- Sometimes, hiring a good lawyer is just as important as hiring a good doctor...
Dog bites are more common than most people realize. Millions of people are bitten every year in the United States, and a significant number of those bites require medical attention. Some result in serious injuries that require surgery and have long-lasting effects.
Most people who get bitten by a dog don’t know what their rights are. They assume it was bad luck and move on. But in many cases, they’re leaving compensation on the table that they’re legally entitled to.
Here’s what you need to know.
Get Medical Attention First
Dog bites carry a high risk of infection. The bacteria in a dog’s mouth can cause serious complications if the wound isn’t treated properly and promptly. Even a bite that looks minor on the surface can involve deeper tissue damage that isn’t immediately visible.
Report the Bite
Reporting a dog bite to local animal control or law enforcement creates an official record of the incident. This serves two purposes: (1) It triggers an investigation into the dog’s vaccination status and bite history. (2) It creates documentation that supports your claim if you pursue compensation.
Many jurisdictions require dog bites to be reported by law, particularly bites that break the skin. Even where reporting isn’t mandatory, doing so protects both you and the next person the dog might bite. Animal control investigates the circumstances, determines whether the dog poses an ongoing threat, and places the dog under a quarantine period to monitor for rabies if the vaccination status is unknown/expired.
Get Familiar With the Laws
Dog bite liability varies significantly by state, and the legal framework that applies to your situation determines how straightforward your path to compensation will be.
Strict liability states hold dog owners responsible for bite injuries regardless of whether the owner knew the dog was dangerous or had any reason to expect it would bite. In these states, the fact that the dog bit you is enough to establish the owner’s liability. You don’t need to prove that the owner was negligent or that the dog had a history of aggression. The bite itself creates liability.
One-bite rule states take a different approach. In these jurisdictions, the owner is liable only if they knew or should have known that the dog had a propensity to bite. If the dog had previously bitten someone or shown aggressive behavior that the owner was aware of, that knowledge establishes liability for subsequent bites.
What Compensation Looks Like
- Dog bite injuries produce the same categories of damages as other personal injury claims, but some categories are more prominent than in typical accident cases.
- Medical expenses cover the immediate treatment and any follow-up care. Emergency room visits, wound care, antibiotics, surgical repair, physical therapy for bites that affect hand or joint function, and rabies treatment if necessary.
- Lost wages cover the income you missed during treatment and recovery. If the bite affected your hands, arms, or face in a way that prevents you from performing your job, the lost income can extend well beyond the initial healing period.
- Scarring and disfigurement carry their own damage value in dog bite cases. Bites to the face, neck, and hands leave visible scars that affect appearance and can impact self-confidence and social interaction.
- Pain and suffering accounts for the physical pain of the bite and the treatment, as well as the emotional distress that often follows a dog attack. Fear of dogs, anxiety in public spaces where dogs may be present, nightmares, and PTSD symptoms are common after a serious bite, particularly in children.
What to Do if the Owner Pushes Back
Not every dog owner cooperates after a bite. Some deny it happened. Others claim the victim provoked the dog and/or refuse to provide their information or their insurance details. (You’ll even find that some offer to pay your medical bills directly in exchange for not filing a claim, which is almost always a bad deal for you.)
Provocation is the most common defense dog owners raise. If you were tormenting the dog, trespassing on the owner’s property, or engaging in behavior that a reasonable person would expect to provoke an aggressive response, the owner may have a valid defense. But simply being near the dog does not constitute provocation.
When the owner is uncooperative or disputes what happened, having an attorney handle the claim becomes more important. An attorney investigates the incident and pursues the claim through proper legal channels.
Don’t Wait Too Long
Every state has a statute of limitations for personal injury claims, including dog bite cases. The window ranges from one to six years, depending on the state, with two to three years being the most common. Missing the deadline eliminates your right to pursue compensation regardless of how strong your case is.
If you’ve been bitten by a dog and the injury required medical treatment, consulting a personal injury attorney is worth doing as soon as possible. Most offer free consultations and handle dog bite cases on contingency. The conversation costs you nothing and gives you a clear picture of whether you have a claim, what it might be worth, and what steps to take next. Don’t put this off any longer than necessary.