UCLA Law Trained Attorneys in Woodland Hills
California Civil Code Section 3342 imposes strict liability on dog owners. That means if a dog bites you while you are lawfully in a public place or lawfully on private property, the owner is liable. Period. There is no "one free bite" rule in California. The owner does not get a pass because the dog was supposedly friendly before.
Dog bite cases in Woodland Hills often involve residential neighborhoods where dogs are off-leash in front yards or escape through gates. Children are frequent victims. Arya handles these cases by identifying the owner's homeowner's insurance policy, which typically covers dog bite liability, and building the claim to include the full scope of medical treatment, scarring, emotional trauma, and future care. Woodland Hills cases file at Van Nuys Courthouse West.
Born and Raised in Woodland Hills
I didn't just relocate here to open a law office. I grew up here. El Camino Real High School, UCLA Law School. I still live in Woodland Hills today, spending weekends biking and hiking in the Las Virgenes Canyons near Valley Circle and Victory, playing in a basketball league at Crunch Fitness off Shoup and Sherman Way. On a good night you'll find me at Local Peasant on Ventura. When I say I know this neighborhood, it's not a marketing line. It's literally where I grew up, and where I still live.
What Shapes an Injury Case Here
Every case starts with the same questions: which roads were involved, which hospital treated you, which court will hear it, and what deadlines apply. Here is what we already know about Woodland Hills cases before you even call.
Paramedics route to Northridge Hospital (Level II Trauma) or Providence Holy Cross in Mission Hills. West Hills Hospital is nearby but not a trauma center. Critical cases go to UCLA Ronald Reagan (Level I).
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.
Most Firms Will Take Your Case.
Few Will Actually Fight For It.
From the moment a claim is filed, the other side is building a case against yours. Adjusters document inconsistencies, make early offers designed to be accepted, and count on injured people to take less than they deserve. Most personal injury firms respond by loading up their docket: you get assigned to a paralegal, your calls go unanswered, and your case settles fast because the firm needs to move on.
We built L&F Brown differently.
- You talk to a founding partner. Not intake staff, not a junior associate. A UCLA Law-trained senior attorney who handles your case personally from first call to resolution.
- We limit our caseload on purpose. More cases means less attention. We take fewer so every client gets the time and resources their case actually requires.
- We don't settle until the number is right. Insurance companies know which firms fold early. We're not one of them, and they know it.
Evidence fades. Deadlines are real. The sooner you have an attorney building your case, the better your position. This is our personal commitment to every client we take on.
What Makes Your Injury Case Different
Westfield Topanga and The Village are two of the highest-traffic retail complexes in the West Valley. If you were hurt at either one, you are not dealing with a mom-and-pop landlord. These are corporate properties with professional claims teams who contest everything. Getting the property's prior incident history before it gets buried is part of how we build these cases.
Warner Center is full of offices and commercial buildings, which is actually good news if you were hurt there. These businesses carry real insurance, not the state minimum. That means there is more money available to cover your injuries than you would see in a typical residential case.
Crashes on Topanga Canyon Blvd are a different animal. When road design or poor maintenance contributes to a collision, Caltrans or LA County can be named as defendants. But government claims come with strict notice deadlines. Miss them and your case is dead, even if the road was clearly at fault.
Everything from this area files at Chatsworth Courthouse. We have tried cases there. We know the judges and we know what West Valley juries expect.
Where the Crashes Happen
The 101 through Woodland Hills is relentless during rush hour. The Topanga Canyon interchange forces drivers to merge at freeway speed into backed-up traffic, and the result is a steady stream of rear-end collisions. These are not low-speed bumps. We regularly see herniated discs, concussions, and soft tissue injuries that do not show up on imaging for weeks.
Topanga Canyon Boulevard has blind curves, steep grades, and narrow shoulders. Ventura Boulevard has the pedestrian density and distracted driving. De Soto and Valley Circle get the school zone and residential crashes. Each street has a different pattern and a different set of defendants.
We have represented people hit by rideshare drivers pulling illegal U-turns near Westfield Topanga, cyclists struck on Topanga Canyon, families in school zone collisions near El Camino Real, and pedestrians crossing at uncontrolled intersections on Ventura. The common thread is that these cases all required someone who could start working the same day.
Cases We Handle
Dog bite cases in Woodland Hills involve attacks in residential neighborhoods, at parks, on sidewalks, and at commercial properties where dogs are present. The severity ranges from puncture wounds to disfiguring injuries, especially with children.
Direct Dog Bites
Puncture wounds, lacerations, and crush injuries — often requiring emergency care, surgery, and plastic surgery for scarring.
Knockdown Injuries
Dogs that jump on or knock down victims — fractures, TBI, and hip injuries are common, particularly in elderly victims.
Child Dog Bite Injuries
Children suffer disproportionately severe injuries from dog bites — facial scarring, PTSD, and lasting emotional harm are common.
Multiple-Attack Cases
When an owner's dog has a known history of aggression, prior incidents are powerful evidence of negligent restraint.
Service Worker Attacks
Mail carriers, delivery drivers, and service workers on legitimate business — lawfully on the property and protected by strict liability.
Off-Leash Park Attacks
Injuries at dog parks and public spaces — owner negligence and municipal duty of care issues.
Compensation Available in Your Case
Dog bite injuries go beyond the initial wound. Reconstructive surgery, infection treatment, psychological trauma, and scarring are all compensable under California law. Here is the full picture.
Medical Expenses
Emergency treatment at West Hills Hospital, wound care, antibiotics, plastic surgery for scarring, and counseling for emotional trauma after a dog attack.
Lost Wages
Time away from work while recovering from bite injuries, especially if the wounds required surgery or became infected.
Pain & Suffering
The pain of the bite itself, the fear during the attack, and lasting anxiety around dogs. Many victims develop real phobias after a serious bite.
Scarring & Disfigurement
Visible bite scars, especially on the face, hands, or arms, carry significant non-economic damages. Plastic surgery can reduce but rarely eliminates scarring.
Future Medical Costs
Reconstructive procedures, additional plastic surgery, physical therapy for nerve damage, and ongoing psychological treatment for PTSD and anxiety.
Punitive Damages
When a dog owner knew their dog was dangerous and failed to leash or restrain it, punitive damages are available to punish that reckless disregard.
What 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
Call 911 and report the attack to LA Animal Services. They'll create an official bite report and can quarantine the dog.
Seek emergency medical care
Go to West Hills Hospital or the nearest ER immediately. Dog bites carry serious infection risk and need prompt cleaning, antibiotics, and wound assessment.
Photograph injuries immediately
Take time-stamped photos of every bite wound, scratch, and bruise before the wounds are cleaned or bandaged. Photograph torn clothing too.
Identify the dog and owner
Get the owner's name, address, and phone number. Ask for the dog's vaccination records. If neighbors witnessed the attack, they may know the owner.
Contact L&F Brown
Arya Firoozmand handles dog bite cases throughout Woodland Hills and the West San Fernando Valley. Homeowners' insurance typically covers these claims, and we identify all available coverage.
Recent Results, Personal Injury
Past outcomes don't guarantee future results, but they show what's possible when evidence is preserved and all defendants are pursued.
Auto versus government entity settlement.
Slip and fall at major retailer.
Slip and fall at major retailer.
Complex auto vs auto case.
Not only was Arya easy to communicate with, incredibly intelligent with how he planned to achieve the goals, but he was also very warm and caring. I really enjoyed working with Arya. Warm, ethical, and intelligent is a great combo!
I cannot recommend L&F Brown highly enough. From the start of my case they were professional, talked me through the process and genuinely cared about my situation and concerns. My case went far longer than any of us expected, and I was ready to just accept the first settlement, but Arya and Curt fought to get me what I was entitled to. All in all, they went above and beyond at every step and I felt supported throughout my experience with them.
My husband was involved in a car accident back in February, and now that everything has been resolved, I just wanted to say how grateful we are for this amazing team. Everyone was incredibly kind, organized, and easy to communicate with. They always kept us updated, answered every question we had, and made sure we understood what was happening every step of the way. Having someone we could trust took so much stress off our shoulders during an already difficult time.
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