Dog Bite Lawyer
Being attacked by a dog can leave you with both physical and emotional scars. You shouldn’t have to deal with the financial fallout, too. If you were bitten by an aggressive dog in the Phoenix area, you might be entitled to compensation for your medical bills and other losses. A Phoenix dog bite lawyer can help you understand your options and pursue the money you need during this difficult time.
At Silkman Law Firm Injury & Accident Lawyer, we understand the long-term effects of dog bite injuries. Our law firm is exclusively focused on helping people who have been injured in attacks and accidents that could have been prevented. We have helped many dog bite victims just like you recover the full financial compensation needed to move forward with their lives after a traumatic attack.
Reach out to us today for a free initial case review with an experienced Phoenix dog bite injury lawyer. Our firm does not charge any fees upfront to start work on your claim. In fact, you only pay us if we recover money for you.
Who Is Responsible for a Dog Bite Injury in Phoenix, AZ?
Arizona law places liability for injuries and losses stemming from a dog bite on the dog’s owner. However, this can understandably make pursuing a dog bite claim difficult or awkward if you were bitten by a dog owned by a neighbor, friend, or family member. Most people may not wish to jeopardize a personal relationship with a legal claim. But you should know that compensation in dog bite injury cases is not usually paid by the dog’s owner, but rather by their homeowner’s or renter’s insurance policy.
To learn more about how a dog bite injury claim works, contact us today for a free case review.
How Much Is Your Dog Bite Injury Case Worth?
If you’ve suffered a dog bite, you may be entitled to compensation for the expenses and losses you have incurred due to your injuries, including for:
- Costs of medical care, such as ER treatment, surgeries and other medical procedures, medications, or physical/occupational therapy
- Lost wages or income if you miss work while recovering from a dog bite injury
- Loss of earning capacity if the injury causes permanent disability that affects your ability to work
- Physical pain and emotional trauma and distress
- Loss of quality of life due to physical disability or scarring/disfigurement caused by the dog attack
Legally Reviewed By:
Alex Silkman
Alex Silkman is the founder and managing member of Silkman Law Firm Injury & Accident Lawyer. He focuses exclusively on personal injury and wrongful death cases, with the goal of getting truly just results for accident victims and their families...
How Long Do You Have to File a Phoenix Dog Bite Claim?
Under Arizona’s statute of limitations, you typically have two years from the date of a dog bite or attack to file a lawsuit against the dog’s owner and their insurer. If you file suit after this two-year limitations period has passed, the court can dismiss your case as untimely.
Because of the strict time frame established by the statute of limitations, it’s important that you begin work on your claim as soon as possible. A lot of work goes into preparing a personal injury claim, so the sooner you speak to an attorney, the better.
After you have suffered a dog bite or attack, you should try to take the following steps to protect your ability to recover the financial resources you need:
- If necessary, locate the dog’s owner and notify them of your injuries.
- Take photos or video of any relevant details of the incident, such as where the attack occurred or whether the dog that bit you escaped from the owner’s property.
- Seek medical attention as soon as possible to diagnose the extent of your injury and to begin treatment.
- Keep copies of your medical bills and invoices, as well as records of other expenses you incur because of your injuries.
- Save your pay stubs or income statements if you miss time from work because of the injury.
- Consider keeping a journal to record how your injuries and recovery impact your quality of life.
- Speak to a Phoenix dog bite injury lawyer as soon as possible to discuss your options for pursuing the compensation you need to heal.
A dog bite injury can lead to various health complications beyond the initial puncture wounds or lacerations. Victims may suffer:
- Infections from bacteria that commonly live in dogs’ mouths, including staphylococcus, Pasteurella, and capnocytophaga
- Rabies infection, a disease that may be life-threatening if left untreated for too long
- Broken bones and nerve and muscle damage, which can lead to permanent loss of strength, decreased range of motion, or disability
- Permanent scarring, which may require skin grafts or plastic surgery
It is crucial to understand the full extent of your injury and its effects before you agree to any dog bite settlement offer. A trusted personal injury attorney from our firm can help you document your damages in full and account for future anticipated losses. This thorough assessment will ensure you are demanding the maximum compensation you deserve.
Arizona law states that the owner of a dog that bites a person in a public place or a person lawfully in a private place can be held liable for that person’s losses. This is the case regardless of whether the owner knew or should have known of the dog’s aggressiveness, viciousness, or propensity to bite.
Arizona has also adopted the following provisions to help prevent the risk of dog bites and attacks:
- No female dog in heat nor any other vicious dog is permitted at large.
- Any dog brought to a public park or public school property must be restrained by a leash or enclosed in a car or cage, except when being exhibited as part of an organized event.
- Any unvaccinated dog that bites a person must be quarantined at the county pound for no less than 10 days following the date of the bite. Vaccinated dogs may be quarantined in the owner’s home.
- Any dog bites or attacks must be reported to the county animal enforcement agency.
- Owners of dogs that have been deemed “aggressive” (that is, dogs that have previously bitten or attacked without provocation) must take reasonable steps to prevent the dog from escaping a residence, including any enclosed area or structure of the residence, and to control the dog while off the owner’s property.
- A dog may ultimately be deemed “vicious” by a justice of the peace or city magistrate, who can subsequently order the dog destroyed.
In Phoenix, dog owners are required to pay a license fee for each dog over the age of three months that they own. Spayed and neutered dogs require a $16 license fee, while unaltered dogs require a $40 license fee. Failing to obtain a dog license can be charged as a Class 2 misdemeanor. The city code also imposes other requirements on the ownership and handling of dogs, including:
- No dog may be permitted at large unless working or being exhibited. Dogs must always be confined within a structure or enclosure on the owner’s property or otherwise on a leash, no longer than six feet, that is kept within the owner’s or a custodian’s control. Dogs may be permitted at large in public parks expressly designated by the city as dog parks.
- Any dog that bites a person must be quarantined at a county pound or veterinary hospital for no less than seven days, except if licensed and vaccinated. Licensed and vaccinated dogs may be confined in the owner’s home or property. The quarantine period may be extended if a criminal complaint is issued in connection with the biting incident.
- If a court determines a dog to be vicious, it can order the owner to display a prominent warning sign on the owner’s property, obtain liability insurance, keep the animal confined indoors or in a pen or kennel except when leashed and muzzled, or spayed/neutered. In extreme cases, it may order the dog to be defanged and/or declawed or destroyed.
