UCLA Law Trained Attorneys in Newbury Park
California Civil Code Section 3342 imposes strict liability on dog owners for bite injuries. There is no "one free bite" defense. The owner cannot claim the dog had never been aggressive before. If a dog bites someone who is lawfully present in a public place or on private property, the owner is liable.
Newbury Park is a residential community with families, children, and a lot of dog owners. That means dog bite incidents happen, and they often involve kids who are too young to recognize warning signs from an unfamiliar animal. Curt handles these cases by filing claims against the owner's homeowner's insurance, which covers dog bite liability in most policies. He documents the injury comprehensively, including the immediate medical care, scarring, emotional impact on the child and family, and any future surgical or cosmetic procedures. Cases file at Ventura County Superior Court.
UCLA-Trained Attorneys, Not a Call Center
I grew up in Thousand Oaks, graduated from Thousand Oaks High School and UCLA Law School, and I've spent my career fighting for people who were seriously hurt in crashes across the Conejo Valley and greater Los Angeles. These cases aren't just files on a desk. I know what families go through after a serious accident, and I take that responsibility seriously.
What We Know About Injury Cases Here
The roads that generate the most crashes, the hospitals you will likely be taken to, and the California laws and deadlines that apply to your situation. This is what we walk into a Newbury Park case already knowing.
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 Newbury Park
- Ventura County jurisdiction:Newbury Park is unincorporated Ventura County. Cases file in Ventura County Superior Court, with different procedural rules and claims notice requirements than LA County.
- Rancho Conejo Business Park:Dense commercial and biotech corridor along Lawrence Drive. Workplace and premises incidents here involve sophisticated commercial defendants and professional insurance adjusters.
- Wendy Drive / US-101 interchange:The primary collision corridor in Newbury Park. High-speed merging and intersection conflicts are consistent crash causes, and evidence from this stretch disappears quickly.
- Residential underinsured driver exposure:Low-speed residential crashes don't mean low-stakes cases. Newbury Park incidents frequently involve underinsured drivers, and knowing how to pursue UM/UIM coverage makes a real difference in recovery.
- Trail and open space incidents:Cycling and trail incidents near Conejo Valley Open Space can involve federal land management considerations depending on where exactly the incident occurred.
Major Accidents in the Area
Wendy Drive, Reino Road, and the US-101 Wendy Drive interchange experience the highest traffic volume and collision rates in Newbury Park. These conditions create dangerous merging zones and congested areas.
City surface streets like Wendy Drive, Reino Road, Lawrence Drive, Borchard 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 Newbury Park Town Center.
- Delivery vehicle collisions in residential zones like Dos Vientos, Rancho Conejo and Conejo Oaks.
- School zone crashes near Newbury Park High School and Sequoia Middle School.
- Pedestrian accidents near Rancho Conejo Business Park.
- Dog Bites in the Conejo Oaks and Camino del Sol neighborhoods.
Compensation Available in Your Case
The cost of a dog bite includes emergency treatment, wound care, potential reconstructive surgery, and counseling for emotional trauma. California strict liability makes the owner responsible for all of it.
Medical Expenses
Emergency care, wound treatment, infection prevention, surgical repair, plastic surgery, and psychological counseling. Los Robles Medical Center handles most serious bite cases from the area.
Lost Wages
Income lost during recovery from your bite injuries, including time off for follow-up surgeries and medical appointments.
Pain & Suffering
The pain of the bite, the fear of the attack, and the lasting psychological impact. Dog bite victims often develop anxiety that affects their daily routines for months or years.
Scarring & Disfigurement
Bite wounds cause permanent scarring. Facial bites and hand injuries are especially common and carry high non-economic damage values because of their lasting visibility.
Future Medical Costs
Reconstructive surgery, scar revision, physical therapy for damaged nerves or tendons, and ongoing treatment for post-traumatic stress from the attack.
Punitive Damages
If the dog owner knew the animal was aggressive and failed to secure it, punitive damages are on the table. Prior animal control complaints or neighbor reports of aggressive behavior support this claim.
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 attack to Ventura County Animal Services and police. The official bite report documents the incident and can lead to a quarantine order.
Seek emergency medical care
Get to an ER or urgent care right away. Prompt wound cleaning and antibiotics are essential. Dog bite infections can become serious if treatment is delayed.
Photograph injuries immediately
Take clear photos of all bite wounds, scratches, and bruising before they're treated. Capture the scene and any damage to your clothing.
Identify the dog and owner
Get the owner's full contact information and vaccination records for the dog. In Newbury Park neighborhoods, other residents often know the dog and owner.
Contact Westwood Law
Curt Brown represents Newbury Park dog bite victims and files claims against homeowners' insurance. Strict liability under California law means the owner pays, no prior bite history required.