Dog bites in Phoenix can cause severe injuries, drain your finances, and leave lifelong physical and emotional scars. If someone else’s dog bit you, Triumph Law Group’s Phoenix dog bite lawyers can fight on your behalf for fair compensation. Lead attorney Triumph Curiel has over 10 years of legal experience, and our team has decades of combined legal experience. Triumph Law Group knows Arizona dog bite laws inside and out. We’ll handle the legal details while you concentrate on healing. You don’t owe any fees unless you recover compensation, so call 602-595-5559 now or complete our contact form for a free consultation. For accurate directions, our Phoenix location can be seen below.
Why You Need a Phoenix Dog Bite Attorney
If a dog bit you in Arizona, hiring a Phoenix personal injury lawyer can significantly affect your case and potential compensation. Seeking legal counsel is crucial to handle the complexities of dog bite cases. An dog bite attorney in Phoenix can help you understand your rights and the steps needed to pursue your claim. An insurance company may discount your injuries or pressure you into accepting a settlement that doesn’t cover all your losses. Without help from an experienced attorney, you might not recover fair compensation, making it harder to pay your bills and rebuild your life.
A dog bite lawyer in Phoenix can handle the legal work in your case to simplify your life and give you a better chance of recovering the money you need. We can help you obtain compensation by effectively gathering evidence, negotiating with insurers, and representing your interests. We are skilled in managing the legal process and maximizing client outcomes, ensuring each phase from evidence collection to settlement is handled professionally. Your attorney can gather evidence of your injuries, show you didn’t provoke the dog and had a right to be on the property.
We can also push back against the insurance companies that try to deny your claim. If necessary, a dog bite attorney can also take your case to trial and represent you in any hearings. Without a lawyer’s help, you must handle all these steps yourself and are less likely to win your case, highlighting the value of working with an experienced lawyer.
Phoenix Dog Bite Laws
Under Arizona law, a dog’s owner is liable for any bite injuries their dog causes. This rule is established under the Arizona Revised Statute, which sets forth a strict liability law for dog bites. This means the dog owner is strictly liable for injuries caused by their dog, regardless of whether the bite occurs on public property or private property, as long as the victim was lawfully present. Furthermore, the dog’s owner is liable even if the dog has not bitten anyone previously or the owner didn’t know the dog was prone to aggressive or vicious behavior.
Unlike the “one bite rule” used in some other states, Arizona’s strict liability law does not require proof of prior bites or knowledge of aggression—dog owners are strictly liable under Arizona law. That means dog bite victims don’t need to prove the dog’s owner was negligent or that their actions caused the bite.
Common Legal Defenses
Dog owners have few legal defenses against a dog bite case, but one option is to argue that the victim was trespassing. This defense often comes up in cases involving dogs that bite postal workers or others visiting the owner’s property. However, another Arizona law blocks this defense if the victim is a public employee and their duties require them to enter the property. The same law also says private employees invited onto the owner’s property (such as a contractor hired to repair the grounds) can also hold the property owner liable for dog bite injuries that occur on private property, provided the victim is lawfully present. Additionally, there are exceptions for military dogs or police dogs performing official duties, where liability may not apply.
The other defense dog owners have against dog bite injury claims is arguing that the victim provoked the dog. State law provides that the test for this defense is whether a reasonable person would believe that the victim’s actions caused the dog to attack them. It’s also important to note that Arizona has a one year statute of limitations for strict liability dog bite cases, so claims must be filed within one year of the incident.
You can expect the dog’s owner and the insurance companies to use any or all of these defenses if you file a claim. A Phoenix dog bite attorney can investigate the attack and use your testimony, eyewitness accounts, surveillance footage, or other evidence to demonstrate that you followed the law and should receive fair compensation for your injuries.
Common Injuries from Dog Bites in Phoenix
Common dog bite injuries can range from minor wounds to serious injuries, catastrophic injuries, and even life-threatening conditions. Dog bites frequently cause severe, long-lasting injuries, such as:
Puncture wounds
When a dog bites down on a person, its teeth can puncture skin, muscle tissue, ligaments, and tendons, leaving deep wounds. These injuries caused by dog bites can be serious injuries that may require immediate medical treatment.
Severe lacerations
Rips and tears in the skin, muscle tissues, and ligaments and tendons are common dog bite injuries, particularly if the dog shakes its head after biting down or repeatedly bites someone. Such injuries sustained can be catastrophic injuries, leading to permanent damage or disability.
Broken bones
Larger dogs can bite with enough force to cause bones to snap and break. Older adults and small children are more likely to suffer broken bones from a dog bite because they have weaker or undeveloped bones. These can be life-threatening if they result in complications or are accompanied by other severe injuries.
Infections
Dogs’ mouths often contain harmful germs that can enter people’s bodies through a bite. While rabies is the most worrisome infection that can result from a dog bite, these injuries can also cause staph infections and other severe illnesses. Some infections can be life-threatening and require urgent medical care.
Slip-and-fall or trip-and-fall injuries
A dog that jumps up on someone to bite them can cause the victim to fall backward or forward, potentially causing head trauma, broken bones, or other fall-related injuries. These slip and fall injuries caused by the incident can be catastrophic and may require extensive medical treatment.
Scarring and disfigurement
Lacerations and puncture wounds from dog bites can cause deep, long-lasting scars. Some people with dog bite injuries need skin grafts or other cosmetic surgery to restore their appearance. Victims may be entitled to non-economic damages for pain, suffering, disfigurement, and emotional trauma resulting from these injuries.
Emotional distress
Many people suffer from anxiety or similar mental health conditions after a dog bite. In some cases, post-traumatic stress disorder from a dog bite can last for months or years after the initial attack. Emotional trauma is a significant consequence of injuries sustained in dog bite incidents.
The injuries sustained in a dog bite incident can require extensive medical care and medical treatment. Victims may be entitled to compensation for both economic damages, such as medical expenses, and non-economic damages, including pain, suffering, and emotional trauma, resulting from the injuries caused by the dog bite.
What to Do After a Dog Bite in Phoenix
A dog bite incident is a serious matter that requires immediate action to protect your health and legal rights. If you are a dog bite victim in Phoenix, the first steps to take after being bitten by a dog are to call the police and seek immediate medical attention. Once you’ve done that, follow these steps to protect your health and a future personal injury claim:
Follow your doctor’s orders and attend all follow-up treatments
Your health is your primary concern after a dog bite, so make sure you follow your doctor’s instructions and attend all follow-up appointments. Following your prescribed treatment plan also demonstrates to the insurance companies that your injuries are severe, and you’re taking them seriously.
Identify the dog and its owner, as well as the fault party and any other parties who may be responsible
If you can, try to identify the dog and its owner. You may need to ask someone else to do this for you if your injuries are too severe. However, do not confront the dog’s owner, as doing so could hurt your legal case.
Write down what happened
If possible, write down the details of the incident while they’re fresh in your mind. You can refer to these notes later to make sure you’re consistent when describing what happened.
Don’t discuss your case
Do not discuss your case with anyone other than your lawyer. Your statements, no matter how seemingly benign, can hurt your case if you’re not careful. Be particularly cautious about your social media posts, as a stray comment or photo could hurt your claim if the insurance companies find it.
Hire a dog bite lawyer
The sooner you hire a Phoenix dog bite lawyer, the more they can do to protect your rights. Hiring an attorney right away also gives them more time to build your case without impending deadlines to worry about.
Animal attacks, including dog bites, should always be reported to the authorities to ensure proper documentation and to help establish liability for the incident.
Compensation in Phoenix Dog Bite Claims
Your compensation in a dog bite claim depends on the extent of your injuries, medical expenses, and other factors specific to your situation. With help from an experienced and dedicated attorney, you can pursue compensation and recover damages for your injuries, losses, and the financial burden caused by the incident. Under Arizona law, your compensation could include money for:
- Lost income
- Reduced future earnings
- Current and future medical expenses, including medical bills, related to your injuries
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Diminished quality of life
- Damaged personal property (if applicable)
An attorney can work with the homeowner’s insurance company to obtain a reasonable settlement that will fairly compensate you for your losses and help you achieve maximum compensation.
Deadline to File a Phoenix Dog Bite Lawsuit
In Arizona, the usual deadline to file a personal injury lawsuit is two years from the date of the attack. However, Arizona law also has a one year statute of limitations for strict liability dog bite claims, so it is important to consult an attorney promptly. We recommend you speak to an attorney immediately so they have ample time to build your case.
Contact Triumph Law Group Now to Speak with a Phoenix Dog Bite Lawyer
Triumph Law Group proudly represents injured Arizona residents in dog bite cases, with a dedicated team of Phoenix dog bite attorneys. Our experienced team of dog bite attorneys are ready to assist you. Our Phoenix dog bite lawyers can provide a free case review to help you understand your legal options and pursue the compensation you deserve. Call 602-595-5559 now or reach out online for a free consultation.
T