Oxnard, CA Dog Bites Lawyer

There are few things that get the heart racing faster than coming face to face with an aggressive dog. And if the dog attacks, the victim may be left with long-term injuries, including permanent scarring and disfigurement. At the law offices of Fisher & Talwar, our Oxnard, CA dog bites lawyer can represent you if you have been bitten or attacked by a dog in Oxnard or the surrounding areas. Our lawyers will advocate for your right to compensation for the harm that you’ve suffered, and will competently guide you through the process of bringing forth a claim for damages.

Injuries and Damages From A Dog Bite

If a dog attacks and bites a person, the injuries that the attacked individual might suffer could be severe. Potential injuries include:

Blood loss;
Scarring;
Disfigurement;
Bone fractures;
Infection;
Facial injuries; and
Head injuries.

In addition to the above, it is not unusual for a person who is attacked by a dog to develop a fear of dogs, which they may carry with them for life. Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is also common.

If a person is attacked, they will need medical care, which may result in high medical bills–sometimes, medical bills will extend for years, especially if mental health therapy is necessary. In addition to medical bills, a dog bite may also result in lost wages if the affected person is unable to return to work immediately, and loss of earning capacity in some cases. A dog bite can also result in a high degree of pain, suffering, and emotional distress–all of which should be compensated.

Steps To Take After A Dog Bite

If you’re attacked by a dog, one of the first things that you should do is to seek medical care, even if the bite is minor–if the skin has been broken, there is a risk of infection and seeing a medical professional is strongly advised.

You should also report the dog bite as soon as possible, too. You may do this by calling the police or calling the local animal control agency in your area. If you live in Oxnard, you should call Ventura County Animal Services.

Next, you should collect as much evidence as possible, including the name and contact information of the dog’s owner, the names of any eyewitnesses, photos of your injuries, and any details of how the bite occurred, such as what you were doing at the time of the dog attack, the location of the attack, the time of the attack, factors that led to the bite, etc.

Who’s Liable For Damages?

Under California Civil Code Section 3342, the owner of a dog is liable for any damages caused by that dog if a person is bitten and if that bite occurred while the victim was lawfully in a public or private place, including the property of the owner of the dog. The owner of the dog can be held strictly liable for damages, which means that the victim doesn’t need to prove negligence, nor does there need to be any proof of the dog’s previous viciousness, in order for the victim to receive compensation for their harm.

Note that the statute only applies to dog bites; if a person is otherwise injured by a dog, such as knocked down by a dog and harmed as a result of the fall, the strict liability statute will not apply. The statute also only applies if a person is lawfully in a public or private place at the time of the attack, which means that if you were bitten by a dog while you were trespassing, you cannot hold the dog owner strictly liable for your harm.

If pursuing a claim under the theory of strict liability doesn’t make sense for you, you may bring forth a negligence-based claim. In a negligence-based claim, the dog bite victim alleges that their injuries would not have occurred but for the negligence of the dog’s owner, such as the owner’s failure to keep the dog on a leash, or to muzzle the dog if the dog owner knew that the dog had a history of aggression.

Call Our Oxnard, CA Dog Bite Lawyers Today

At the offices of Fisher & Talwar, our Oxnard, CA dog bite lawyers can help you to recover the damages award that you deserve if you’ve been bitten by a dog. To learn more about our legal services and how we can assist you, please call our law firm directly today or send us a message online at your convenience.

Other Oxnard Practice Areas