A dog attack happens in seconds, but the shock, fear, and pain that follow can feel like they last forever. If you’re reading this because you or someone you love was just bitten in Ontario, take a breath — what you do in the next few hours and days genuinely matters, both for your health and for protecting your right to compensation later.

Here’s exactly what to do, in order.

1. Get Medical Attention Immediately

Dog bites carry a serious risk of infection, nerve damage, and deep tissue injury that isn’t always obvious right away. Even a bite that looks minor can hide puncture wounds that need cleaning and evaluation by a medical professional.

Do not wait to “see how it looks tomorrow.” Delayed treatment is one of the most common reasons dog bite wounds become infected — and it also creates gaps in your medical record that insurance companies later use to argue your injury wasn’t serious.

Go to an urgent care, emergency room, or your doctor as soon as possible, even if the wound seems small.

2. Identify the Dog and Its Owner, If Possible

If it’s safe to do so, get the owner’s name, address, and phone number, along with the dog’s rabies vaccination status if they have it available. If the dog is a stray or the owner won’t cooperate, note as many identifying details as you can — breed, color, size, and where the attack happened.

3. Report the Attack to Animal Control

In California, animal bites must be reported so the dog can be evaluated and, if necessary, quarantined for rabies observation. Reporting the attack also creates an official record that becomes important evidence in a claim. San Bernardino County residents can find current guidance through the California Department of Public Health’s rabies exposure and reporting information, which explains the reporting requirements that apply statewide.

4. Document Everything

Evidence disappears quickly after an attack — wounds heal, scenes change, and memories fade. Try to:

• Photograph your injuries as soon as possible, and again as they heal over the following days
• Photograph the location of the attack, including any fencing, gates, or “beware of dog” signage
• Get contact information for any witnesses
• Keep every medical bill, prescription, and treatment record

5. Understand California’s Strict Liability Law

One of the most important things dog bite victims don’t know is how strongly California law favors them.

Under California Civil Code § 3342, dog owners are strictly liable for bites that occur in a public place or while the victim is lawfully on private property — regardless of whether the owner knew the dog had ever bitten anyone before. There is no “one free bite” rule in California.

This means you generally don’t have to prove the owner was careless or that the dog had a known history of aggression. The bite itself is typically enough to establish liability.

6. Be Careful Before Talking to the Insurance Company

An insurance adjuster’s job is to close claims for as little money as possible. Without legal representation, dog bite victims are commonly offered only a fraction of what their claim is actually worth — often somewhere in the range of 10–20% of its true value. Adjusters may call within days of the attack, sounding sympathetic while quietly trying to get you to downplay your injuries or accept a quick settlement before the full extent of your medical needs is even known. Before giving a recorded statement or accepting any offer, it’s worth having someone review the claim who understands what it’s actually worth.

Why This Type of Case Needs a Specialist

Dog bite claims aren’t just another category of personal injury case — they involve their own body of law, their own evidence requirements, and insurers who specialize in undervaluing them. We built this firm around dog bite and animal attack cases exclusively, because victims deserve someone who has spent their career learning exactly how these claims are won: deploying investigators quickly, securing animal control and police reports before they disappear, and pursuing the full scope of what an attack costs someone — medical treatment, scarring, psychological trauma, and lost income, now and into the future. If your case does not result in a recovery, you owe nothing.

For more on the local rules that may affect your case, see our overview of San Bernardino County leash laws. And if you were attacked in Ontario, it’s worth speaking directly with a dog bite lawyer in Ontario as soon as you’re able — you’ll talk to the attorney handling your case personally, not an intake team.

This article is intended for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. No attorney-client relationship is formed by reading this content. For advice specific to your situation, please consult a licensed attorney in California.