When a dog bite leaves you injured and uncertain about your next steps, you need a Phoenix dog bite lawyer who understands the legal process. Triumph Law Group has spent over a decade helping dog bite victims in Phoenix and throughout Arizona recover compensation. Under Arizona’s strict liability law, dog owners are responsible for injuries their pets cause. This applies regardless of whether the dog has bitten anyone before.
Our experienced team knows how to build strong cases. We hold negligent owners accountable and secure fair compensation for your recovery.
Why Choose Triumph Law Group for Your Dog Bite Claim
When you’re dealing with a dog bite injury, you need legal representation. You also need a team that understands the specific challenges of animal bite cases.
Triumph Law Group brings together experienced personal injury attorneys with a track record of success. Our attorneys have recovered millions for injured clients across Arizona. This includes substantial settlements in animal-related injury cases. Here’s what sets us apart:
Our Legal Team
Triumph Curiel, Founding and Managing Partner, has spent 14 years fighting for injured clients across Arizona. He received Super Lawyers Rising Star recognition in 2019, 2020, and 2021. Liz Wylde brings 15 years of experience and earned the Order of the Barristers for excellence in oral advocacy. Gary Kester contributes 22 years of litigation experience, including an extensive background in insurance claims and defense work. Sheldon Black rounds out our team with 8 years of focused personal injury litigation.
Why Clients Choose Us
Our firm maintains a 98% success rate in personal injury cases. We operate on a contingency fee basis. You pay nothing unless we win your case. We’re available 24/7 to answer your questions. We offer bilingual services in English and Spanish. We take cases to trial when insurance companies refuse fair settlements.
Our case results in dog bite matters demonstrate the value of experienced representation. Settlements vary based on the severity of the injury, medical costs, and the long-term impact. When you choose Triumph Law Group, you’re choosing a firm that knows how to maximize your compensation. We hold dog owners accountable.
How Arizona’s Strict Liability Law Protects Dog Bite Victims
Arizona’s dog bite law provides strong protection for victims. Under Arizona Revised Statutes Section 11-1025, dog owners are strictly liable for injuries their dogs cause. This applies to people in public places or lawfully in private places. This means you don’t have to prove the dog owner was negligent. You don’t need to show they knew their dog was dangerous.
Understanding Arizona’s Dog Bite Statute
Strict liability means the dog owner’s intent or knowledge doesn’t matter. Even if the owner claims their dog has never bitten anyone before, they’re still responsible for your injuries. This protection applies whether the attack happened on public property, at a park, or on someone’s private property where you had permission to be. The law recognizes that dog bites are serious injuries. They require immediate compensation, not lengthy investigations into the dog’s history.
What “Strict Liability” Means for Your Case
In most personal injury cases, you’d need to prove the defendant acted carelessly or recklessly. With dog bites, Arizona law removes that burden. The owner’s liability is automatic. Your case focuses on proving the dog caused your injuries. You’ll also calculate fair compensation. You won’t need to prove negligence. This distinction makes a significant difference. Cases can move forward faster. Your legal position becomes stronger.
Exceptions to Strict Liability
Limited exceptions exist to Arizona’s strict liability rule. If you were trespassing on the property where the bite occurred, strict liability may not apply. If you assumed the risk of injury (like a veterinarian during treatment), the law may not apply. Our attorneys evaluate these details to determine the strongest legal strategy for your specific situation.
Common Dog Bite Injuries and Their Impact
Dog bites cause more than surface wounds. The injuries can be severe, long-lasting, and life-altering. Understanding the full scope of these injuries helps explain why compensation matters so much. Many dog bite victims suffer catastrophic injuries that require extensive medical treatment and ongoing care.
Physical Injuries from Dog Bites:
Puncture wounds from dog teeth create deep tissue damage that often requires surgical repair. Lacerations can leave permanent scarring, particularly on the face, hands, and arms. Nerve damage from deep bites can cause chronic pain and loss of sensation. Broken bones occur when larger dogs knock victims down or bite with enough force to fracture limbs. Infections like cellulitis, abscesses, and, in rare cases, rabies exposure, require extended antibiotic treatment or post-exposure prophylaxis.
Long-Term Complications
Dog bites frequently cause serious complications that extend recovery time. Medical costs increase significantly. The psychological impact matters just as much as the physical injuries. Many dog bite victims develop anxiety around dogs. They experience nightmares or struggle with PTSD, especially children. These emotional injuries are real and documented. Arizona law allows you to recover compensation for them. When calculating your claim, we account for both immediate medical costs and long-term impact on your quality of life.
What Compensation Can You Recover
Arizona law allows dog bite victims to recover both economic and non-economic damages. Understanding what you can claim helps you recognize the full value of your case. Similar to premises liability claims, dog bite cases require thorough documentation of all damages.
Economic Damages
Economic damages cover all financial losses directly caused by the bite. These include emergency room visits, surgical procedures, wound care, and infection treatment. Physical therapy costs are recoverable. If the injury forced you to miss work, lost wages are recoverable. If you’ll need future medical treatment, we calculate those costs into your claim.
Non-Economic Damages
Non-economic damages compensate for pain and suffering, emotional distress, scarring or disfigurement, and loss of enjoyment of life. A permanent scar on your face affects your quality of life differently from a scar on your leg. Our attorneys work with medical experts to document these impacts. We present them persuasively to insurance companies or juries.
Triumph Law Group has recovered substantial compensation for injured clients. Our case results in dog bite matters demonstrate the value of experienced representation, with settlements varying based on injury severity, medical costs, and long-term impact.
Steps to Take After a Dog Bite in Phoenix
Your actions immediately after a dog bite significantly impact your case’s strength. Taking the right steps protects both your health and your legal rights. The same principles apply whether you’ve been injured in a dog bite, bicycle accident, or pedestrian accident.
Critical Steps Following a Dog Bite:
- Seek medical attention right away, even if the bite seems minor. Dog bites carry a serious infection risk.
- Medical records create crucial documentation of your injuries.
- Report the incident to Phoenix Animal Control or your local animal control agency. This creates an official record. It helps protect other community members.
- Document everything by taking photos of your injuries, the scene, and the dog if possible.
- Collect contact information from any witnesses who saw the attack.
- Preserve evidence like torn clothing or items the dog damaged.
- Contact Triumph Law Group for legal guidance before speaking with insurance companies or the dog owner.
Taking these steps immediately after your injury protects your health. It preserves critical evidence. It strengthens your legal position. The sooner you reach out to our team, the sooner we can begin building your case. We’ll protect your rights.
Frequently Asked Questions About Dog Bites in Phoenix
How long do I have to file a dog bite claim in Arizona?
Arizona’s statute of limitations gives you one to two years from the date of injury to file a lawsuit. However, don’t wait. Evidence fades. Witnesses’ memories become unclear. Medical records become harder to obtain. Insurance companies move faster when they know you’re serious about pursuing your claim. Contact us immediately after your injury to protect your rights. We’ll preserve critical evidence.
Can I sue the dog owner's insurance company directly?
Most homeowners’ and renters’ insurance policies include liability coverage for dog bites. You can file a claim with the insurance company. Having an attorney handle this process protects your interests. Insurance adjusters work to minimize payouts. Our attorneys negotiate on your behalf. We ensure you receive fair compensation rather than a quick, low settlement offer.
What if the dog owner doesn't have insurance?
You can still pursue a personal injury claim against the dog owner directly. We can pursue a judgment against them. We work to enforce collection through wage garnishment, asset liens, or other legal remedies. Collecting from an uninsured owner can be more challenging. We explore all available options to recover compensation for your injuries.
Do I need to prove the dog was dangerous?
No. Arizona’s strict liability law eliminates this requirement. You don’t need to show that the dog had bitten someone before. You don’t need to show that the owner knew it was aggressive. The dog caused your injury. That’s sufficient under Arizona law. This protection provides significant advantages for victims.
Contact Triumph Law Group for Your Free Dog Bite Consultation
If a dog bite has left you injured and facing medical bills, lost wages, and emotional trauma, you don’t have to handle this alone. Triumph Law Group is ready to fight for your recovery. We offer free consultations with no obligation. We work on a contingency fee basis. You pay nothing unless we win. We’re available 24/7 to answer your questions and explain the legal options you can use.
Call us or contact us at 602-595-5559 today to schedule your free case review. Our bilingual team is ready to help you understand your rights. We’ll pursue the compensation you deserve.
Related Practice Areas
If you’ve been injured in other types of accidents, Triumph Law Group handles a wide range of personal injury cases. We represent clients injured in premises liability incidents, catastrophic injuries, and other negligence-based claims. Our experience extends to bicycle accidents, pedestrian accidents, slip and fall injuries, and other transportation-related injuries. Whatever your injury, our team is prepared to fight for your recovery.
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