What To Do If Another Dog Attacks My Dog And I Get Hurt Too

If another dog attacks your dog, and you also get hurt, California law may treat your injuries differently from your dog’s. You may have a personal injury claim for your own injuries and a property damage claim for losses related to your dog, such as veterinary bills. The legal rules, evidence, and compensation available for each claim can be different.

Being hurt while your dog is under attack is a painful, chaotic moment. Your focus is split between your pain and your pet, and that can make it hard to think about what to do next.

The steps you take in the days after the attack matter. Scene details, witness accounts, and medical records support both claims, and they may become harder to gather over time.

What To Do Immediately After A Dog Attacks You And Your Pet

When both you and your dog get hurt by another dog, act fast and stay focused. Separate the dogs safely first. Then get medical care for yourself and emergency veterinary care for your dog. Gathering evidence right away can help protect both legal claims you may need to file later.

To reduce the risk of further injury when separating the two dogs, try the following:

• Avoid grabbing the other dog’s collar or putting your hands near either dog’s mouth.
• Make a loud noise, such as by clapping, shouting, or using an air horn, to distract the dogs long enough to separate them.
• If two adults are present, try the wheelbarrow method: each person approaches a dog from behind, lifts its hind legs, and carefully moves backward to separate the dogs.

Once the dogs are separated, get care for both you and your pet. Go to an emergency room or urgent care for your injuries. Have your dog examined by a veterinarian as soon as possible. Take these steps even if you feel fine after the attack or even if your dog’s wounds look minor. Dog bite punctures can appear small on the surface but may cause deeper tissue damage and infection beneath the skin. Early treatment can help prevent complications.

While you and your dog receive treatment for your injuries, start gathering evidence. The information below can help support any future insurance claim or lawsuit:

• Other Owner’s Information: Get the owner’s name, phone number, address, and homeowner’s or renter’s insurance information. Ask for proof that the dog’s rabies vaccinations are up to date.
• Photographs: Take photos of your injuries, your dog’s injuries, the attack location, and any damaged property. Continue taking photos of your injuries over the next several days if bruising or swelling becomes more noticeable.
• Animal Control Report: Notify local animal control services about the incident as soon as possible. If they draft a report, obtain a copy for your records. Reports made shortly after an attack can help document what happened while details are still fresh. If the other owner leaves the scene, local animal control may be able to investigate using licensing records, witness statements, or other available evidence, depending on the agency and the facts.

The legal rules for your injuries depend on how the attack happened. Understanding which legal standard forms the basis of your case is an important step in protecting your dog bite claim.

Understanding Your Rights For Your Injuries

The California Civil Code may hold a dog owner strictly liable if their dog bites someone who is lawfully in a public place or on private property. This law applies only to injuries caused by dog bites. If a dog knocks you down, scratches you, or otherwise causes an injury without biting you, the state’s negligence rules may apply instead.

To prove negligence in dog attack cases that don’t involve bite injuries, you must show that the dog’s owner failed to act reasonably and that this failure caused the injury. That is a more difficult standard, because you must prove what the owner did or failed to do.

A hospital or care center can create the medical records you need to link your injuries to a dog attack. Experienced animal attack lawyers can help you gather the necessary documentation and build your negligence claim.

Legal Options For Your Injured Dog

Under California law, dogs are classified as personal property. That said, you may be able to recover vet bills and other losses caused by your dog’s injuries by filing a property damage claim. Showing a vet bill to the insurer of the other dog’s owner is usually not enough. You must also prove that the owner caused the attack.

In other words, the claim must demonstrate what the other owner did wrong and how their actions led to your dog’s injuries. To illustrate, consider this example scenario:

• Your city requires all owners to have their dogs on a leash when visiting the local park.
• Another dog attacks and hurts your dog while you’re at the park.
• After the attack, you take pictures of the other dog and the scene. They show that the dog wasn’t wearing a leash and that you were at the park when the incident occurred.
• These photos can serve as evidence that the other dog’s owner violated local leash laws and that the violation directly caused your dog’s injuries.

What If I Used Force To Protect My Dog?

California law may allow you to use reasonable force to protect your dog from an immediate attack. That means your response should match the level of danger and use only the amount of force needed to stop the threat. However, if you used excessive force, you may be liable for any resulting injuries.

What is considered “reasonable” depends on the specific facts of the situation. Non-escalating steps, such as making loud noises or using an object to create distance, may reduce the risk of further injury, but whether any response was legally reasonable depends on the facts. They carry less legal risk than more aggressive interventions.

Meanwhile, the law may consider the force you used to be “excessive” if it caused death or serious injury, or if you physically retaliated even after the dog retreated. If you injure the other dog when it wasn’t necessary to use force to defend yourself and your pet, that dog’s owner may also be able to file a property damage claim against you. That may reduce the amount of compensation you could potentially recover.

Compensation For Both Claims

You may be able to recover compensation for both your injuries and your dog’s veterinary expenses. In most cases, you have two years to file a personal injury claim and three years to file a property damage claim, although some exceptions may apply.

Through a personal injury claim, you can seek compensation for the losses you sustained due to the harm you experienced, such as:

• Medical Bills: Emergency treatment, follow-up and chiropractic care, and future medical expenses related to the injury.
• Lost Wages: Income lost while recovering from your injuries.
• Pain and Suffering: Physical pain and discomfort caused by the attack.
• Emotional Distress: Fear, anxiety, or emotional trauma resulting from the incident.
• Loss of Enjoyment of Life: Activities or hobbies you can no longer enjoy because of your injuries.

Meanwhile, when you file a property damage claim, recoverable damages can include reasonable expenses related to your dog’s injuries, such as costs you incur due to:

• Veterinary bills
• Surgery
• Medication
• Rehabilitation costs

If a dog dies or loses capacities as a working or service animal, additional damages may be available.

After a dog attack, homeowners’ or renters’ insurance is often the primary source of recovery for these losses. Your ability to recover compensation can depend on whether the other dog owner’s policy has exclusions based on breed restrictions or prior bite history. Coverage is not guaranteed.

If the other owner’s insurer offers a settlement that doesn’t reflect your documented losses, for either claim, you or your dog attack lawyer can negotiate for another amount. Filing a lawsuit may become an option if these settlement discussions fail.

How Long Do You Have To Sue For A Dog Attack In California?

The deadlines for these cases are different. In most California cases, you have two years from the date of the injury to file a personal injury lawsuit and three years from the same date to file a civil case for property damage.

Missing these filing windows may prevent you from recovering compensation, although some exceptions can apply. Because the rules for these claims can differ, victims of these incidents often choose to speak with a dog bite lawyer about their legal options.

Frequently Asked Questions About Dual Dog Attacks

If you and your dog get attacked by another dog, questions about insurance, legal fees, and what happens to the attacking dog often come up. You may be confused and searching for free advice from a dog bite lawyer. The answers below address the most common concerns about fault, coverage, and costs in California. If your situation still feels unclear, these entries may help clarify it.

Do I Have To Prove The Attacking Dog Had A History Of Aggression?

No. California’s dog bite law may hold an owner liable for bite injuries even if the dog had never attacked anyone before. If your dog was also injured, evidence that the attacking dog had a history of aggression may help show that the owner knew or should have known the dog posed a risk.

Can A Dog Be Put Down For Attacking My Dog?

Yes, but not automatically. California law allows local authorities to investigate serious dog attacks and determine whether a dog should be classified as dangerous or vicious. The owner has the right to notice and a hearing before a final decision is made. In severe cases, euthanasia may be ordered, but the outcome depends on the facts and the procedures required by law.

Do Dogs Change Their Behavior After Being Attacked By Another Dog?

Sometimes. Some dogs develop fear, anxiety, or reactivity after a traumatic attack. In some cases, training or behavioral treatment costs may be claimed if a veterinarian determines that the treatment is reasonably necessary because of the attack. Whether those costs are recoverable depends on the facts of the case and the available insurance coverage.

Do I Still Have A Claim If I Provoked The Dog?

Possibly. However, under California’s pure comparative negligence rule, a court could assign you partial fault and reduce your compensation by your percentage of liability. For example, if they find you 30% responsible for provoking the dog and the other dog owner 70% responsible because the dog wasn’t wearing a leash, you may still receive 70% of your total damages.

Do I Need A Personal Injury Lawyer For Dog Attacks?

Not always. If your injuries are minor and liability is clear, you may be able to handle the claim yourself. However, if you suffered serious injuries, have large medical bills, or there is a dispute about fault, a personal injury lawyer can help protect your rights and pursue fair compensation.

Do Lawyers Only Get Paid If They Win A Dog Attack Case?

Most personal injury lawyers handle dog attack cases on a contingency fee basis. That means you usually pay no upfront fees. The lawyer will only charge you for their services if they recover compensation for you. Fee arrangements can vary by attorney and law firm.

Speak With A Lawyer About Your Dog Attack Today

Managing two separate claims after a dog attack is not simple. Arash Law’s attorneys have handled California animal attack cases in which both personal injury and property damage claims were at stake. We know how to build and manage both claims simultaneously.

Call (888) 488-1391 for a free initial consultation with an animal attack lawyer from our firm, which is also referred to as AK Law. During this meeting, you can discuss your situation and learn about your legal options. If you have questions about what compensation may be available to you, who is legally responsible, or how California’s dog bite law applies to your case, we are ready to help.