Nearest office in Oxnard, CA1000 Town Center Dr, Suite 300Directions

Dog bite in Ventura?Talk to a lawyer for free.

In California, a dog's owner can be held responsible for a bite even if the dog had never bitten anyone before. Talk to us early, and we'll take it from there.

  • No fee unless we winWe only get paid when you get paid.
  • Zero upfront costYour consultation is free, with no obligation.
  • Hablamos españolNative Spanish speakers. No confusion. No delays.
  • Available 24/7We'll meet you at your home or hospital.
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Call our Oxnard office(805) 262-840924/7 line: (800) 985-9565

No attorney's fees unless we recover compensation. Clients may be responsible for case costs. Read the disclaimer

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Great customer service. Highly recommend.
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Results that speak.Millions won for injured clients.

We've won over $500 million in verdicts and settlements for our clients.

Recognized for excellence

Avvo Rating: Excellent, Top Rated Personal InjuryTop Rated by Super Lawyers
  • $6.25MPersonal injuryA confidential personal injury settlement.
  • $5MAuto accidentFor a husband and wife after the husband suffered a brachial plexus injury.
  • $2.34MAccident claimA win for a client injured in an accident.
  • $1.5MAuto accidentA win for a client injured in an auto accident.

Past results do not guarantee future outcomes, and each case is different.

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Here to protect your interests, not the insurance company's

Insurance companies have a team.You should have one too.

After a bite, the claim is usually handled by the dog owner's homeowners or renters insurance company, and insurers bring adjusters, investigators and lawyers to every serious claim. An adjuster may call within days, and what you say can shape the rest of your claim.

Before you sign anything, ask yourself:

  1. Were you somewhere you had a right to be, like a street, a park or a home you were invited into?
  2. Did the bite need medical care, or leave a scar?
  3. Will the settlement cover your treatment and lost income months from now, not just today?

From one of our car accident cases

The insurer's best offer$410,000

What we won for our client$4.4M

A car accident that left our client with a neck injury. Most people would have taken the offer. We won more than ten times as much.

Past results do not guarantee future outcomes, and each case is different.

Get my free case review
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Our nearest office

Dog bite lawyersfor Ventura and the Ojai Valley.

Our office is in Oxnard, about 8 miles south on the 101. We'll come to you.

Start with a phone call, day or night. If the bite keeps you at home or in the hospital, we'll come to you there, anywhere from Ojai to Fillmore.

Other offices nearbyWoodland HillsPalmdaleBakersfield

Why choose Valero Law Group?

We champion every case,big and small.

Whether your case is worth $5,000 or $5 million, we bring the same skill, attention and determination to every client we represent.

So don't let the size of your case keep you from seeking justice: every injury deserves serious representation. Let us fight for the compensation you're owed while you focus on what matters most, your recovery.

They made me feel like a priority, and they put my needs first as a client.

IsabelValero Law Group client

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Real reviews fromour clients.

  • Samuel M. smiling in the Valero Law Group office with his $881,000 settlement check
    Samuel M.$881,000
  • Victoria M. smiling in front of the Valero Law Group logo wall with her $625,000 settlement check
    Victoria M.$625,000
  • Karina C. smiling in the Valero Law Group office with her $625,000 settlement check
    Karina C.$625,000
  • Angela M. smiling and pointing to her $625,000 settlement check
    Angela M.$625,000
  • Destiny H. smiling with her $500,000 settlement check
    Destiny H.$500,000
  • Javier P. smiling in the Valero Law Group office with his $375,000 settlement check
    Javier P.$375,000
Thank you, Valero Law Group, for getting me paid after I got bit by my neighbor's dog!
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Thank you to Kyle for helping me with my slip and fall.
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Glad I was able to find them.
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What you can recover aftera dog bite in California.

In California, a dog's owner can be held responsible for what a bite cost you, from the first doctor's visit to the scars it can leave.

Economic damages

The costs you can add up

  • Emergency care, stitches and hospital bills
  • Follow-up care, including treatment for scars
  • Counseling after the bite
  • Lost wages and lost earning capacity

Non-economic damages

The harm that has no receipt

  • Pain and physical suffering
  • Scarring and disfigurement
  • Anxiety and emotional distress
  • Lost enjoyment of life
  • 1st biteEven a first bite countsIf you were bitten in a public place, or on private property where you had a right to be, including the owner's own home, the law holds the owner responsible even if the dog had never bitten anyone and the owner had no reason to think it would (Civil Code §3342).
  • 24/7Animal Services takes bite reports around the clockIn Ventura, bites are handled by Ventura County Animal Services, not the City. To report one, call (805) 388-4341; officers are on duty 24 hours a day, and after hours you choose option 4.
  • 10 daysHow long a dog that bites can be watchedUnder state rules, a dog that bites a person can be isolated and watched for 10 days after the bite, as the local health officer directs. In Ventura, Animal Services handles quarantines.

After a dog bite in Ventura,what comes next.

Doctors' reports, your records, the details, police dogs, insurance calls and deadlines, explained.

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  • Doctors report bites too
    Besides your own call to Animal Services, any doctor or hospital that treats a bite must report it, on the online form that Animal Services keeps for medical staff. Tell the staff where it happened and whose dog it was, if you know.
  • Your records are yours
    Wherever you were treated, from Ventura County Medical Center to Community Memorial in Ventura or Ojai, you have a right to copies of your medical and billing records, even with a bill unpaid. Keep them together with your receipts.
  • Write down what you can
    Animal Services' bite report asks for the date and place, what led up to the bite, where on the body it was, photos of the wound, the dog's breed, colors, sex and rough age, and the owner's name, address and phone. Gather the same details for yourself while they're fresh.
  • If a police dog bit you
    The law's one written exception covers police and military dogs in limited situations, such as catching a suspect or serving a warrant, and only when the agency has a written policy on using dogs. It never covers a bystander who had no part in the incident, and a claim against a public agency has a shorter deadline.
  • Quick offers are usually final
    The owner's insurance company may call within days, ask to record your account or offer a check. Accepting a settlement usually closes the claim for good, even if a scar or other effects turn out worse than they first seemed.
  • Public agencies have shorter deadlines
    Most injury lawsuits must be filed within two years. If a public agency is responsible, a written claim is usually due within six months. Claims against the City of Ventura are filed in hard copy with the City Clerk at 501 Poli Street; County claims go to the Clerk of the Board.
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Al Barro Foundation: supporting over 400 orphans in Mexico

From the community, for the community.

Hablamos español.

We're a Hispanic-focused firm with native Spanish-speaking attorneys. We understand your family's needs, walk you through every step in your language, and fight to get you every dollar you deserve.

Organizations we support

Sponsor of the 2024 Share the Road Scholarship

Our community outreach
  • Al Barro Foundation
  • EUNIME por Tijuana, A.C.
…they speak excellent Spanish, know how to help, and look out for their clients' best interests.
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Organizations we support

Sponsor of the 2024 Share the Road Scholarship

Our community outreach
  • Al Barro Foundation
  • EUNIME por Tijuana, A.C.

Common questionsafter a Ventura dog bite.

Who is responsible for a dog bite in California?
The dog's owner. California law makes the owner responsible when the dog bites someone in a public place, or someone lawfully on private property, including the owner's own. It doesn't matter whether the dog had bitten before or whether the owner knew it could be dangerous (Civil Code §3342).
Does it matter where I was bitten?
Yes. The law covers bites in a public place, such as a street or a park, and on private property where you had a right to be. That includes anyone invited in, by word or by implication, and people there to do a legal duty, such as a mail carrier.
The dog belongs to a friend or neighbor. Who would pay?
Usually an insurance company. Homeowners and renters policies typically cover dog bite liability, up to their limits, so the claim is usually handled by the owner's insurer. Talk to us before you sign anything it sends you.
How long do I have to file a dog bite claim?
Most injury lawsuits must be filed within two years (Code of Civil Procedure §335.1). If a public agency is responsible, for example for a police dog, a written claim is usually due within six months. Call us early so no deadline slips by.
Should I give the owner's insurance company a recorded statement?
You aren't required to give one, and what you say can be used to value your claim. Talk to us first; we can handle the insurer's calls for you.
How much is my dog bite case worth?
It depends on your injuries, your medical bills, any scarring, lost income and the long-term effect on your life. The first offer is often low, so a free case review is the best way to know before you accept anything.
Do you have an office in Ventura?
No. Our nearest office is in Oxnard, at 1000 Town Center Dr, about 8 miles south of downtown Ventura on the 101. You don't have to come in: call us 24/7 at (800) 985-9565 and we'll meet you at your home or in the hospital, anywhere from Ojai to Fillmore.
What does a dog bite lawyer cost?
Nothing upfront. Your consultation is free, and no attorney's fees are owed unless we recover compensation for you. You may be responsible for case-related costs and expenses; we'll explain them before you sign.
Attorney Kyle Valero
Kyle ValeroAttorney, Valero Law Group

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  1. Free consultationCall us 24/7 or fill out our form. We'll review your case at no cost.
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Have a question about a potential case?Talk to a Ventura dog bite lawyer today.

Your consultation is always free, with no obligation. We're happy to answer any questions and walk you through your options. No pressure, just honest answers.

(805) 262-8409

24/7 line: (800) 985-9565

  • Available 24/7, including weekends
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