Looking for a dog bite lawyer near you after an attack? We serve all of the Inland Empire and Coachella Valley from two local offices. No recovery, no fee. Available 24/7. Hablamos Español.
Edgar P. Lombera
Personal Injury Attorney · 15+ Years
If a dog attack left you or your child hurt, a local dog bite lawyer can help you protect your rights and get the medical care and financial compensation you deserve. When people search for a “dog bite lawyer near me” after an attack in San Bernardino or Riverside County, they need someone close by who knows California’s strict-liability rule, the local courts, and how homeowner’s insurance adjusters handle these claims. The Law Offices of Edgar Lombera serves the Inland Empire and Coachella Valley from two offices in Redlands and Palm Springs, handling dog bite claims from the first phone call to settlement or verdict.
Before you speak to an insurance company or sign anything, get clear legal advice about liability, documentation, and the statute of limitations under California law. Our dog bite attorneys coordinate treatment, organize evidence, and manage negotiation with insurers so you can focus on healing. A local dog bite attorney or paralegal will respond quickly by telephone, email, or text — and there is no fee unless we win your case.
Call Redlands: (909) 915-0181 • Call Palm Springs: (760) 835-9353 • Request a Free Consultation
Under California Civil Code § 3342, owners are generally strictly liable when their dog bites someone in a public place or when the person is lawfully on private property. You don’t have to prove negligence to establish legal liability for the bite itself. Some defenses and limits exist—such as trespass, police/military dogs acting in duty, assumption of risk, or partial fault (comparative negligence) for provocation. We’ll explain how these doctrines affect your cause of action and potential lawsuit. You can read the full text of the strict-liability statute at California Civil Code § 3342.
Every attack is different, and the way a dog bite injury lawyer proves liability and damages changes with the circumstances. Our dog attack attorneys handle the full range of animal injury cases across San Bernardino and Riverside County:
In most bite cases, a homeowner’s or renter’s liability policy is the primary source of recovery — which is why the lawyers that handle dog bites at our firm identify every applicable policy early, before an adjuster narrows the claim.
Dog attacks can cause punctures, deep lacerations, crushed tissue, nerve damage, broken bone, facial injuries, and lasting scar/disfigurement. Infections (including rabies risk assessment), tetanus, and antibiotic protocols matter; some patients require surgery, grafts, or physical therapy. Children often need careful wound care and later revision to protect long‑term quality of life. We help organize health care, navigate health insurance, and document wage loss and home‑care needs. Emotional stress, anxiety, and anguish are real—mental health treatment notes support your claim. For wound-care and vaccination guidance, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is a helpful resource.
Recoverable damages may include medical bills, future care, reimbursement for out‑of‑pocket costs, income/wage loss, and property damage. Non‑economic harms cover pain and suffering, emotional suffering, loss of normal activities, and loss of consortium for a spouse/partner. In rare cases of extreme misconduct, punitive damages may apply. After a fatal attack, families may have a wrongful death claim.
How much is a dog bite case worth? There is no fixed figure — every case turns on its facts. The value generally depends on the severity of the injuries and treatment, the total of medical bills and lost wages, whether scarring or nerve damage is permanent, whether a child is involved, and the available insurance limits. We never promise a specific dollar amount; we build the strongest possible record so the full value of your losses is on the table during negotiation.
California’s statute of limitations for most bite‑related personal injury claims is two years from the date of the attack under Code of Civil Procedure § 335.1. Some claims against public entities—such as a police or military K‑9—have shorter notice statute rules. Don’t wait—early action preserves proof (video, owner info) and prevents civil procedure pitfalls that can jeopardize your rights. You can review deadline basics through the California Courts self-help statute of limitations guide.
The Inland Empire includes suburban neighborhoods, trailheads near the San Bernardino Mountains, and High Desert communities where off‑leash culture can increase risk. Reports often mention “dog breed” details (e.g., pit bull, German Shepherd, Rottweiler), but any breed can bite—our focus is on facts, medical care, and accountability, not labels. Because we work from Redlands in San Bernardino County and Palm Springs in the Coachella Valley, a local dog bite lawyer is genuinely near you, and we know the local animal-control offices and the courts where these cases are heard: San Bernardino County Superior Court (247 W. 3rd St., San Bernardino) and Riverside County Superior Court (4050 Main St., Riverside).
A dog bite attorney near you should actually be near you. Because we meet clients from two offices — Redlands in San Bernardino County and Palm Springs in the Coachella Valley — we serve injured victims and their families throughout the Inland Empire, High Desert, and desert cities. We represent people bitten by dogs throughout:
We also serve Ontario, Rialto, Yucaipa, Loma Linda, La Quinta, Rancho Mirage, the High Desert, and Coachella. ¿Busca un abogado de accidentes cerca de mí? Llámenos — hablamos español.
While this page focuses on dog bites and animal attacks, some injuries involve other claims: a lunging dog can cause a bicycle or pedestrian crash, and a fatal attack may support a wrongful death claim. If your facts point elsewhere, our attorneys handle the full range of personal injury matters.
A local attorney understands Southern California neighborhoods, animal‑control practices, and court scheduling. Our team includes paralegal staff and trial counsel with experience handling animal-injury and premises cases against homeowner’s and renter’s carriers. When you choose a dog bite lawyer near you rather than a distant advertising firm, you get face‑to‑face meetings, faster response, and someone who treats your case — and your recovery — as if you were a neighbor.
Edgar P. Lombera is the founding attorney of the Law Offices of Edgar Lombera. He represents dog bite, animal attack, car, and wrongful‑death victims across San Bernardino County, Riverside County, and the Coachella Valley on a contingency‑fee basis — no fee unless the firm wins. His practice focuses on clear, plain‑language counsel so injured clients understand strict liability, insurance coverage, treatment, and every step from claim to court. The firm is bilingual (English / Español).
Get answers to the most common dog bite questions. For personalized guidance, call (909) 915-0181 (Redlands) or (760) 835-9353 (Palm Springs).
Look for a local attorney who handles dog bite and animal-attack cases specifically, offers a free consultation, works on contingency (no fee unless you win), and knows California’s strict-liability rule and your local courts. We meet clients from two Inland Empire offices — Redlands and Palm Springs — so help is genuinely nearby.
Yes. Strict liability generally applies under California Civil Code § 3342 when a dog bites someone in public or when the person is lawfully on private property.
A dog bite attorney handles insurance, proof, and negotiation—and helps you avoid statements that can reduce your compensation.
Typically the owner’s liability insurance (home insurance/policy) responds; we also coordinate health care/coverage and pursue reimbursement at settlement or verdict.
The statute of limitations is generally two years from the date of the attack and can be shorter for public‑entity claims. Call for legal advice so we can protect deadlines under California law.
We evaluate premises liability and whether a landlord or business failed a duty of care/duty to warn.
Yes. California’s strict-liability rule does not require the dog to have bitten before, and it does not matter that you knew the owner or the animal. What matters is that you were bitten in a public place or while lawfully on private property.
Breed doesn’t change your legal rights. Evidence about training, leash use, and prior incidents matters more than labels like “pit bull lawyer.”
Children are most often bitten on the face and hands, and these cases frequently involve scarring, nerve damage, and future revision surgery. We document long-term care needs and, when a minor is involved, a court may need to approve the settlement to protect the child.
Contingency fee—no upfront payment. We only collect a fee if we obtain financial compensation.
If a dog attack caused injuries, scarring, or time away from work, get answers now. We’ll assess fault, coverage, and next steps—then handle the legal burden while you heal.
Start by telephone, or email us to schedule a consultation. Free, confidential, and bilingual. Hablamos Español.
Law Offices of Edgar P. Lombera
2068 Orange Tree Lane, Suite 220
Redlands, CA 92374
Phone: (909) 915-0181
San Bernardino County · Free Consultation · Hablamos Español
Law Offices of Edgar P. Lombera
1276 N. Palm Canyon Dr., Suite 107
Palm Springs, CA 92262
Phone: (760) 835-9353
Coachella Valley · Free Consultation · Hablamos Español
San Bernardino & Riverside Counties
and the Coachella Valley
Redlands · Palm Springs · High Desert
No pressure, no obligation — just answers. Tell us a little about your dog bite and we’ll call you back. Formulario disponible en español también.
Attorney Advertising: The information on this page is general legal information, not legal advice, and does not create an attorney-client relationship. Past results do not guarantee future outcomes — every case is different, and results depend on the specific facts and law. No attorney-client relationship is formed until a written engagement agreement is signed.
