Van Nuys Dog Bite Lawyer

Were you bitten or attacked by a dog in Van Nuys, CA?

At Cohen Injury Law Group, we help injured clients in Van Nuys pursue full recovery after a dog attack.

If a dog bit you or your child, you may be facing wound care, the threat of infection, and worry about permanent scars. A serious attack can also leave lasting anxiety around animals. Our Van Nuys, CA dog bite lawyer can handle the claim so you can focus on healing. Cohen Injury Law Group represents bite victims across the San Fernando Valley, and our attorney has guided injured clients through the claims process since 1991. Reach out whenever you are ready for answers.

Dog Bite Lawyer Van Nuys, CA

A dog bite claim is a personal injury case brought by someone hurt by another person’s animal. In California, dog owners are generally responsible when their dog bites someone, even if the animal never showed aggression before. That principle makes these cases different from many other injury claims, and it often shifts the focus to the harm done rather than a long fight over fault. Even so, an owner or insurer may still contest the details, which is where careful preparation matters.

The purpose of a claim is to compensate the victim for that harm. It covers medical care, the cost of any future treatment, and the physical and emotional toll of the attack. A dog bite attorney identifies who is responsible, which can include the owner and, depending on the facts, a landlord or another party who allowed the danger to exist. Sorting that out early can be the difference between a smooth claim and a drawn-out dispute.

Types of Dog Bite Cases We Handle in Van Nuys

Dog attacks happen in many settings, from a neighbor’s yard to a public sidewalk. Hundreds of thousands of people are treated in emergency departments for dog bites each year, and children account for a large share of the most serious injuries. We handle the range of dog bite and animal attack claims, and we adjust our approach to the setting and the severity of the wound. The situations below come up most often.

• Child bite injuries. Children are bitten more often than adults and tend to suffer worse wounds, frequently to the face and head. These cases call for sensitivity and careful documentation of both the injury and its lasting effects, including any need for future care as a child grows.
• Attacks on delivery and service workers. Postal carriers, delivery drivers, and meter readers face bites while doing their jobs. Owners still bear responsibility when a dog is not properly secured.
• Bites on the owner’s property. Many attacks occur when a guest is lawfully at a home. A homeowner or renter policy often factors into the claim, and the incident can also raise premises liability questions.
• Rental and landlord cases. When a landlord knew a dangerous dog lived on the property and did nothing, that landlord may share responsibility for an attack.
• Public-place attacks. Bites at parks, on trails, and outside businesses raise questions about leash use and control, and about who was supervising the animal.
• Repeat and known-dangerous dogs. When a dog has bitten before, that history can be central to the claim and to holding a careless owner accountable.
• Severe maulings. A large or aggressive dog can cause catastrophic injury, sometimes requiring reconstructive surgery. In the worst cases, an attack can be fatal and become a wrongful death claim.

Why Choose Cohen Injury Law Group as my Dog Bite Lawyer in Van Nuys, CA?

Decades of Injury Trial Experience

Our founding attorney, Wayne R. Cohen, is recognized nationally as a personal injury trial lawyer and has practiced since 1991. He studied at the University of Michigan and earned his law degree from the University of Miami, and he serves as a professorial lecturer at George Washington University Law School. Across his career, our attorney has recovered millions of dollars for injured clients. That depth matters when an insurer disputes how a bite happened or tries to shift blame onto the victim. A prepared trial lawyer changes those conversations, because the company knows the case can reach a jury if the offer is unfair.

Serious Attention to Dog Attack Claims

We know that a bite case involves more than a wound, since scarring and fear can follow a person for years, especially a child. As a personal injury lawyer in Van Nuys, CA, our firm handles these claims on a contingency basis, so you owe no attorney fees unless we recover for you. Nicholas E. Cohen, the firm’s managing partner, brings added strength to its plaintiff-side work, and we give each client the direct attention these cases deserve. We return calls, explain each step, and keep you informed as the claim develops.

What Is Important to Understand About a Dog Bite Case?

Damages, Liability, and Compensation for Dog Bite Cases

A dog bite claim is meant to make the victim whole, as much as money can, and to account for costs that continue after the wound has healed. California allows both economic and non-economic damages. Economic damages cover measurable losses like medical bills and missed work, while non-economic damages address pain, scarring, and emotional harm. A claim may include:

• Emergency treatment, wound care, and follow-up visits.
• Reconstructive or scar-revision surgery.
• Lost income during recovery.
• Emotional distress and the effect on daily life.

Responsibility usually falls on the owner, though other parties can share it depending on the facts. Some defenses come up often, such as a claim that the victim provoked the animal or was trespassing, and California’s comparative fault rule can reduce a recovery when the injured person shared some blame. We can explain owner liability and how these claims work, including responsibilities that come with owning a dog. Valuing a bite claim also means looking ahead, since scars and emotional effects can last well beyond the initial treatment.

What Are Important Aspects of a Dog Bite Case?

A handful of details tend to drive these claims, and gathering them early makes a real difference in the outcome. The points below tend to matter most.

• Identifying the dog and its owner is the first step.
• Homeowner or renter insurance often provides the coverage.
• Medical records and photographs document the severity of the wound.
• Prior complaints about the dog can strengthen a claim.
• The victim’s age and the location of the bite affect the impact.
• Whether the dog was leashed or contained speaks to the owner’s care.

What Is The Dog Bite Case Timeline?

No two claims move at exactly the same speed, but the path is usually similar:

• Review of the attack and your medical care.
• Investigation to identify the owner and any insurance.
• Filing the claim and presenting the evidence.
• Negotiation with the insurer over a fair amount.
• Settlement, or a lawsuit if the offer falls short.

Prompt action keeps evidence fresh and protects your ability to recover, since memories fade and dogs are sometimes rehomed or moved after an attack, which can complicate an investigation.

What Should You Bring to Your Dog Bite Consultation?

A few things help us understand your claim right away. Bring whatever you can gather, even if it feels incomplete.

• Photos of your injuries and, if possible, the dog.
• Medical records and bills from your treatment.
• The owner’s name and address, if you have them.
• Any report filed with animal control or the police.

We will listen to what happened, answer your questions, and explain the path forward in clear terms. If we take your case, we will walk you through how contingency works. The conversation stays confidential, you are under no obligation, and there is no pressure to decide on the spot.

What Are Important California Legal Resources for Dog Bite Cases?

Some people want to understand the rules that apply before moving ahead. The resources below point to the California laws that most often come up, and they serve as general background rather than legal advice. The rule that fits your case can depend on where and how the attack happened, and on who owned or controlled the dog. When more than one party is involved, the analysis grows more layered and is worth reviewing early.

• California generally gives an injured person a two-year window to file an injury lawsuit.
• The state’s duty of care statute sets the baseline for negligence claims.
• California’s measure of damages rule frames what an injured person can recover.

Reach Out to Cohen Injury Law Group to Schedule a Consultation

When you are ready, contact us to speak with a Van Nuys dog bite attorney about what happened. We work on a contingency basis, which means no attorney fees unless we recover for you. We answer promptly and will give your case the attention it deserves, without ever rushing you into a decision you are not ready to make.