Van Nuys Dog Bite Lawyers Fighting for Your Rights
Dog bites can cause serious physical injuries, emotional trauma, and financial hardship. A bite may leave lasting scars, affect your ability to work, or make ordinary encounters with animals frightening. If you were bitten or injured by a dog in Van Nuys, our lawyers can explain whether the owner or another responsible person may be liable.
At Noravian Law Firm, our Van Nuys dog bite lawyers open the claim, handle insurer communications, and request animal-control reports, available video, and medical records with appropriate authorization. Call 818-548-8000 for a free consultation.
California Dog Bite Laws Explained
California Civil Code section 3342 generally holds a dog’s owner liable for harm caused by a bite when the injured person is in a public place or lawfully on private property. Prior viciousness or the owner’s knowledge of it is not required. We investigate ownership, injury, and these key facts:
- The dog bit you
- You were in a public place or lawfully on private property at the time of the bite
Lawful private-property presence can include an invitation or performing a legal duty. The statute has specific police and military dog exceptions. An injury caused by a dog knocking someone down without biting may instead require proof of negligence. Our lawyers identify which rules apply and address any disputed facts.
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 that may require further treatment
- 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. CDC guidance explains that even a minor-looking bite can spread germs. Get prompt medical advice about wound care and any rabies evaluation; call 911 for a medical emergency. Our lawyers document recommended treatment and the injury’s lasting effects.
What to Do After a Dog Bite in Van Nuys
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
- If safe, note the dog’s description and the owner’s or handler’s available contact information
- Report the bite through Los Angeles County Veterinary Public Health’s reporting page; our team can help coordinate the report and request the records
- Take safe photographs of your injuries and the location; do not approach or follow the dog for a picture
- Keep any witness names and contact information available to you
- Let our lawyers handle insurance communications and advise you about statements or cooperation requirements
- Contact Noravian Law Firm at 818-548-8000 for a free case evaluation
For a bite that breaks or punctures skin, Penal Code section 398 requires an owner or person with custody or control who knows or has reason to know of the bite to provide identifying information as soon as practicable, no later than 48 hours after that knowledge. This includes the person’s name, address, and telephone number and the animal’s name and license-tag number. A minor handler provides the adult owner’s or responsible adult’s information. Separately, for an animal legally required to have rabies vaccination, vaccination-status information is due within 48 hours of the bite. These are different clocks. Do not delay care while waiting for information; our lawyers can seek missing owner, vaccination, and reporting records.
Compensation Available in a Dog Bite Lawsuit
A dog bite claim may include economic losses and non-economic harm. Depending on the evidence, we pursue compensation 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
Our attorneys document treatment costs, missed work, and future care recommendations. Healing photographs and your account of pain, disrupted sleep, fear around dogs, or changes in daily activities help explain losses that do not appear on a bill.
Liability in Dog Bite Cases
The owner’s liability under the dog bite statute differs from a claim against someone who does not own the dog. Other parties may be responsible only when the facts establish their own legal duty and conduct that caused the injury, such as:
- Landlords who actually knew of a dog’s dangerous tendencies, could prevent the harm, and unreasonably failed to do so
- Property owners whose own negligent conduct allowed a dangerous condition to cause the injury
- Dog handlers, such as pet sitters or dog walkers, whose negligent handling caused the injury
Our Van Nuys dog bite lawyers investigate ownership and handling as well as any separate unsafe-property claim. We seek relevant complaints, management communications, lease provisions, and available video to determine what each person knew and could control.
Special Considerations for Child Dog Bite Victims
The CDC reports that children are more likely than adults to be bitten and tend to suffer more severe injuries. A child may need care for both the physical injury and the emotional effects. Injuries can involve:
- Severe facial trauma requiring reconstructive surgery
- Deep psychological scars resulting in long-term anxiety or fear of animals
- Prolonged recovery periods and rehabilitation
At Noravian Law Firm, we approach cases involving children with sensitivity and care. Recommended scar treatment may change as a child grows, and fear or sleep difficulties may affect school and play. Parents can keep available photographs and notes; our lawyers request formal medical and other relevant records with the necessary authorization.
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
We review the evidence behind each defense, including how the encounter began, whether you had permission to be there, and who controlled the dog. A defense is not established merely because an owner or insurer raises it.
Dog Bite Claims in Van Nuys Homes and Shared Spaces
A bite can occur during a visit to a familiar home, a delivery, or an encounter in a shared entryway. An owner’s statement that the dog had never bitten before does not by itself defeat a claim under the bite statute. Evidence of permission to enter and what happened immediately before the bite can matter more than whether the dog was familiar to you.
City Planning describes Van Nuys as a mix of single-family neighborhoods and multifamily development near the Civic Center and larger boulevards. In an apartment claim, the exact location matters: a tenant’s unit, a shared stairwell, and a public sidewalk can involve different people’s responsibilities. We identify that location and who controlled the dog rather than assuming that density, a busy corridor, or a nearby recreation area establishes fault.
Why You Need a Van Nuys Dog Bite Lawyer
Even though California law favors dog bite victims, insurance companies often fight aggressively to minimize payouts. Without legal representation, you may be pressured into accepting a settlement that does not fully address your medical needs, emotional trauma, or future expenses.
Our lawyers examine the applicable insurance policy, coverage exclusions, and the records supporting future treatment before advising you about a settlement. Scarring, nerve symptoms, and fear-related limitations can develop over time, so the decision should account for your medical outlook and the terms of any release.
Call 818-548-8000 to speak with a Van Nuys dog bite attorney.
Frequently Asked Questions
California generally provides two years to file a personal injury lawsuit. Minority can pause some filing periods, but that protection does not apply to actions subject to government claim presentation. A viable claim against a public entity generally requires claim presentation within six months of accrual, followed by a separate lawsuit deadline. A bite in a public park does not by itself make the government liable. Our lawyers identify the responsible parties and applicable deadlines; do not wait to seek advice.
Possibly. When your own negligence contributed to an injury, California’s comparative-fault rule can reduce damages by your percentage of responsibility. That is different from deciding whether the bite statute applies, including lawful presence on private property, or whether another defense is established. An allegation that you provoked the dog does not automatically reduce or defeat the claim. We review what happened and the evidence supporting each position.
Our lawyers check whether a homeowner’s, renter’s, or other applicable policy covers the incident and whether exclusions apply. If there is no coverage, we discuss the practical ability to collect a recovery and whether another person has independently established liability. A landlord’s policy does not automatically cover a tenant’s dog, and the owner’s lack of insurance does not itself make the landlord responsible.
The amount depends on your medical and surgical costs, missed work, future treatment needs, scarring, disability, and the injury’s effect on daily life. Pain, anxiety, sleep disruption, and loss of enjoyment also matter. We evaluate those facts with the available evidence, liability, and coverage; the location of a scar or the victim’s age alone does not establish a settlement amount.
Apartment Courtyards, Landlord Duties, and Dog Bite Claims in Van Nuys
In Van Nuys, an apartment courtyard or shared laundry room may involve a dog owner, a handler, and a property manager with different responsibilities. We distinguish the owner’s bite liability from any separate claim against the person controlling the premises. The same analysis applies whether a building is near the Civic Center, along Sepulveda Boulevard, or on a residential side street.
For a landlord claim involving a tenant’s dog, California’s civil jury instructions require actual knowledge of the dog’s dangerous tendencies, the ability to prevent the harm, an unreasonable failure to act, and resulting injury. Earlier complaints, previous incident reports, and lease provisions may help establish those facts. Our lawyers request these records and available footage promptly, including evidence showing who controlled the courtyard, stairwell, or entry where the injury occurred.
Insurance coverage requires its own investigation. We examine the owner’s policy, any policy applying to a handler, and potential coverage for a separately responsible property owner or manager. A master policy for an apartment building is not automatically a substitute for a tenant’s missing insurance. We explain coverage questions and practical recovery options before you make decisions about pursuing the claim.
Van Nuys is part of the City of Los Angeles. City rules generally require a leash no longer than six feet and a competent handler when a dog is off its owner’s premises, subject to designated-area exceptions. LA Animal Services directs dangerous-animal reports to the nearest shelter and lists 888-452-7381. Its East Valley Animal Services Center is at 14409 Vanowen Street in Van Nuys. A dangerous-animal complaint is separate from the County Public Health bite report; reporting alone does not determine civil liability.
A bite on a Van Nuys Boulevard sidewalk may raise different evidence questions from a bite inside an apartment or during a delivery to a private home. We ask who owned and handled the dog, whether entry was permitted, where witnesses were positioned, and whether a nearby camera recorded the encounter. Our team seeks the formal reports and footage while you keep the information already available to you.
Nearby Areas We Also Serve
In addition to Van Nuys, our attorneys represent dog bite victims in nearby communities including Sherman Oaks, Encino, North Hollywood, Northridge, Panorama City, Valley Glen, Lake Balboa, Reseda, and throughout the San Fernando Valley.
Do not see your community listed? Call 818-548-8000; we can discuss whether we can help with an attack elsewhere in California.
Contact Our Van Nuys Dog Bite Injury Lawyers Now
If you suffered a dog bite or dog attack in Van Nuys or elsewhere in Los Angeles County, Noravian Law Firm can help you understand your options and pursue a claim. Call 818-548-8000 for a free, confidential 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.
Si sufrió una mordedura de perro en Van Nuys, visite nuestra página de abogados de mordeduras de perro en Van Nuys para conocer cómo podemos ayudarle. Llame al 818-548-8000 para una consulta gratuita.