Bakersfield Dog Bite Attorney

Experienced Dog Bite Lawyers Serving Bakersfield

If you or a family member has been bitten or attacked by a dog in Bakersfield, California law is firmly on your side — and so are we. At Dog Bite Law Group, our Bakersfield dog bite attorneys represent injured victims throughout Kern County and fight to recover the full compensation you deserve. We handle everything from investigation through resolution so you can focus on getting better.

Under California Civil Code § 3342, dog owners are strictly liable for injuries their animals cause — regardless of the dog’s prior history and regardless of whether the owner knew the dog was dangerous. There is no “one free bite” in California. The moment a dog bites you in Bakersfield, the owner’s liability begins.

Dog Bites in Bakersfield: A Serious and Common Problem

Bakersfield is one of the largest cities in California — a sprawling community where residential neighborhoods sit alongside industrial corridors, agricultural land, and a growing network of parks and trails. With a large and dense dog-owning population, dog bite incidents happen throughout the city every day: in neighborhoods off Stockdale Highway and Ming Avenue, along the Kern River Parkway Trail, at popular parks like Hart Park, Beach Park, and Stramler Park, and on residential streets throughout East, West, and Northwest Bakersfield.

The consequences of a dog bite are never minor. Deep puncture wounds and lacerations, broken bones, tendon and nerve damage, permanent scarring, infection — including potentially serious bacterial infections like Pasteurella and MRSA — and lasting psychological trauma including PTSD are all documented outcomes of dog attacks. Children are statistically the most frequent and most severely injured victims, and attacks on children often require multiple surgeries and long-term care.

Do not let a dog owner or their insurance company tell you that what happened to you was not serious, or that a quick settlement offer is fair. It almost certainly is not.

$450,000 Settlement*

Volunteer Mauled 18 Times at OC Animal Shelter — Severe & Permanent Injuries, Negligence by County

Case Type
Dog Mauling / Negligence
Injuries
18 Bites — Arms, Legs, Buttocks & Neck
Defendant
County of Orange / OC Animal Care
Resolution
Settlement — Approved by OC Board of Supervisors

A volunteer at OC Animal Care in Tustin was photographing shelter dogs when she attempted to return a dog named Blaze to his kennel. The dog attacked her without warning, pinning her against the kennel door and biting her at least 18 times across her arms, legs, buttocks, and neck. The mauling lasted nearly seven minutes. She screamed for help throughout the attack — no one came. She suffered severe and permanent injuries.

The lawsuit alleged that the County of Orange and OC Animal Care were negligent on multiple grounds: the shelter failed to disclose that Blaze had a known history of aggression; volunteers were directed to handle dogs and complete tasks alone with no prior training; and understaffing meant no one was within range to respond when the attack began. The Orange County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved a $450,000 settlement at their March 2026 closed session meeting.

*All verdicts and settlements are the result of John Michael Montevideo’s work as lead trial attorney or as a key member of the litigation team. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. View full case detail →

What You Can Recover After a Dog Bite in Bakersfield

A successful dog bite claim in Bakersfield can recover compensation for:

  • Emergency room, urgent care, and hospital expenses
  • Surgery, wound care, specialist visits, and all follow-up treatment
  • Future medical costs including reconstructive procedures, physical therapy, and mental health care
  • Lost wages during your recovery and reduced earning capacity going forward
  • Pain and suffering
  • Emotional distress, PTSD, and psychological trauma
  • Permanent scarring or disfigurement
  • All out-of-pocket costs directly connected to the attack

Most claims are resolved through the dog owner’s homeowners or renters insurance policy. Our attorneys handle all communication with the insurer on your behalf — shielding you from pressure tactics and settlement offers that fall far short of your actual damages. When the homeowners policy limit is not enough, as in the seven-figure case above, we pursue every available layer of coverage including umbrella policies and other responsible parties.

What to Do After a Dog Bite in Bakersfield

The steps you take immediately after a dog attack shape both your medical outcome and the strength of your legal claim:

  • Call 911 for life-threatening injuries — Bakersfield Police and emergency medical services respond to serious attacks
  • Seek medical attention immediately — even wounds that appear manageable can become severely infected within hours
  • Photograph your injuries on the day of the attack and each day after as bruising and swelling evolve
  • Photograph the scene — the location, any broken fencing, gates left open, off-leash conditions, or posted signage
  • Get the dog owner’s full name, address, and insurance information
  • Collect witness names and contact information before leaving
  • Report the bite to Bakersfield Animal Control or Kern County Animal Services (contact information below)
  • Do not give a recorded statement to the dog owner’s insurance company before speaking with an attorney

Reporting a Dog Bite in Bakersfield

Reporting the attack to animal control is one of the most important steps you can take after a dog bite. An official report creates a documented record of the incident, initiates a mandatory quarantine and rabies evaluation of the dog, and establishes whether the animal has any prior bite history — all of which are directly relevant to your legal claim.

City of Bakersfield Animal Control

  • Location: 201 S. Mount Vernon Avenue, Bakersfield, CA 93307-2848
  • Phone: (661) 326-3436
  • Hours of Operation: Field officers are available 7 days per week, between the hours of 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. Officers are available for emergency situations after 5 p.m., 7 days a week.
  • After Hours / Emergency: If an emergency arises or you need to call outside of business hours, dial 911.
  • Website: City of Bakersfield Animal Control

For a complete directory of animal control resources throughout Kern County, see our dedicated page: Kern County Animal Control Information.

Bakersfield Dogs at Large Law

Bakersfield Dogs at Large Law Text:

Title 6, Chapter 6.04.220 Dogs at large—Impounding.

A. It is unlawful for any dog whether or not the same is licensed and/or vaccinated, to stray, run, or in any other manner to be at large in or upon any public highway, street, sidewalk, alley, lane, park or other public place, or upon the property of any person other than the animal owner, without the permission of the owner or occupant of such property.

(Ord. 5146 § 1, 2023; Ord. 3940 § 1, 1999; prior code § 9.08.230)

When a dog owner violates this ordinance and someone is bitten as a result, that violation is direct evidence of negligence and strengthens your claim for compensation.

How California’s Strict Liability Dog Bite Law Works

To establish a successful dog bite claim in Bakersfield under California Civil Code § 3342, four elements must be proven:

  • The dog that bit you belonged to the defendant
  • The bite occurred in a public place or while you were lawfully on private property
  • You suffered harm as a result
  • The defendant’s dog was a substantial factor in causing that harm

California does not require you to prove the dog had a known history of aggression. There is no “first bite free” defense in this state. Even if the owner claims the dog had never shown any aggression, they are liable from the first bite. Our Bakersfield dog bite attorneys know how to build and present a complete case that accounts for every element of your past and future damages.

Your Attorney: John Michael Montevideo

JM

Founder & Lead Trial Attorney — Dog Bite Law Group

John Michael Montevideo founded Dog Bite Law Group with a singular focus: representing people injured in dog bite and dog attack cases. Not car accidents. Not slip-and-falls. Dog bites — exclusively. That depth of focus means John’s knowledge of California strict liability law, Kern County ordinances, and insurance carrier defense strategies is current, specific, and hard to match.

John has handled hundreds of dog bite cases and delivered results ranging from five figures to eight figures. He has been admitted to practice before all California courts, the District of Columbia, and the United States District Courts for the Central and Northern Districts of California. He has been recognized 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.

When you hire Dog Bite Law Group, you work directly with John — not a paralegal, not an associate, not an intake coordinator. He is on your case from the first call to the last signature. Read John’s full bio →

Frequently Asked Questions About Dog Bites in Bakersfield

I was bitten while walking on the Kern River Parkway Trail. Can I file a claim?

Yes. The Kern River Parkway Trail is a public recreational path and qualifies as a public place under California Civil Code § 3342. If a dog attacked you there — whether it was off-leash, escaped from a nearby area, or was being walked without proper control — the owner is strictly liable for your injuries. Off-leash dogs on the Parkway Trail also violate Kern County § 7.08.150, which adds an additional layer of negligence to your claim.

Who handles animal control in Bakersfield?

Animal control for the City of Bakersfield is handled by the Bakersfield Police Department. You can reach them at (661) 326-3436. Officers are in the field 7 days a week from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., with emergency response available after hours — dial 911 outside of business hours. Their office is located at 201 S. Mount Vernon Avenue. For a full directory of animal control resources throughout Kern County, see our Kern County Animal Control Information page.

The dog that bit me was off-leash on a Bakersfield street. Does that help my case?

Significantly. Both the Kern County ordinance (§ 7.08.150) and the Bakersfield municipal code require dogs to be leashed and under immediate control whenever they are off private property. An off-leash dog at the moment of the attack means the owner was already in legal violation before the bite occurred. That is direct evidence of negligence that supports and strengthens your claim. See our Kern County Dog Leash Laws page for the full ordinance language.

What if the bite happened at someone’s home in Bakersfield?

You are still entitled to compensation as long as you were lawfully on the property — as an invited guest, a delivery driver, a contractor, a utility worker, or any other person with permission to be there. California’s strict liability law does not contain a private property exception. The location of the bite does not shield the owner from liability when the victim had a right to be present.

The dog owner says their homeowners insurance won’t cover the bite. What can I do?

Do not take the owner’s word for this. Insurance carriers frequently attempt to minimize or deny coverage, and dog owners do not always fully understand their own policies. Our attorneys will independently verify the coverage available, identify any umbrella or excess policies in place, and pursue every source of compensation. As the $1.3 million case above illustrates, a standard homeowners policy is often not the only available recovery.

What local resources are available to dog bite victims in Bakersfield?

Several agencies and organizations can assist you after a dog attack in Bakersfield:

My child was bitten by a dog in Bakersfield. Are there different rules?

The same strict liability law applies, and children are among the most commonly and most severely injured dog bite victims. One important legal distinction: if the injured person is a minor, California’s two-year statute of limitations generally does not begin to run until the child turns 18. However, acting promptly is always advisable to preserve evidence, witness accounts, and animal control records. Contact us to discuss your child’s situation specifically.

How long do I have to file a dog bite claim in Bakersfield?

California’s statute of limitations for personal injury — including dog bites — is two years from the date of the attack. Do not wait. Evidence becomes harder to gather, witnesses become harder to locate, and animal control quarantine records are not kept indefinitely. Contact our office as soon as you are able after the attack.

There Are No Fees Unless We Win

Dog Bite Law Group works on a contingency fee basis. You pay nothing out of pocket, and you owe us nothing unless we recover compensation for you. No retainer, no hourly billing, no upfront costs of any kind. Regardless of your financial situation, you can afford to hire our firm.

If you or a loved one has suffered a dog bite in Bakersfield, contact our office today for a free consultation. You will speak directly with attorney John Montevideo from the first call — not an intake coordinator or paralegal. Call (951) 888-3401. We are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.