Walking or cycling
A dog may attack on a street, sidewalk, trail, or in a park while you are walking, jogging, walking your own dog, or riding a bicycle. Injuries can include bites or a fall while trying to get away.
DOG BITES AND DOG ATTACKS
Thousand Oaks Dog Bite Lawyer
A dog attack can leave you dealing with treatment, missed work, and unanswered insurance questions. Savostyanov Law Corporation offers a free consultation with attorney Alexey Savostyanov for dog bite injuries in Thousand Oaks, Westlake Village, and throughout California.
Free consultation. Fees and case costs for representation are explained in a written agreement.
Meet attorney Alexey Savostyanov, California State Bar No. 363457. Russian-language consultation.
Dog attacks can happen during everyday activities or on the job
You may have been bitten on a neighborhood walk, knocked off a bicycle, or attacked while making a delivery or working at a customer’s home. Tell Alexey how the attack happened and how you were injured.
Children and family visits
A child may be bitten while playing outdoors or visiting a friend, neighbor, or relative. An attack can also happen while a parent is walking with children or spending time with family.
Package and food deliveries
Amazon drivers, mail carriers, and delivery workers for services such as Uber Eats or DoorDash may encounter a dog at a gate, driveway, porch, or doorway while delivering a package or meal.
Contractors and service calls
Plumbers, HVAC technicians, electricians, landscapers, and other workers may be attacked while entering a customer’s property or performing a scheduled service call.
Whether the attack happened during a personal activity or while you were working, the consultation starts with the facts: where you were, why you were there, who owned or controlled the dog, and the injuries you sustained.
California dog bite law: what must be established?
Civil Code § 3342 generally holds a dog’s owner responsible for injuries caused by a bite occurring in a public place or while the injured person is lawfully on private property. A prior bite or the owner’s knowledge of dangerous behavior is not required for this statutory claim. Ownership, the bite, lawful presence, injury, and causation still need to be established. Defenses and exceptions may apply; this is not a guarantee of recovery.
An injury caused by being knocked down or chased without a bite requires a different analysis. A keeper, landlord, or other person is not automatically liable under the owner’s dog bite statute. Negligence, control, prior knowledge, and the particular circumstances may matter. See California jury instructions 462–463.
What to preserve after a dog attack
The dog and its owner
Keep the owner’s contact information, photographs identifying the dog, the location, witness contacts, and any animal-control report number. Preserve communications about the incident and any known earlier attacks.
The injury and treatment
Seek appropriate medical care. Keep treatment records, bills, photographs documenting the wounds and healing, and evidence of missed work. Do not discard damaged clothing or other relevant items.
Insurance and other evidence
Homeowners, renters, or other liability insurance may be relevant, depending on the policy and circumstances. Save insurance communications and identify nearby cameras before footage is overwritten.
A local consultation about your claim
The firm is based in Westlake Village near Thousand Oaks. Tell the attorney where the attack occurred, who owned or handled the dog, and what treatment you have received. The consultation can address potential responsibility, available insurance, the evidence needed, and the applicable deadline. You can discuss your matter in English or Russian.
Dog bite questions
Does the dog need a history of biting?
A prior bite is not required for an owner’s statutory liability under Civil Code § 3342. Other claims and potential defendants require a separate analysis.
Can I bring a claim if I fell but was not bitten?
Possibly. The dog bite statute specifically concerns bites; a fall or other non-bite injury may support a negligence or other claim depending on the evidence.
How are attorney fees handled?
The consultation is free. Personal injury representation uses a written contingency fee agreement that separately explains fees and case costs.
Ask about deadlines promptly
California’s general deadline for an injury or wrongful-death lawsuit is two years under Code of Civil Procedure § 335.1. Different rules and exceptions can apply, including to medical negligence and claims involving children. Claims against public entities generally require an earlier claim presentation, often within six months under Government Code § 911.2. Do not assume that negotiations with an insurer extend a deadline. A consultation should address the particular dates and defendants in your case.
Related personal injury resources
Car accident claims · Dog bite injuries · Slip and fall claims · Wrongful death · Motorcycle crashes
Free Case Review
Talk directly with a California injury attorney.
Tell us what happened and how you were injured. For immediate contact, call (818) 213-8798 or email attorney@savostyanovlaw.com.
Submitting information does not create an attorney-client relationship. Do not send confidential or time-sensitive information until the firm confirms representation.