San Francisco Dog Bite Lawyer

Common Injuries in San Francisco Dog Bite Cases

Dog bites and attacks produce a wide range of injuries, from minor puncture wounds to life-threatening trauma:

• Facial injuries and scarring: Bites to the face—particularly common when the victim is a child—cause deep lacerations, torn tissue, broken facial bones, and permanent disfiguring scars that may require multiple reconstructive surgeries.
• Hand and arm injuries: Defensive bites to hands and arms sever tendons, crush bones, and damage nerves, potentially causing permanent loss of grip strength and fine motor function.
• Infections: Dog bites carry a high infection risk, including bacterial infections (Pasteurella, Staphylococcus, Streptococcus), MRSA, and in rare cases rabies. Infections can spread to bones (osteomyelitis) and joints (septic arthritis), requiring IV antibiotics and surgical debridement.
• Nerve damage: Deep bites that sever or compress nerves cause numbness, tingling, chronic pain, and loss of function that may be permanent.
• Psychological trauma: PTSD, cynophobia (fear of dogs), anxiety, nightmares, and depression are common psychological consequences of dog attacks, particularly in children. These injuries often require months or years of therapy.
• Knockdown injuries: Large dogs that jump on, chase, or knock down victims cause broken bones, head injuries, and hip fractures—particularly in elderly victims and small children.

Compensation Available to San Francisco Dog Bite Victims

• Medical expenses: Emergency room treatment, wound care, antibiotics, rabies prophylaxis, surgical repair, reconstructive surgery, scar revision procedures, and projected future medical care.
• Lost wages and earning capacity: Income lost during recovery and diminished future earnings if permanent injuries affect your ability to work.
• Pain and suffering: Physical pain from the bite, fear during the attack, and ongoing pain during wound care and surgical recovery.
• Scarring and disfigurement: Permanent scars, particularly on the face, hands, and arms, carry significant non-economic damage values based on their visibility, size, and impact on the victim’s appearance and self-confidence.
• Psychological treatment: Therapy, counseling, and psychiatric treatment for PTSD, anxiety, and phobias resulting from the attack.
• Loss of consortium: Compensation for the impact on your spouse or domestic partner’s relationship.

Dog Bites and Children in San Francisco

Children under 12 are the most frequent victims of serious dog bites. Their small size puts their faces and necks at dog-mouth height, and children often do not recognize warning signs of canine aggression. San Francisco’s parks, playgrounds, and sidewalks bring children into regular contact with dogs—both leashed and off-leash.

When a child is bitten, the claim is filed by the parent or legal guardian on the child’s behalf. Any settlement must be approved by the court to protect the minor’s interests. Our attorneys have extensive experience with minor’s compromise petitions in San Francisco Superior Court.

Does Homeowner’s Insurance Cover Dog Bite Claims?

In most cases, the dog owner’s homeowner’s or renter’s insurance policy covers dog bite liability claims. Typical homeowner’s policies include $100,000 to $300,000 in personal liability coverage, and umbrella policies may provide additional coverage of $1 million or more. However, some insurers exclude certain breeds or deny coverage after a prior bite incident. Our attorneys identify all available insurance coverage and pursue claims against every applicable policy.

Landlord Liability for Dog Bites in San Francisco

San Francisco’s dense apartment living means landlords play a significant role in dog bite cases. A landlord may be liable if they:

• Knew a tenant’s dog was dangerous and failed to require its removal
• Allowed a dangerous dog in common areas (hallways, elevators, courtyards) without restrictions
• Failed to enforce lease provisions requiring tenants to control their animals
• Failed to maintain fencing, gates, or enclosures that allowed a dog to escape

Our attorneys investigate landlord knowledge and building management practices to identify every liable party. Our personal injury attorneys and burn injury lawyers handle related claims arising from dog attacks.