Dog Bite Near LA Valley College in Valley Glen: Your Rights

Arya Firoozmand, Esq.

Local Valley Glen Injury Attorney · UCLA Law

Arya Firoozmand is the founding partner at L&F Brown. He grew up in Woodland Hills, graduated from El Camino Real High School and UCLA Law School, and has built his practice representing injured clients from communities across the San Fernando Valley.

The area around Los Angeles Valley College on Fulton Ave in Valley Glen sees heavy foot traffic every day. Students walk to and from campus, cut through residential neighborhoods to reach parking, and wait at bus stops on Fulton Ave and Oxnard St. With that volume of pedestrian activity, encounters with dogs are common, whether it is a dog running loose from a yard, an off-leash dog on a sidewalk, or a dog that lunges while its owner walks past. If you were bitten by a dog near LA Valley College, you have clear legal rights under California law.

The Streets Around LA Valley College

The residential neighborhoods surrounding LA Valley College have a dense mix of single-family homes and apartment buildings, many of which have dogs. The streets between Fulton Ave, Oxnard St, Victory Blvd, and Coldwater Canyon Ave are where students park, walk, jog, and cycle. Dogs in yards, on porches, and being walked on leashes are a constant presence.

Dog bites in this area commonly occur when:

A dog escapes from a yard. Gates left open, fences with gaps, and dogs that can jump over low walls all lead to situations where an unleashed dog encounters a student or pedestrian on the sidewalk. On residential streets near the college, these escapes happen regularly.

An off-leash dog approaches a pedestrian. Despite Los Angeles leash laws requiring dogs to be leashed in public, many owners walk their dogs off-leash or allow them to roam. A dog that approaches an unfamiliar person and becomes aggressive can bite before either the victim or the owner has time to react.

A leashed dog lunges. Even leashed dogs can bite if the owner is not maintaining adequate control. Retractable leashes that extend too far, owners who are distracted by their phones, and dogs that are reactive to strangers all create bite risks on sidewalks and walking paths near the college.

Your Legal Rights Under California Law

California Civil Code Section 3342 imposes strict liability on dog owners for bites. This means the owner is automatically liable if their dog bit you, as long as you were in a public place or lawfully on private property. You do not have to prove the owner was negligent, and you do not have to prove the dog has bitten anyone before.

If you were walking on a public sidewalk near LA Valley College, waiting at a bus stop on Fulton Ave, or walking through a public area when the dog bit you, strict liability applies. The owner is responsible.

If you were visiting someone's home in the neighborhood and their dog bit you, strict liability also applies because you were lawfully on the property as an invited guest.

What to Do Immediately After the Bite

Get medical treatment. Dog bites require prompt medical attention. Go to Valley Presbyterian Hospital on Vanowen Street if the bite is serious. For less severe bites, an urgent care center can clean the wound, administer antibiotics, and provide a tetanus shot if needed. Infection is a real risk with dog bites, and delaying treatment can lead to serious complications.

Report the bite to LA Animal Services. Filing a report creates an official record, triggers a mandatory quarantine of the dog, and documents the owner. Call or file online. This report is important evidence in your legal claim.

Identify the dog and owner. Get the owner's name, address, phone number, and any information about the dog (breed, color, name). If you cannot identify the owner at the scene, note the exact location and ask nearby residents or businesses if they recognize the animal.

Photograph everything. Take photos of the bite wounds, any torn clothing, the location where it happened, and the dog if possible. Continue photographing your injuries as they heal, particularly any developing scars.

Get witness information. If other students, pedestrians, or residents saw the attack, get their names and contact numbers. Witnesses can testify about what happened and may also have knowledge of the dog's prior behavior.

What If the Dog Was a Stray or the Owner Cannot Be Identified?

If you were bitten by a stray dog or a dog whose owner you cannot identify, your options are more limited but not eliminated. LA Animal Services can investigate and attempt to locate the owner through the dog's microchip, collar tags, or neighborhood canvassing. If the owner is found, you can pursue a claim against them.

If the owner cannot be found, you may need to use your own health insurance for medical expenses. However, if the bite occurred on someone's property because the property owner failed to prevent stray animals from accessing the premises, a premises liability claim against the property owner may be viable.

Compensation Available to Dog Bite Victims

Under California law, you can recover compensation for:

Medical expenses: Emergency treatment, wound care, antibiotics, stitches, reconstructive surgery, and future medical needs including scar revision.

Scarring and disfigurement: Permanent scars from dog bites have independent compensable value, with facial and hand scars valued highest.

Pain and suffering: Physical pain, emotional distress, PTSD, fear of dogs, and the impact on your daily activities and mental health.

Lost wages: Time missed from work or school-related employment during recovery.

Dog bite cases near LA Valley College involving serious injuries have resulted in settlements ranging from $45,000 for moderate bites to well over $200,000 for attacks involving surgery or permanent scarring. Any lawsuit would be filed at the Van Nuys Courthouse West.

Get Legal Help With Your Dog Bite Claim

If you were bitten by a dog near LA Valley College, California's strict liability law puts the law on your side. A Valley Glen dog bite lawyer at L&F Brown can handle every aspect of your claim, from filing the Animal Services report to negotiating with the owner's insurance company to pursuing litigation if necessary.

We offer free consultations and work on contingency. You pay nothing unless we recover compensation for you. Visit our Valley Glen personal injury page to learn more.