Burbank Dog Bite Lawyers Fighting for Your Rights
Dog bites can cause serious physical injuries, lasting emotional trauma, and unexpected financial hardship. You may be dealing with treatment, missed work, or a child who is afraid to return to familiar activities. Our Burbank dog bite lawyers help identify the responsible owner, investigate available insurance, and seek compensation for the full effect of the injury.
Noravian Law Firm opens the appropriate insurance claims, handles adjuster communications, and obtains the records needed to explain what happened. If the owner is a neighbor, friend, or relative, we can discuss the practical concerns as well as the legal options. Call 818-548-8000 today for a free consultation.
California Dog Bite Laws Explained
Under California Civil Code section 3342, a dog owner can be liable for bite injuries even without a prior bite or knowledge of aggression. The injured person generally does not need to prove the owner was careless, but the claim must establish ownership, injury caused by the bite, and these circumstances:
- The dog bit them
- They were in a public place or lawfully on private property at the time of the bite
The statute applies to bites. If a dog knocked you down without biting, our lawyers investigate negligence or another basis for liability. We also review any applicable exceptions, including special rules for police or military dogs, rather than assuming every attack falls under the same rule.
Common Injuries Resulting from Dog Attacks
Dog bite injuries can be devastating, both physically and emotionally. Some of the most common injuries include:
- Deep puncture wounds and lacerations
- Nerve damage and loss of sensation
- Facial injuries requiring reconstructive surgery
- Wound infections and the need for medical evaluation of disease exposure
- Scarring and disfigurement
- Broken bones or fractures from being knocked down
- Emotional trauma including PTSD and anxiety
Some injuries require extensive medical treatment, rehabilitation, and psychological counseling. Our Burbank dog bite lawyers pursue the compensation available for your losses.
What to Do After a Dog Bite Incident in Burbank
If you are attacked or bitten by a dog, taking the right steps immediately after the incident can protect your health and strengthen your legal claim:
- Seek medical attention immediately to treat injuries and prevent infection
- Identify the dog and its owner if you can do so safely; keep contact details and any vaccination information provided
- Report the bite to the Burbank Animal Shelter; call 911 for an immediate danger or medical emergency
- Take photographs of your injuries and the location when safe; do not approach the dog to obtain a photo
- Collect names and contact information from any witnesses
- Send insurer calls or letters to our firm so we can handle the claim and guide any needed response
- Contact Noravian Law Firm at 818-548-8000 as soon as possible for a free case evaluation
For a bite that breaks or punctures the skin, Penal Code section 398 requires the owner or person with custody or control of the animal to provide their name, address and phone number, plus the animal’s name and license-tag number, as soon as practicable and within 48 hours of knowing or having reason to know of the bite. If rabies vaccination is required by law, they must also provide vaccination-status information within 48 hours of the bite. Our lawyers can help obtain missing owner details, animal-control records and vaccination information.
Keep the treatment paperwork, photos, torn clothing, and messages you already have. Our lawyers can request animal-control records, contact witnesses, pursue available video, and document the dog’s ownership. You do not need to obtain private veterinary, insurance, or property-management records yourself.
Compensation Available in a Dog Bite Lawsuit
A dog bite claim should account for the losses the injury has actually caused and care reasonably expected in the future. At Noravian Law Firm, we pursue damages for:
- Past and future medical expenses, including surgeries and therapy
- Lost wages and future loss of earning capacity
- Pain and suffering caused by the injury
- Psychological counseling for emotional trauma
- Costs associated with plastic or reconstructive surgery
- Permanent scarring, disfigurement, and disability
- Loss of enjoyment of life due to physical or emotional injuries
We compare the medical findings with healing photographs, work restrictions, and changes in everyday activities. A scar may be only part of the harm: hand weakness, disturbed sleep, or avoidance of ordinary outings can also matter when supported by the evidence. We examine future-care recommendations before advising you about a settlement.
Liability in Dog Bite Cases
The owner’s responsibility under the dog-bite statute is different from a claim against someone who does not own the dog. Our lawyers investigate each person’s role and the evidence needed to establish responsibility, including:
- Landlords who actually knew of a tenant’s dog’s dangerous tendencies and had the ability to prevent the harm but failed to take reasonable measures
- Property occupants whose negligent handling or control of the dog contributed to the injury
- Dog handlers such as pet sitters or dog walkers who failed to control the animal
Simply owning the property where a bite occurred does not make a landlord responsible. California’s landlord-liability instruction addresses knowledge, the ability to prevent harm, and causation. Prior complaints and the landlord’s authority under the rental arrangement may therefore matter to that investigation.
Special Considerations for Child Dog Bite Victims
When a child is bitten, the claim should consider both the immediate injury and how recovery affects school, play, and family routines. Injuries may involve:
- Severe facial trauma requiring reconstructive surgery
- Deep psychological scars resulting in long-term anxiety or fear of animals
- Prolonged recovery periods and extensive rehabilitation
We work with parents to document changes over time without requiring a child to repeatedly recount the attack. Medical recommendations, school absences, and the need for counseling or later scar treatment can help explain losses that the first emergency-room record does not fully capture.
Common Defenses Raised in Dog Bite Cases
Dog owners and their insurance companies often attempt to avoid liability by raising certain defenses, including:
- Claiming the victim provoked the dog
- Arguing the victim was trespassing at the time of the attack
- Asserting the victim assumed the risk by interacting with the dog
An accusation of provocation or trespassing needs careful examination. An invitation, delivery instructions, witness account, or video may show why you were there and how the dog approached. We review the actual interaction and the injured person’s age, rather than accepting an insurer’s label as the legal answer.
Dog Bite Reports in Burbank and Los Angeles County
Burbank has its own Animal Shelter providing animal-control services. Its animal service request page expressly includes bites to people. The online channel is for non-emergencies; the City directs urgent animal-service requests to the shelter at 818-238-3340 and lists Burbank Police for after-hours emergencies.
A report can help identify the dog and preserve an account of the incident, but it does not resolve your insurance claim. Our firm obtains the available report and checks it against medical records, photographs, and witness accounts. If the bite occurred outside Burbank, we identify the agency responsible for that location instead of assuming the same records office serves all of Los Angeles County.
Why You Need a Burbank Dog Bite Lawyer
Even when ownership and the bite are clear, an insurer may dispute coverage, the extent of scarring, or the need for future treatment. Accepting an early offer can be consequential if your medical outlook is still uncertain. We explain the offer, the evidence still needed, and the available next steps.
Noravian Law Firm handles the insurance investigation, develops the evidence of injury and loss, and negotiates on your behalf. When necessary, we consult medical or other appropriate experts and prepare the case for litigation. Call 818-548-8000 to discuss your Burbank dog bite claim.
Frequently Asked Questions
California generally allows two years for a personal injury lawsuit. Minority generally pauses that ordinary period, but does not postpone the government-claim requirement. If a public entity is involved, an injury claim generally must be presented within six months after accrual, and separate lawsuit rules follow. Our lawyers check the applicable dates and proper court; a Burbank incident does not automatically assign the case to Burbank Courthouse.
Possibly. A defendant may argue that your conduct contributed to the injury, and proven comparative fault can reduce damages. A disputed accusation does not establish your percentage of responsibility. Lawful presence, the interaction with the dog, and the injured person’s age may also affect the analysis. We review those facts before accepting a proposed reduction.
An uninsured owner may still be legally responsible, but the ability to collect compensation is a separate issue. Our lawyers examine any applicable homeowners, renters, or other liability coverage and the actual policy terms. We also investigate whether another person is independently responsible; a property owner is not liable merely because the bite happened there. We explain realistic recovery options before recommending further action.
The value depends on treatment, lasting scars or loss of function, missed income, and the emotional effect of the attack, along with liability and available coverage. We review whether more treatment is reasonably expected and how the injury changes daily life. An average payout or a photograph alone cannot reliably value your case.
Burbank’s Parks, Residential Streets, and Dog Bite Claims
The precise location of an attack helps us identify witnesses and understand how the dog reached you. A bite on a public park path, a dog escaping through a residential gate, and an attack during an invited visit can raise different questions about ownership, control, and lawful presence.
At McCambridge Park on North Glenoaks Boulevard, for example, the City lists play, picnic, and sports facilities. If an incident occurred there, identifying the specific path, entrance, or activity area can help us locate witnesses and reconstruct the encounter. For an incident outside a home or apartment, we may instead examine the gate, entry route, and available doorbell footage.
A leash or gate may be relevant evidence, but the owner’s statutory responsibility for a qualifying bite does not depend on proving a leash violation. For a delivery worker or invited visitor, messages explaining the delivery or visit can help establish permission to be on the property. Our lawyers investigate those facts and request any relevant records from the people who control them.
If you or your child was bitten by a dog anywhere in Burbank, whether at a park, on a residential street, or on private property, Noravian Law Firm is ready to pursue the compensation available for your losses.
Nearby Areas We Also Serve
In addition to Burbank, our attorneys represent dog bite victims in nearby communities including Glendale, North Hollywood, Pasadena, Sherman Oaks, Encino, Van Nuys, Toluca Lake, and throughout the San Fernando Valley.
Don’t see your city? Call us anyway at 818-548-8000 — we may be able to help regardless of where the attack occurred in California.
Contact Our Burbank Dog Bite Injury Lawyers Now
If you or your child suffered a dog bite in Burbank, Noravian Law Firm can help you understand the claim and seek the compensation needed to move forward. Call 818-548-8000 for a free consultation. Accepted cases are handled on a contingency-fee basis: attorney fees are owed only if we recover compensation. Case costs are separate, and the written agreement explains how both fees and costs are handled.
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