Van Nuys Dog Bite Lawyers Fighting for Your Rights
Dog bites can cause serious physical injuries, emotional trauma, and financial hardship. In California, dog owners are held strictly liable when their pets attack, even if the dog has never shown aggression before. If you were bitten or attacked by a dog in Van Nuys, you need experienced legal representation to protect your rights and secure the compensation you deserve.
At Noravian Law Firm, our Van Nuys dog bite lawyers are here to help. Call 818-548-8000 today for a free consultation. We do not charge any fees unless we win your case.
California Dog Bite Laws Explained
California follows a strict liability rule for dog bites, meaning a dog owner is automatically responsible if their dog bites someone, regardless of whether the dog had previously bitten or shown aggression. Victims do not have to prove that the owner was negligent, only that:
- The dog bit them
- They were in a public place or lawfully on private property at the time of the bite
This strong protection allows victims to seek compensation more easily, but insurance companies still often fight claims. Noravian Law Firm is here to stand up for your rights and maximize your recovery.
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
- Infections such as rabies or MRSA
- 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 even psychological counseling. Our Van Nuys dog bite lawyers fight for full compensation to address all aspects of your recovery.
What to Do After a Dog Bite Incident
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, and get contact information
- Report the incident to local animal control or law enforcement
- Take photographs of your injuries, the dog, and the location of the attack
- Collect names and contact information for any witnesses
- Avoid speaking with insurance companies without consulting an attorney
- Contact Noravian Law Firm at 818-548-8000 as soon as possible for a free case evaluation
Prompt action helps ensure that evidence is preserved and that your legal rights are protected.
Compensation Available in a Dog Bite Lawsuit
Victims of dog attacks are often entitled to significant compensation. 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
Our attorneys carefully document all damages to build the strongest possible claim and demand full compensation on your behalf.
Liability in Dog Bite Cases
In most dog bite cases in California, the dog owner is strictly liable for damages. However, other parties may also bear responsibility depending on the circumstances, including:
- Landlords who knew about a dangerous dog but failed to act
- Property owners who allowed dangerous dogs on their premises
- Dog handlers, such as pet sitters or dog walkers, who failed to control the animal
Our Van Nuys dog bite lawyers investigate every case thoroughly to identify all liable parties and pursue compensation from every available source.
Special Considerations for Child Dog Bite Victims
Children are particularly vulnerable to dog bites, both because of their smaller size and their tendency to interact with animals without recognizing danger. Injuries to children often 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 child victims with the sensitivity and care they require, while aggressively pursuing the maximum compensation needed for lifelong care and emotional healing.
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
Our legal team at Noravian Law Firm knows how to counter these defenses with strong evidence and effective arguments to protect your claim.
Dog Bite Statistics in California and Los Angeles County
California consistently reports more dog bite incidents than any other state. According to the Insurance Information Institute, California had the highest number of dog bite claims nationwide in recent years, with Los Angeles County leading among all counties. Dog bites result in thousands of emergency room visits annually in Los Angeles, with serious injuries disproportionately affecting young children and older adults.
Van Nuys sees this pattern up close. The community has one of the highest concentrations of apartment and multi-unit housing in the San Fernando Valley, which means residents encounter dogs constantly in shared courtyards, hallways, stairwells, laundry rooms, and parking garages. Add the heavy pedestrian activity along Van Nuys Boulevard and the popular recreation areas of the Sepulveda Basin, and the opportunities for bite incidents are frequent. At Noravian Law Firm, we understand the serious and lasting impact dog bite injuries can have, and we are committed to helping victims throughout Van Nuys pursue the justice they deserve.
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.
Noravian Law Firm has the experience and resources to handle complex dog bite cases. We work closely with medical experts, economists, and mental health professionals to fully value your claim and ensure you are not shortchanged.
Call 818-548-8000 today to speak with an experienced Van Nuys dog bite attorney.
Frequently Asked Questions
In California, you generally have two years from the date of the bite to file a personal injury lawsuit. If a public entity was involved, such as a bite that occurred at a park in the Sepulveda Basin Recreation Area, you may have as little as six months to file a government claim. Van Nuys dog bite cases are filed at the Van Nuys Courthouse East on Sylmar Avenue, and acting quickly helps preserve medical records, animal control reports, and witness accounts before they become difficult to obtain.
Yes. California's pure comparative fault rule allows you to recover even if you were partly responsible, with your recovery reduced by your share of fault. Owners frequently claim the victim provoked the dog or entered a restricted area, a common argument in disputes between tenants in Van Nuys apartment buildings. We work to counter those claims and protect the full value of your case.
Many dog bite claims are paid through a homeowner's or renter's insurance policy. In Van Nuys, where a large share of residents rent, renter's insurance is not always in place. That does not necessarily end your claim. A landlord who knew about a dangerous dog on the property may share liability, and other sources of recovery may exist depending on where the bite occurred and who controlled the property. Our attorneys investigate every avenue.
The value depends on the severity of your injuries, the extent of scarring or disfigurement, medical and surgical costs, lost income, and the emotional impact of the attack. Cases involving facial injuries, young children, or permanent scarring tend to carry higher value. We evaluate each case individually to pursue the maximum compensation available.
Apartment Courtyards, Landlord Duties, and the Sepulveda Basin: Van Nuys Bite Risks
What shapes dog bite claims in Van Nuys is housing density. This is a community built largely on apartment complexes, duplexes, and multi-unit rental buildings, and that changes both where bites happen and who can be held responsible.
In a single-family neighborhood, a dog bite usually involves one owner and one homeowner’s policy. In Van Nuys, bites frequently occur in shared spaces: an interior courtyard, a stairwell, a laundry room, an alley behind a building, or a parking garage where a tenant’s dog is off leash. These are spaces the landlord controls, which opens a second potential source of liability. Under California law, a landlord who knew or should have known that a dangerous dog was living on the property, and who had the ability to remove it, can be held responsible alongside the owner. Prior complaints to management, previous bite reports, and lease terms about pets all become critical evidence, and they tend to disappear quickly unless an attorney requests them early.
Insurance coverage is the other practical concern. Homeowners in other parts of the Valley typically carry policies that respond to bite claims. In Van Nuys, where renting is far more common, many dog owners have no renter’s insurance at all. When that happens, the landlord’s liability policy and the specific facts about who controlled the space where the bite occurred can determine whether a victim recovers anything.
Public spaces add another layer. The Sepulveda Basin Recreation Area draws heavy dog traffic to its parks, trails, and open fields, and off-leash encounters there are a recurring source of bites. Because the Basin and the neighborhood parks are public property, a bite occurring there can trigger a six-month government claim deadline in addition to the standard two-year window, a trap that quietly ends otherwise strong cases. Los Angeles leash requirements apply throughout Van Nuys, and animal control records documenting prior incidents involving the same dog can substantially strengthen a claim.
Van Nuys dog bite cases are filed at the Van Nuys Courthouse East on Sylmar Avenue. Whether your bite happened in an apartment courtyard, on a sidewalk along Van Nuys Boulevard, or in a park, Noravian Law Firm knows how to identify every liable party and pursue each available source of compensation.
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.
Don’t see your city? Call us anyway at 818-548-8000 — we may be able to help regardless of where your attack occurred in California.
Contact Our Van Nuys Dog Bite Injury Lawyers Now
If you have suffered a dog bite or dog attack in Van Nuys or anywhere in Los Angeles County, do not face the legal system alone. Noravian Law Firm is here to protect your rights and fight for the full compensation you need to heal and move forward. Call 818-548-8000 now to schedule a free, confidential consultation. Let our Van Nuys dog bite lawyers stand by your side every step of the way.
Si prefiere hablar en español, tenemos personal que puede ayudarle. Our firm has Spanish-speaking staff available whenever you need them. This page is also available in Spanish for Van Nuys clients: Abogados de Mordeduras de Perro en Van Nuys.