Dog Bite at Work Claim: Workers’ Compensation vs. Personal Injury

Dog bites aren’t just something that happens to mail carriers. In California, many jobs involve being around dogs—from delivery drivers and utility workers to home health aides and landscapers. But if you’re bitten by a dog at work, is it automatically a workers’ comp case? Could it also be a personal injury claim? This really depends on who owns the dog and what you were doing when it happened. In this article, we’ll go over various scenarios, explain what to do after a dog bite, and how to navigate your options.

Dog Bite at Work Claim

If you were injured while performing your job duties, it’s usually covered by workers’ compensation. This applies even if your job isn’t normally dog-related. For example, you could be a FedEx driver and a customer’s dog bites you while you’re delivering a package. Or, you’re a gardener and the homeowner’s dog runs outside and attacks you. In both cases, you can file a dog bite workers’ comp claim.

Workers’ comp will cover medical expenses, part of your lost wages, and possibly job retraining if you can’t return to your old duties. The key thing to know: you don’t have to prove the dog’s owner was negligent — just that the bite happened while you were working. Workers’ compensation is helpful, but it has limits—it doesn’t pay for pain and suffering or long-term emotional trauma. If someone other than your employer or a co-worker owns the dog, you may also have a personal injury case.

Let’s look at another scenario. Suppose you’re a home nurse visiting a patient’s house, and their dog bites you. You can file for workers’ comp and sue the dog’s owner for pain and suffering. In California, dog owners are strictly liable for dog bites in most situations. That means you don’t have to prove they knew their dog was dangerous; the fact that you were bitten is usually enough to hold them responsible.

What to Do if Bitten by a Dog at Work

Let’s examine this from a slightly different angle. What if you work at a pet grooming salon, and a co-worker’s dog bites you in the breakroom? In a situation like this, workers’ comp might be your only option. If the dog that bit you belongs to your employer or a co-worker, you generally can’t sue them for personal injury. Your only remedy will be a dog bite workers’ compensation claim.

If you’ve been bit by a dog at work, quick action helps protect both your health and your claim. First and foremost, seek immediate medical treatment—dog bites can cause serious infections. Next, report the injury to your employer right away, as delays can cause problems for your workers’ comp dog bite claim. Don’t forget to document the incident by taking photos of the bite, the location, and, if possible, the dog. Additionally, get witness statements if anyone saw the attack. And lastly, talk to a lawyer to see if you can file both a workers’ comp claim and a personal injury claim.

To recap, if you suffer injuries from a dog bite in California, you might have more than one path to compensation. Workers’ comp can cover your medical bills and lost wages, but a personal injury claim can help you recover for the pain, trauma, and lasting effects of the attack. Dog bite laws in California can be confusing, and every situation is different. Speak with a personal injury lawyer in Los Angeles who can walk you through the process.

Contact a Personal Injury Law Firm in Los Angeles

If you need to speak with a legal professional but are worried about the cost, you can put those concerns to rest. Our personal injury law firm in North Hollywood works on a contingency fee basis for all personal injury matters. In other words, you pay nothing at all unless we win or settle your case.

Whether you’re seeking a personal injury attorney in Los Angeles or a dedicated North Hollywood dog bite lawyer, we’re only a phone call away. Contact Yepremyan Law Firm today to schedule your free consultation and let us know how we can help.

*No Legal Advice Intended. This website includes general information about legal issues and developments in the law. These materials have been prepared for general informational purposes only and are not intended to be legal advice. Please consult an attorney for legal advice pertaining to any particular legal matter. Use of and access to this website or any of the links or resources contained within the site do not create an attorney-client relationship between the reader, user, or browser and Yepremyan Law Firm and any of its attorneys, employees, or associates.