Dog Bite Injuries in Los Angeles: What to Do Next
After a dog bite, medical care comes first. Once you are safe, identify the dog and owner, report the bite through the appropriate local agency and preserve the details of what happened. You do not need the dog’s history or a complete case file before asking about your next steps.
March 25, 2024
Get medical guidance, even if the wound looks small
Move away from the dog. Los Angeles County Public Health advises washing a bite wound with soap and water, seeking medical care and reporting the bite. Tell the clinician what animal bit you, where it happened and what you know about the animal.
Leave infection, tetanus and rabies assessments to the treating clinician and public-health professionals. An owner’s reassurance is not a medical assessment. For an immediate emergency, call 911 rather than waiting for a law office to respond.
The county’s animal-bite guidance explains care, reporting and why the animal’s location matters for follow-up.
Report the bite and save the report number
A report helps public-health officials assess rabies risk and determine the appropriate animal follow-up. That process is separate from an insurance claim or a request for legal help.
Use the reporting instructions for the place where the bite happened. Los Angeles County identifies separate agencies for Long Beach, Pasadena and Vernon. Check the current local reporting instructions rather than assuming one office covers every city.
Save the report number and agency contact details. Do not approach or try to capture an unfamiliar dog to complete the report.
A useful account separates facts from assumptions
You do not need to describe the incident in legal terms.
A hypothetical note: “Tuesday, about 6 p.m., on the sidewalk outside the apartment entrance. A brown dog came through the gate and bit my left forearm. A person nearby said the dog belonged to the upstairs resident. I photographed the gate and saved the witness’s number.”
The note distinguishes what the person saw from what someone else said. It does not guess who owned the dog or why it escaped.
A checklist to save
- Incident: date, approximate time, exact location and a short account.
- Dog and owner: description, available contact details and vaccination information provided.
- Witnesses: names and a way to reach them.
- Photographs: injuries, clothing and scene, when safe to obtain.
- Follow-up: report number, medical instructions, bills and records of work missed.
- Communications: messages from the owner, insurer or other people involved.
Keep original files. A list of missing information is useful too; you do not need to fill every line before asking for help.
Get clarity about the next step
Explain what happened, where it happened and your main question. Ask what additional information is needed, what proposed insurance paperwork covers and whether a deadline needs attention.
Use the first message for a brief summary—not medical records, identification numbers or other sensitive documents. Ask the office how to share those securely.
General information, not medical advice or a determination of an individual claim.
Have Any Questions?
Find out if you qualify for legal assistance and get more information at no cost.
