Dog Bite on the Job: Delivery Drivers, Mail Carriers & Service Workers

If a dog bit you while you were working, you have a claim against the dog’s owner. California law protects mail carriers, delivery drivers and service workers who are bitten while doing their jobs, including on the owner’s own property.

On this page: Who we represent · The law · Common defenses · What you can recover · Evidence · FAQ

Updated November 2026.

Smith Trial Group represents workers bitten or attacked by dogs across Southern California. Our past dog bite recoveries include $750,000, $500,000, $359,000 and $200,000. Every case is different, and past results do not guarantee a similar outcome.

Even if you already have a workers’ compensation case, call us. You may be able to recover additional compensation beyond what is available there.

Workers We Represent

• Postal carriers and other mail and package delivery workers.
• Amazon, UPS, FedEx and other delivery drivers.
• Food and grocery delivery drivers.
• Utility, cable, internet and solar technicians and meter readers.
• Plumbers, electricians, HVAC, pest control and landscaping workers.
• Home health aides, caregivers, nurses and social workers who visit homes.
• Real estate agents, appraisers, inspectors and movers.

Los Angeles led every city in the country in dog attacks on mail carriers in 2025, with 70 incidents, and California led every state, according to the U.S. Postal Service.

The Owner Is Liable, Even on the Owner’s Own Property

Civil Code section 3342 makes a dog’s owner liable for a bite to anyone in a public place or lawfully on private property. The statute specifically says a person is lawfully on the owner’s property when performing a duty imposed by law or by postal regulations, or when there by the owner’s invitation, express or implied. A carrier delivering mail, a driver dropping a package at the door and a technician the owner called for a repair are all protected.

You do not have to show the dog had bitten before or that the owner was careless. If the dog knocked you down or chased you and you were hurt without being bitten, the owner can still be responsible under ordinary negligence rules, including leash laws.

What Owners and Insurers Argue

• “You assumed the risk.” That rule mainly applies to people whose job is handling dogs, such as veterinarians, groomers and kennel workers. It generally does not apply to someone delivering a package or fixing an appliance.
• “You provoked the dog.” Walking to a door, opening a gate to make a delivery or doing your job is not provocation.
• “You shouldn’t have come into the yard.” Delivery and service workers are on the property by invitation.

What You Can Recover From the Dog’s Owner

• Lost income, including time off a route and reduced earning ability if you cannot return to the same work.
• Pain, emotional distress, scarring and disfigurement.
• Medical care, including future surgery and scar treatment.
• The lasting effects of the attack, including fear and anxiety about returning to the job.

The owner’s homeowner’s or renter’s insurance usually pays. A landlord or property manager who knew about a dangerous dog may also be responsible. See our page on apartment, landlord and HOA dog bites.

Evidence to Save

• The address, the owner’s name and a description of the dog.
• Your employer’s incident report and any earlier warnings or notes about that address or dog.
• Delivery app, scanner or route records showing where you were and when.
• Doorbell and security camera video. Ask that it be preserved right away, because it is often overwritten within days.
• Photos of your injuries, torn clothing, the gate or fence and any warning signs.
• The animal control report. See our county reporting guides.

Deadline: a claim against the dog’s owner generally must be filed within two years.

Frequently Asked Questions

I was bitten while delivering a package. Can I bring a claim against the dog’s owner?

Yes. Delivery workers are lawfully on the property, and California’s dog bite statute makes the owner liable whether or not the dog had bitten before.

I already have a workers’ compensation case. Should I still call?

Yes. Even if you already have a workers’ compensation case, you may be able to recover additional compensation from the dog’s owner beyond what is available there.

The owner says the dog has never bitten anyone. Does that matter?

No. California does not have a one-bite rule. The owner is liable for a first bite.

I’m an independent contractor or gig driver. Am I covered?

The claim against the dog’s owner does not depend on how you are classified. Anyone lawfully on the property is protected.

The dog didn’t bite me, but I fell running from it. Do I have a claim?

Possibly. Injuries caused by a dog without a bite are handled under negligence rules, which look at whether the owner failed to control or restrain the dog.