Downey Dog Bite Lawyer
A dog bite can change your life without warning. One moment you are out for a walk near Wilderness Park, running an errand along Firestone Boulevard, or visiting a friend in a Downey neighborhood — and the next you are dealing with a wound that needs emergency care, a stack of medical bills, and the unsettling realization that you may have lasting physical or emotional effects from the attack. At Dog Bite Law Group, we exist to handle exactly this situation.
Attorney John Michael Montevideo represents dog bite victims exclusively throughout Los Angeles County, including Downey, Norwalk, Bellflower, and the surrounding Southeast LA communities. Dog bite law is not a sideline for this firm — it is the only practice area. That concentrated expertise means better case preparation, deeper knowledge of the applicable local ordinances and insurance coverage structures, and stronger outcomes for injured clients.
Your Legal Rights After a Dog Bite in Downey
California’s strict liability statute — Civil Code § 3342 — is one of the most protective dog bite laws in the country. Under this law, a dog owner is liable for any bite injury that occurs in a public place or while the victim is lawfully on private property. There is no requirement to prove the owner was careless, and there is no “first bite free” rule. As long as you were in a lawful location when the bite occurred, you have a valid claim.
In Downey, that means a bite in Wilderness Park, at an apartment complex on Lakewood Boulevard, on a public sidewalk downtown, or at a neighbor’s backyard is fully covered. The dog’s history of behavior is legally irrelevant to the owner’s liability.
If the dog was also off-leash in violation of the Los Angeles County leash ordinance at the time of the bite, that violation adds a second layer of legal exposure for the owner — negligence per se — which can support additional arguments for recovery and strengthen your overall case.
Los Angeles County Leash Law
The following ordinance governs dog leash and restraint requirements in Downey as part of Los Angeles County. The full text is available on our Los Angeles County dog leash laws page:
No person owning, having an interest in, harboring or having charge, care, control, custody or possession of any dog shall cause or permit such dog to be in or upon any public street, alley or other public place or in or upon any unenclosed lot or premises, unless such dog is securely confined by a strong cord, chain or leash, not exceeding 6 feet, securely and continuously held by a competent person owning, having an interest in, harboring or having charge, care, control, custody or possession of such dog, or unless such dog is confined within an automobile or in an off-leash dog area established by ordinance and posted in accord with Section 6.12.011 of this code.
(Ord. 7025 § 4, 2006; Ord. 6802 § 1, 1999; Ord. 6424 § 1, 1991; Ord. 6199 § 1, 1987; Ord. 4384 § 3.02, 1956)
No person owning or having charge, care, custody or control of any dog shall cause, permit, or allow the same to be or to run at large upon any highway, street, lane, alley, court or other public place, or upon any private property or premises other than those of the person owning or having charge, care, custody or control of such dog, unless such dog be restrained by a substantial chain or leash not exceeding six (6) feet in length and is in the charge, care, custody or control of a competent person.
When a dog owner’s leash law violation contributes to a bite, California courts treat that violation as evidence of negligence per se. Combined with the strict liability available under Civil Code § 3342, an off-leash bite in Downey creates a strong dual basis for recovery.
Reporting a Dog Bite in Downey
Reporting your bite to animal control is one of the first and most important steps you can take after an attack. An official bite report creates a government record, triggers the mandatory 10-day rabies quarantine of the biting dog, and documents the incident in a way that insurance companies and defense attorneys cannot easily challenge. Dog bites are legally required to be reported in Los Angeles County.
Downey Animal Care Center
Serving Downey and surrounding Los Angeles County communities.
Contact Information:
- 11258 S. Garfield Avenue, Downey, CA 90242
- Phone: (562) 940-6898
- 24-Hour Dispatch: (562) 940-6898
Hours of Operation:
- Monday – Saturday: 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
- Sunday: Limited services
- Closed holidays
For an active attack or life-threatening emergency, call 9-1-1 immediately — do not wait for animal control.
What to Do Immediately After a Dog Bite in Downey
- Call 9-1-1 if the attack is ongoing or your injuries require emergency care. Your safety comes first.
- Seek medical treatment promptly. Even minor-looking wounds can harbor serious infections. A physician’s evaluation creates the medical record that documents your injuries from the start.
- Identify the dog and owner. Get a name, address, phone number, and proof of rabies vaccination if possible.
- Report the bite to the Downey Animal Care Center at (562) 940-6898. LA County requires that all animal bites be reported.
- Document everything. Photograph your injuries at the scene and over the following days as they evolve. Keep any damaged clothing as physical evidence.
- Gather witness information. Anyone who saw the attack can provide a corroborating statement.
- Contact Dog Bite Law Group before speaking to any insurer. The dog owner’s insurance company may call quickly to take a recorded statement. Do not comply before speaking with an attorney.
Case Result: $301,000 Settlement
Case Result
$301,000 Settlement
Injuries: Severe scarring, fractures to forearms and hands, spinal injury (annular fissure)
A pit bull attack left our client with serious orthopedic and spinal injuries. The defense denied all liability and argued that the victim’s efforts to protect her own dog constituted comparative fault. Attorney Montevideo overcame every challenge and recovered $301,000 from two separate defendants — the dog’s owners and a house-sitter present at the time of the attack. View our full case results.
Why Dog Bite Law Group
There is a meaningful difference between a general personal injury firm that occasionally handles dog bites and a firm that does nothing else. Dog bite litigation has its own ecosystem — animal control records, bite history databases, breed-specific evidence, homeowners and renters insurance policy analysis, umbrella coverage discovery, and the medical and expert testimony that moves claims toward maximum recovery. Dog Bite Law Group lives and works in that ecosystem every day.
Attorney Montevideo has earned recognition as a Top 100 Civil Plaintiff Trial Lawyer by the National Trial Lawyers, a Super Lawyers Rising Star, and a Top 40 Under 40 honoree. He is admitted to all California state courts and to the United States District Courts for the Central and Northern Districts of California. Clients work directly with John from the first call through final resolution — never with a case manager or associate.
Cases are handled on a contingency fee basis: no upfront costs, no legal fee unless we recover for you.
Downey Dog Bite FAQ
I was bitten at Wilderness Park or in a public area along the LA River trail. Am I covered?
Yes. Public parks and public recreational paths are squarely within the scope of California Civil Code § 3342. A bite in any public space in Downey gives rise to a strict liability claim against the dog’s owner.
What if the dog owner lives in an apartment and has no homeowners insurance?
Renters insurance policies typically include personal liability coverage that extends to dog bite claims. We investigate every available coverage source, including renters and umbrella policies, on behalf of all our clients.
The bite broke the skin but doesn’t look serious. Should I still see a doctor?
Always. Dog bites introduce bacteria directly into tissue, and serious infections can develop within hours even from wounds that initially appear minor. A physician visit also creates the medical documentation that anchors your legal claim.
How long do I have to file a dog bite lawsuit in California?
Generally two years from the date of the bite. Claims involving minors or government entities are subject to different rules. Contact us as soon as possible to avoid losing your right to recover.
Can I bring a claim if the dog belonged to a family member or close friend?
Yes — and this is more common than most people realize. Recovery typically comes from the owner’s insurance policy rather than directly from the individual. An insurance claim does not necessarily mean a personal lawsuit against someone you care about.
Contact Our Downey Dog Bite Lawyer — Free Consultation
If you or a family member has been bitten or attacked by a dog in Downey or anywhere in Los Angeles County, call Dog Bite Law Group at (951) 888-3401 to speak directly with attorney John Michael Montevideo at no charge. We will review the facts of your case, explain your rights, and tell you candidly what your claim may be worth. No fee unless we win.
