Can I Sue If I Was Bitten by a Dog at a Public Park?

 Posted on September 17, 2026 in Personal Injury

According to the World Health Organization, about 4.5 million people are bitten by dogs in the US alone every year. In California, dog owners have a responsibility to make sure their dog does not harm other people in public places. If you were bitten by a dog in a public place, you may be able to seek compensation. You don’t even have to prove that the dog owner knew their animal was dangerous.

A Riverside, CA dog bite attorney can review your 2026 case and explain your options.

How Does California Law Hold Dog Owners Liable for Bites in Public Places?

Under Civil Code Section 3342, a dog’s owner is strictly liable for damages suffered by a person who is bitten. This applies whether the victim was in a public place or lawfully in a private place.

A public park is almost always considered a public place under this statute. As long as you were lawfully there and didn’t provoke the dog into biting, the owner can be held liable.

Do You Have to Prove that a Dog Has Previously Bitten Someone in a California Lawsuit?

Many states require showing that an owner knew or should have known their dog was dangerous before holding them liable. This is not the case in California. It does not matter if the dog has ever bitten anyone before; the owner is still liable under the above conditions.

What if You Were Bitten by a Dog at a City-Owned Park in California?

The dog owner’s liability is not affected by whether a park is maintained by a city or not. They are still responsible for the behavior of their dog, assuming the dog was not provoked into attacking. However, the city may share some liability if something like poor maintenance contributed to the incident. Broken dog park fencing that the city was aware of and failed to fix is an example.

A claim against the city is separate from a claim against the dog owner. Claims against government entities in California typically come with a much shorter deadline than ordinary injury claims. Under Government Code Section 911.2, you generally have only six months to file a claim with the public entity as opposed to the longer two-year window for standard injury claims.

What Compensation Can You Recover After a Dog Bite in California?

A successful dog bite claim can often include medical bills, past and future, as well as lost income if your injuries kept you from working. You might also be able to recover compensation for pain and suffering. Scarring and disfigurement, especially from bites to the face or hands, may be factored in as well.

What Should You Do After a Dog Bite at a California Park?

Steps that can help protect a potential claim include:

• Getting medical care right away, even for a bite that looks minor

• Photographing your injuries and the location

• Getting the dog owner’s name and contact information

• Asking any witnesses for their contact information

• Reporting the bite to local animal control

• Keeping records of medical treatment and related expenses

Medical help is especially important because dog bites can lead to infections and other complications. Bites that look small can still be deep enough to cause nerve or muscle damage.

Animal control reports can be useful in creating an official record of the incident. If the bite is reported to animal control, ask for a copy of the report for your records.

Call a Temecula, CA Dog Bite Attorney Today

Damage from dog bites can be severe, especially to a person’s face and hands. This kind of injury can qualify for compensation under California law, even for a first-time incident.

Our Riverside, CA personal injury lawyer has over 25 years of legal experience and has been practicing law in California since 1998. Every case is handled personally by Attorney Paul Maineri.

Call Maineri Law Firm at 951-698-4200 to schedule your free consultation about your options for recovery.