that apply to dog park bites generally.
The owner is usually responsible, even without a prior bite
Civil Code section 3342 says the owner of any dog is liable for the damages suffered by a person who is bitten by the dog while in a public place or lawfully in a private place, including the owner’s property, regardless of the dog’s former viciousness or the owner’s knowledge of that viciousness. A public dog park is a public place, so the statute ordinarily applies there.
You do not have to prove that the owner knew the dog was dangerous. That is the difference between this rule and a claim that depends on a prior bite. The owner can still dispute other facts, such as whether that dog delivered the bite or whether you were lawfully in the place where it happened.
Our dog bite injuries page explains how these claims work across California.
When the dog does not bite
Section 3342 is written around bites. If a dog jumps on you, knocks you down, or causes a fall without breaking the skin with its teeth, the claim is usually negligence. Civil Code section 1714 says everyone is responsible for injury caused by a want of ordinary care or skill. An owner who does not control a dog in a crowded park can fall short of that duty.
The same negligence theory can sit alongside a bite claim when the owner failed to restrain the dog, ignored signs of trouble, or let the dog run loose in a way that led to the injury. What the owner did in the minutes before the incident often matters as much as what the dog did.
Scars, medical care, and other damages
A bite can leave more than an emergency-room bill. Facial and other visible scars, the need for later revision surgery, nerve pain, infection, and time away from work are common parts of these cases. California law allows both economic damages, such as medical expenses and lost earnings, and noneconomic damages for pain, suffering, disfigurement, and emotional distress.
Keep photographs as the wound heals, every medical record and bill, and notes about work you missed. If a treating doctor discusses future care, those records help show why the harm is not limited to the first visit.
How long you have, and when a city claim comes in
Against a private owner, Code of Civil Procedure section 335.1 generally gives you two years from the injury to file a lawsuit.
A public dog park does not by itself make the city pay for another person’s dog. The city’s responsibility depends on its own conduct or on a dangerous condition of public property. If that kind of claim is in the picture, Government Code section 911.2 generally requires a written claim for injury to a person within six months. Under section 945.4, you usually cannot sue the public entity for money damages until that claim has been presented and acted on, or deemed rejected.
Because the six-month window is much shorter than the two-year lawsuit deadline against a private owner, it is safer to sort out every possible defendant early. Do not wait to see how the private claim goes before asking whether a city or other public entity belongs in the case.
People hurt at parks in Los Angeles County can start with our Los Angeles page.
Talk to us
If you were hurt in California and a city, county, transit agency, or the State may be involved, Win Attorneys handles government claims and personal injury matters statewide from our Tustin office. See our dog bite injuries page. We speak Spanish and Vietnamese.
Call us at (562) 296-5380, reach us through our contact page, or start online with our intake form. Office: 17291 Irvine Blvd., Suite 210, Tustin, CA 92780.
Frequently asked questions
Who pays if I am bitten at a California dog park?
The dog’s owner is usually responsible. Civil Code section 3342 makes an owner liable for damages when the dog bites someone in a public place, or someone lawfully in a private place, regardless of whether the dog had bitten anyone before or whether the owner knew of that risk.
What if a dog knocks me down at the park but does not bite?
Section 3342 is about bites. A knockdown, jump, or scratch without a bite is usually a negligence claim, often under Civil Code section 1714, which requires ordinary care. The owner’s failure to control the dog can still support a claim.
How long do I have to sue after a dog bite in California?
Code of Civil Procedure section 335.1 generally gives you two years to sue a private owner for personal injury. If a city or other public entity may share responsibility, Government Code section 911.2 generally requires a written claim within six months.
Can I sue the city because the bite happened at a public dog park?
Not automatically. The first claim is usually against the dog’s owner. A city claim can arise if the city’s own conduct or a dangerous condition of the park played a role. That is a separate claim with a shorter deadline.
What damages can I recover if a bite leaves a scar?
California law allows economic losses such as medical care, including future scar treatment, and lost earnings, as well as noneconomic damages for pain, suffering, disfigurement, and emotional distress. The amount depends on the proof in your case.