UCLA Law Trained Attorneys in Calabasas
Under California Civil Code Section 3342, the dog owner is strictly liable for bite injuries. It does not matter if the dog had never shown aggression before. It does not matter if the owner says you startled the animal. If you were lawfully in a public place or on private property and a dog bit you, the owner is responsible for your injuries.
Calabasas has large residential properties, many with multiple dogs, and gated communities where common areas create opportunities for encounters between dogs and neighbors. The owner's homeowner's insurance almost always covers dog bite liability, and policies in Calabasas tend to have high limits. Arya identifies the applicable policy, documents the injuries, and builds the claim to cover medical costs, scarring, emotional distress, and any future treatment. Cases file at Chatsworth Courthouse.
UCLA-Trained Attorneys, Not a Call Center
I grew up in the San Fernando Valley, graduated from El Camino Real High School and UCLA Law School, and I've spent my career representing people who were hurt because someone else wasn't paying attention. I take these cases personally because I've watched families in this community deal with the aftermath of serious crashes. If you were injured, I want to hear what happened.
The Local Details That Move Your Case Forward
The crash corridors, the hospitals that handle trauma, the legal deadlines, the insurance dynamics. These are the things we know about Calabasas cases on day one, before we even open your file.
California's dog bite statute holds owners strictly liable for injuries caused by their dog biting someone in a public place or lawfully on private property. There is no "one free bite" defense. The owner is liable even if the dog has never shown aggression before.
California CCP §335.1 gives you two years from the date of the bite to file a lawsuit. Medical care and documentation must begin immediately — delayed treatment weakens the link between the bite and your injuries and gives insurers room to dispute severity.
What We Know About Calabasas
- Calabasas Commons:Corporate-owned outdoor retail with professional liability management. Slip & fall and parking incidents here are routinely contested, and prior incident history at the property is key evidence.
- Las Virgenes / Mulholland corridor:Mountain roads to Malibu with serious crash history. Road design and maintenance disputes can name Caltrans or LA County as defendants alongside individual drivers.
- Gated community HOAs:A large share of residential incidents occur inside HOA-governed developments. HOA liability, common area maintenance records, and insurance structures differ significantly from individual homeowners.
- LA County jurisdiction:Cases file at Chatsworth Courthouse, LA County Superior Court, not Ventura County. Different courthouse, different jury pool than the Conejo Valley.
- High umbrella coverage density:Individual defendants in Calabasas are more likely to carry substantial umbrella coverage beyond their primary auto or homeowner policy, a factor in how we structure demand.
Major Accidents in the Area
The US-101 corridor and Las Virgenes Road see significant commuter traffic, with congestion peaking during morning and evening rush hours. These conditions create dangerous merging zones and congested areas.
City surface streets like Las Virgenes Road, Calabasas Road, Lost Hills Road, Agoura Road are hotspots for T-bone collisions, rear-end crashes, and pedestrian strikes, especially during rush hours and school drop-off/pick-up times.
We've helped victims injured in:
- Rideshare (Uber/Lyft) accidents near Calabasas Commons.
- Delivery vehicle collisions in residential zones like The Oaks, The Highlands and Mulwood.
- School zone crashes near Calabasas High School and A.C. Stelle Middle School.
- Pedestrian accidents near Calabasas Commons.
- Dog Bites in the Mulwood and Park Moderne neighborhoods.
Compensation Available in Your Case
A dog bite can require emergency surgery, ongoing wound care, scar revision, and therapy for emotional trauma. California law holds the owner liable for all of it. Here is the breakdown.
Medical Expenses
Emergency wound treatment, antibiotics, rabies evaluation, surgical repair, plastic surgery for scarring, and psychological counseling after a dog attack.
Lost Wages
Income lost while recovering from bite injuries. Serious bites can keep you out of work for weeks, especially if infection develops.
Pain & Suffering
Physical pain from the bite and the lasting emotional impact. Fear of dogs, anxiety while walking outdoors, and flashbacks are common after a serious attack.
Scarring & Disfigurement
Dog bites leave visible scars. Facial scarring and hand injuries are particularly common and carry substantial damages because of their visibility.
Future Medical Costs
Follow-up plastic surgery, scar revision, ongoing therapy for PTSD, and physical rehabilitation for nerve or tendon damage from deep bites.
Punitive Damages
If the owner knew their dog was aggressive and let it roam unleashed, particularly in a neighborhood where families and children walk regularly, punitive damages apply.
Call us Today. No fee until you win!
818-224-7940What to Do After a Dog Bite
Dog bite injuries can be serious — infected, scarred, and emotionally traumatic. These steps protect your health and your legal claim.
Get to safety and call 911
Report the bite to LA Animal Services or the LA County Department of Animal Care. They'll investigate and create an official record.
Seek emergency medical care
Dog bites require immediate medical attention. Even bites that look minor can become severely infected without proper cleaning and antibiotics.
Photograph injuries immediately
Document every puncture wound, laceration, and bruise with time-stamped photos before treatment. These photos are key evidence for your claim.
Identify the dog and owner
Get the owner's contact information and the dog's vaccination records. In Calabasas neighborhoods, other residents often know the dog and can help identify the owner.
Contact Westwood Law
Arya Firoozmand pursues dog bite claims against homeowners' insurance policies. California's strict liability law means the owner is responsible regardless of whether the dog has bitten anyone before.