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California Dog Bite Laws

If you have been bitten or injured by a dog bite or dog attack in California you may be wondering what your legal rights are against the dog owner. Basically, California has a strict liability law with some exceptions when someone is bitten by a dog in California. Strict liability means that the dog bite owner can be held strictly liable for the injuries that the dog has caused to the victim. If you have been a victim of a dog bite or dog attack in the Inland Empire please call our dog bite injury lawyer today. We always offer a FREE dog bite consultation. It is important that you act quick as all dog bite cases have specific California State deadlines called Statute of Limitations. Call today to protect your personal injury rights.

California Dog Bite Statute

3342.  (a) The owner of any dog is liable for the damages suffered
by any person who is bitten by the dog while in a public place or
lawfully in a private place, including the property of the owner of
the dog, regardless of the former viciousness of the dog or the owner'
s knowledge of such viciousness. A person is lawfully upon the
private property of such owner within the meaning of this section
when he is on such property in the performance of any duty imposed
upon him by the laws of this state or by the laws or postal
regulations of the United States, or when he is on such property upon
the invitation, express or implied, of the owner.
   (b) Nothing in this section shall authorize the bringing of an
action pursuant to subdivision (a) against any governmental agency
using a dog in military or police work if the bite or bites occurred
while the dog was defending itself from an annoying, harassing, or
provoking act, or assisting an employee of the agency in any of the
following:
   (1) In the apprehension or holding of a suspect where the employee
has a reasonable suspicion of the suspect's involvement in criminal
activity.
   (2) In the investigation of a crime or possible crime.
   (3) In the execution of a warrant.
   (4) In the defense of a peace officer or another person.
   (c) Subdivision (b) shall not apply in any case where the victim
of the bite or bites was not a party to, nor a participant in, nor
suspected to be a party to or a participant in, the act or acts that
prompted the use of the dog in the military or police work.
   (d) Subdivision (b) shall apply only where a governmental agency
using a dog in military or police work has adopted a written policy
on the necessary and appropriate use of a dog for the police or
military work enumerated in subdivision (b).