Maison Law helps people in Clovis when they’re injured by a dog bite. It’s hard enough when you’re the one bitten and hurt, but when it’s your child, it raises the stakes significantly. The injuries and trauma that comes from a dog bite can last much longer with your child. Our team can help you and your family through this situation. Set up a free consultation today to learn more.
Should I Talk to a Lawyer After My Child Is Bitten by a Dog in Clovis?
When they get bitten by a dog, your child can’t file a claim themselves—but under California law, they still have every right to be protected. That’s where you, as a parent or guardian, step in. You don’t have to hire a lawyer to do that, but depending on how serious the injuries are—or how the dog owner or their insurance company responds—having legal support can make the process a lot easier. Here’s how we can help you and your child if you find yourself in this situation:
- Listening to your story, then looking into what happened and why.
- Walking you through what you and your child can expect.
- Gathering important documents and evidence.
- Handling the insurance company and making sure there’s a fair outcome.
When your child’s been hurt, the last thing you need is more stress. We’ll take care of the legal side so you can focus on what matters most: helping them get better—physically and emotionally.
What Steps Do I Need to Take After My Child Gets Bitten by a Dog?
There’s no way around it– what you do in the hours and days after the incident can make a big difference, both in your child’s recovery and in how you move forward legally. Acting quickly, documenting everything, and knowing your next step really helps the situation. Here’s where you can start:
- Get medical care – No matter where your child gets bitten, don’t wait to get medical care. Quick treatment helps prevent infection and creates a record of your child’s injuries.
- Find the dog/owner – Get the dog owner’s name, contact information, and—if possible—their homeowner’s or renter’s insurance information. This is key to filing a claim.
- Report the bite to authorities – In Clovis, you’ll want to contact the Fresno County Department of Public Health and Animal Control. Filing a report helps create an official record in case legal questions come up later.
- Document what happened – Take photos of the injuries, the scene, and anything else that might help. If there were witnesses—neighbors, parkgoers, or other parents—get their contact information too.
- Save every document – That means medical bills, therapy records, messages with the dog owner, and even school reports if your child starts acting differently.
Dog bites happen in an instant—but the consequences can last much longer. You don’t have to deal with it all alone. We guide Clovis families through the legal process so they can stay focused on helping their child heal.
How Hurt Can My Child Get If They’re Bitten by a Dog?
The issue with your child getting bitten by a dog is pretty simple: the injuries are often more than just physical. Kids are smaller, more fragile, and more likely to be bitten in sensitive areas like the face or hands. And while some wounds heal quickly, others can leave long-term physical and emotional scars. Every situation is different, but here’s a few things you and your child could be dealing with:
- Bites to the face, arms, or legs – These are the areas most often affected and can lead to deep wounds or nerve damage.
- Scarring or eye injuries – Bites to the face may leave permanent scars or require surgery to repair.
- Infections – Children are at higher risk for serious infections if a bite isn’t cleaned and treated right away.
- Broken bones or muscle damage – Larger dogs can cause significant trauma beneath the surface.
- Exposure to disease – If the dog wasn’t vaccinated, your child may be at risk for rabies or other illnesses.
Beyond the physical injuries, a serious bite can affect your child’s ability to feel safe in their own neighborhood, go to school confidently, or play outside like they used to. For many families, recovery involves more than just doctors—it involves therapists, time off work, and long-term care. That’s why building a strong legal claim matters, but it’s also about actually getting through that process as well.
How Does the Claims Process Work When My Child is Bitten by a Dog?
It’s true that your child has the same legal rights as any other dog bite victim in California, but the process differs slightly. Basically, your child can’t file a claim on their own–so you or another guardian will be the one to file the claim. Outside of that, though, the process works in much the same way as any other injury claim. It starts with either:
- Filing an insurance claim – Most cases begin by filing a claim with the dog owner’s homeowner’s or renter’s insurance. This can be a faster way to recover medical costs, but insurers often try to settle for less than your child truly needs.
- Filing a lawsuit – If the injuries are serious—or if the insurance company isn’t offering enough—you may need to file a personal injury lawsuit on your child’s behalf. This opens the door to broader financial support, including:
- Medical costs covering ER visits, stitches, medication, follow-up appointments, therapy, and more.
- Lost income covering any paychecks you’ve missed to care for your child.
- Property damage, covering repair/replacement costs for any damaged clothing, glasses, or anything else your child was wearing.
- Pain and suffering, relating to costs for your child’s physical pain they’ve gone through as a result of the attack.
- Emotional distress, which covers any costs relating to the emotional and psychological trauma your child has gone through.
- Scarring or disfigurement, relating to costs for any visible injuries that may require future care or surgery.
- Loss of enjoyment of life, which covers costs associated with your child no longer feeling safe going outside or playing like they used to.
- In the most tragic cases, families may recover funeral and related costs.
- Medical costs covering ER visits, stitches, medication, follow-up appointments, therapy, and more.
While most injury claims in California have a two-year deadline, claims involving children work differently. You typically have until your child turns 20 (two years after their 18th birthday) to file. But waiting isn’t usually wise. It’s often easier to build a strong claim while the evidence is fresh and the details are still clear.
Who Pays For My Child’s Damages in a Dog Bite Claim?
This is one of the first questions most people in your situation ask—and thankfully, California law makes the answer fairly straightforward. California is a strict liability state when it comes to dog bites, which means that:
- If a dog bites someone—even if it’s the first time that dog has ever shown aggression—the owner is generally responsible.
That holds true whether the bite happened at a Clovis park, walking down your street, or in a friend’s backyard. There are a few exceptions, but they’re rare. The main wrinkle comes when something called “comparative negligence” is involved. That might affect your case if:
- Your child was unsupervised in a situation known to be risky
- Your child was provoking or teasing the dog before the bite
Even in those cases, your child still has rights. The issue becomes how much financial support is available—not whether financial support is possible at all. These are the kinds of questions we can help you get to the bottom of.
Contact Maison Law If Your Child is Injured by a Dog Bite in Clovis
No parent ever expects their child to be hurt by a dog—but when it happens, the impact touches the whole family. At Maison Law, we know what both your child and you are going through. Dealing with the fallout of a dog bite isn’t simple, but our team will be there to help you through it all. To set up a free consultation, reach out today.
