At Hulburt Law Firm, our San Diego dog bite lawyers represent people who have suffered serious injuries in homes, apartment buildings, parks, businesses, and other public places. We identify the responsible parties, investigate available insurance coverage, and pursue compensation for medical care, lost income, scarring, emotional harm, and future treatment. You pay nothing unless we recover money for you.
Injured by a dog bite? Get help today.

We focus on dog bite and animal attack cases involving significant or lasting harm, including deep puncture wounds, facial scarring, surgical injuries, infections, nerve damage, and attacks on children.
Our attorneys investigate what happened, identify available insurance coverage, and pursue compensation for medical care, lost income, emotional harm, future treatment, and other losses. We handle the insurance company and legal process so you can focus on healing.
Children are especially vulnerable to serious dog bite injuries because their faces, heads, and necks are often close to a dog’s height. A child’s claim must account not only for the immediate wound, but also for how scarring may change as the child grows, whether future revision procedures will be needed, and how fear or anxiety may affect the child for years.
Claims involving children are also governed by different procedural rules. The deadline to file a lawsuit is generally paused until the child turns 18, and any settlement must be reviewed and approved by a judge. Learn more about dog bite claims involving children.
A facial scar is not valued the same way as a scar that can be covered by clothing. Even when the underlying wound is similar, scarring across the cheek, lips, nose, or forehead can affect a person’s appearance, confidence, and comfort in social and professional settings for years.
Insurance companies may push for an early settlement before the wound has fully healed and before the long-term appearance of the scar is known. That can leave future treatment out of the claim. Scar revision may require multiple procedures, and scarring near a joint, eyelid, or mouth can also cause tightness, restricted movement, or other functional problems. Learn more about scarring and disfigurement damages.
A prolonged attack, an attack by multiple dogs, or an encounter with a loose dog can cause devastating injuries far beyond the bite wounds themselves. Victims may be knocked to the ground, dragged, thrown from a bicycle, or forced into traffic while trying to escape.
A person does not have to be bitten to have a valid claim. California’s strict liability law applies specifically to dog bites, while injuries caused by chasing, jumping, knocking someone down, or other aggressive behavior are generally pursued under negligence principles. The legal theory may be different, but the same homeowners or renters insurance policy may still provide coverage. Learn more about dog attacks that are not bites.
Dog bite puncture wounds can appear minor at first while causing serious damage beneath the skin. A tooth may penetrate a tendon, nerve, joint, or muscle, and some wounds are intentionally left open rather than stitched to reduce the risk of trapping bacteria inside.
If an infection develops, treatment may involve additional procedures, IV antibiotics, hospitalization, and a longer recovery. Infection can also worsen scarring and increase time away from work or school. A dog bite claim should account for the full course of treatment, including complications that develop after the initial injury. Learn more about dog bite infections and complications.
If you were bitten while working on someone else’s property, you may have two separate claims. One may be a workers’ compensation claim through your employer. The other may be a personal injury claim against the dog owner or another responsible party.
California law protects people who are lawfully on private property, including mail carriers, delivery drivers, meter readers, contractors, and service technicians. The personal injury claim may be covered by the dog owner’s homeowners or renters insurance and can include damages that workers’ compensation does not fully cover, such as pain, scarring, and emotional harm. Learn more about proving liability in a dog bite case.
Dog bites in apartment buildings and rental properties often occur in shared areas such as courtyards, hallways, stairwells, laundry rooms, pool areas, and community dog runs. These cases may involve more than the dog owner alone.
A landlord or property manager may also be responsible if they knew a dangerous dog was on the property, had the ability to address the danger, and failed to take reasonable action. This can be especially important when the dog owner has little or no insurance, because the property owner may have separate liability coverage available to compensate the victim. Learn more about landlord liability for dog bites.
Conor Hulburt and Leslie Hulburt founded Hulburt Law Firm to provide people with serious injuries experienced legal representation and personal attention. Both attorneys remain directly involved in the firm’s cases, helping clients navigate the investigation, insurance issues, medical evidence, negotiations, and litigation that may follow a serious dog attack.
Conor has recovered more than $150 million for clients in catastrophic injury and wrongful death cases, including a $28,163,528 jury verdict for a child seriously injured in a dangerous crosswalk. His advocacy has been recognized by Best Lawyers in America, Super Lawyers, Best of the Bar, and Martindale-Hubbell.
Conor and Leslie bring a careful, hands-on approach to dog bite cases involving surgery, permanent scarring, nerve damage, infection, emotional trauma, and injuries to children. By handling fewer cases, they are able to give clients direct access to their attorneys and devote the time and resources necessary to document the full impact of the injury and pursue a strong result.

The following results reflect serious injury cases handled by our attorneys, including a dog-related injury claim. Every case is different, and past results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
Jury verdict against Caltrans for a 13-year-old boy who suffered a catastrophic brain injury after he was struck by a vehicle while using a dangerous crosswalk.
Settlement for a client who suffered brain and spinal injuries in a collision on Interstate 5 in San Diego.
Settlement under a homeowner’s policy after a large dog knocked a woman to the ground, causing a shoulder injury that required surgery.
During your free, confidential case review, we listen to what happened, where the attack occurred, and what treatment you have received. We review available photos, medical records, witness information, Animal Services reports, and insurance correspondence, then give you an honest assessment of your potential claim under California law. There is no obligation to proceed.
Once you hire us, we move quickly to document the incident and preserve evidence. This may include photographing the injuries and location, interviewing witnesses, obtaining Animal Services records, and securing video from nearby homes, businesses, or common areas before it is erased. We also document the wounds and scarring as they change over time.
We gather the medical evidence needed to show the full impact of the attack, including emergency treatment, infection care, surgery, scar management, and counseling for emotional trauma. When appropriate, we consult medical experts to evaluate permanent injuries, future procedures, and long-term treatment needs.
We identify every potentially responsible party and available source of insurance. This often includes the dog owner and their homeowners or renters coverage. In apartment complexes, HOA communities, or shared areas, we also investigate whether a landlord, property manager, or another party may be responsible. Our goal is to ensure no viable claim or source of coverage is overlooked.
We prepare a detailed demand explaining why the responsible party is liable and documenting your medical expenses, lost income, scarring, emotional trauma, and future needs. We handle all insurer communications and challenge defenses involving provocation, assumption of risk, or the severity of the injuries. We explain each offer clearly and help you decide whether it fairly reflects the harm you suffered.
If the insurance company will not resolve the case fairly, we are prepared to file a lawsuit. We handle discovery, depositions, expert testimony, and every stage of litigation. At trial, we present a clear account of how the attack occurred, why the defendant is responsible, and how the injuries have affected you or your child now and into the future.
California generally holds a dog owner strictly liable when their dog bites someone who is lawfully in a public place or on private property. In most cases, the injured person does not have to prove the dog had bitten before or that the owner knew it was dangerous.
California Civil Code section 3342 makes a dog owner liable for damages when their dog bites someone who is in a public place or lawfully in a private place, including the owner’s property, regardless of the dog’s prior history.
In practice, the core questions often become:
Learn more about California’s strict liability rule for dog bites.
Strict liability is broad, but it is not unlimited. Three situations can weaken or defeat a claim.
You were not lawfully there. The statute protects people who are in a public place or lawfully on private property. Someone trespassing when the bite happened generally cannot rely on strict liability.
You provoked the dog. Provoking a dog does not automatically end a case, but it can reduce what you recover under California’s comparative fault rules. Normal behavior around an animal is not provocation.
It was a police or military dog. The statute does not apply to a government agency’s dog bitten while it was defending itself or carrying out police or military work. These cases run under a different area of law entirely.
If a dog causes an injury without biting, such as knocking someone down or chasing a cyclist into traffic, the claim may proceed under negligence rather than the strict liability statute. Learn more about the legal difference between a dog attack and a dog bite.
Depending on where and how the bite happened, other parties may share responsibility, especially in San Diego apartment complexes, HOAs, and common areas. Potentially liable parties can include:
Whether these additional claims apply depends on the facts, including control, notice, prior incidents, and what safety steps were reasonable. Learn more about landlord liability for dog bite injuries in San Diego.
Dog bite compensation depends on the injuries and their long-term impact. Common categories include:
Learn more about compensation available to dog bite victims in San Diego.
In most California dog bite cases you have two years from the date of the bite to file a lawsuit, under Code of Civil Procedure section 335.1. Miss it and the claim is normally gone, no matter how strong it was.
Two situations change the math.
If the victim is a child, the two-year clock is paused until their 18th birthday, which means a minor generally has until age 20 to file. That is the rule in Code of Civil Procedure section 352. Waiting is still a bad idea, because evidence and witnesses do not wait.
If a city, county, or other public entity is involved, the deadline is far shorter. A written claim usually has to be presented to the agency within six months, long before the two-year lawsuit deadline matters.
If you are unsure which deadline applies to you, call us. Confirming it takes a few minutes and costs nothing.
Almost no dog bite claim is paid by the dog’s owner personally. It is paid by an insurance policy, usually homeowners or renters coverage, and often by a neighbor’s or a friend’s policy rather than a stranger’s.
That surprises people, and it stops a lot of them from ever making a claim. It is worth saying plainly: pursuing a claim is not the same as taking money out of someone’s pocket. Liability coverage exists for exactly this.
A few things decide how far that coverage goes:
Report the bite. It is the single most useful thing you can do for your own claim, and it takes one phone call.
San Diego County Animal Services investigates more than 6,000 dog bites and attacks every year. When you report, an officer follows up, identifies the dog and the owner, and creates a written record with a date, a location, and a description of what happened. Insurance companies take that record seriously in a way they do not take a claim built only on memory.
Reporting also triggers a mandatory 10-day quarantine of the dog to watch for signs of rabies. That happens even if the dog is currently vaccinated, and in low-risk cases it can be done at the owner’s home.
Two things people worry about, answered plainly. Reporting a bite does not mean the dog will be put down. And if no report was ever made, your claim is not over, though it becomes more important to gather photos, medical records, and witness names quickly.
You can report a bite through San Diego County Animal Services. Read our complete guide to reporting a dog bite in San Diego.
We move quickly to preserve video, obtain Animal Services records, identify witnesses, investigate prior incidents, and document wounds and scarring as they change over time.
We use photographs, video, timelines, medical illustrations, and other visual evidence to show how the attack occurred and what the injuries have meant for our client.
We evaluate the full impact of the injury, including future medical care, permanent scarring, lost income, and emotional trauma, and pursue every responsible party and available source of insurance.
Conor Hulburt has been recognized by Best Lawyers in America, Super Lawyers, Best of the Bar, and Martindale-Hubbell.
We handle fewer cases so we can give each client personal attention, regular updates, and direct access to the attorneys responsible for the case.
For a complete walkthrough, see our guide to steps to take after a dog bite in San Diego.
Yes. Emotional harm is a real part of a dog bite claim, not an add-on.
Dog attacks are sudden and frightening, and the effects often outlast the wound. People describe nightmares, jumpiness around animals, crossing the street to avoid a dog on a leash, or giving up walks and runs they used to enjoy. In children it can show up as clinginess, sleep problems, or a fear that lingers for years.
California law allows recovery for that harm alongside medical bills and lost income. Treatment records from a therapist or counselor help, and so does a simple account from the people who know you of how you have changed. Learn more about psychological trauma after a dog attack.
Potentially liable parties can include:
Liability may vary based on local laws and specific circumstances. Our resource on landlord liability for dog bite injuries explains this in more detail.
You may be eligible for various types of compensation, including:
We cover this topic in detail in our resource on compensation available to dog bite victims in San Diego.
In California, you generally have two years from the date of the dog bite to file a personal injury lawsuit. However, exceptions may apply, so it is crucial to consult with an attorney promptly.
Key evidence includes:
For a deeper discussion, read our guide to proving liability in San Diego dog bite cases.
The duration varies based on the complexity of the case, the severity of the injuries, and whether a settlement is reached or the case goes to trial. It can take several months to a few years.
While it is possible to file a claim without an attorney, having an experienced personal injury lawyer is highly recommended. An attorney can help:
Most personal injury lawyers work on a contingency fee basis, meaning they only get paid if you win your case. The fee is typically a percentage of your settlement or judgment. Most claims are paid by insurance. See our resource on how homeowners insurance handles dog bite claims.
It depends on three things: how badly you were hurt, whether anything about the injury is permanent, and whether there is insurance coverage to pay a claim.
A bite that healed in two weeks with no scar and no lost work usually is not worth a lawsuit, and we will say so. A bite that required surgery, left a visible scar, damaged a nerve, kept you off work, or left a child afraid of dogs is a different conversation.
Most of these cases settle with an insurance company without a lawsuit ever being filed. And because we work on contingency, finding out where yours falls costs you nothing. Learn more about compensation for dog bite victims.
Hulburt Law Firm represents people seriously injured by dogs throughout San Diego County. Whether the attack occurred in a home, apartment community, park, sidewalk, business, or other public place, we investigate what happened, identify the responsible parties and available insurance, and help clients pursue compensation for the full impact of their injuries.

Simply fill out the form or call 619.821.0500 to receive a free case review. We’ll evaluate what happened, your injuries, and potential defendants to determine how we can best help you.