Expert Dog Bite Lawyer & Animal Attack Attorneys

Best Dog Bite Lawyers in Phoenix, AZ | Hirsch Talcott

Arizona law (ARS 11-1025) imposes strict liability on dog owners when their dog attacks someone in public or lawfully on private property.

To hold a dog owner liable for a dog bite, the injured person must show that:

• the injury was caused by a dog bite, and
• the bite was suffered while the person was in a public place or lawfully in a private place.

You do not need to prove that the owner knew, or should have known, that the dog was vicious or prone to attack. The owner remains liable regardless of knowledge.

To establish liability in court, you should gather evidence of the attack and discuss those items with your Phoenix Dog Bite Lawyer.

This includes eye witness accounts, a police report, and documentation of injury in the form of a medical evaluation and photos of the damage. Collect anything that proves the identity of the dog that attacked you and its owner.

The court will require proof that the owner you file a claim against owns the dog that attacked you.

*Important Note: You can not recover if attacked while illegally trespassing on the property of another.

Table of Contents

• Arizona Dog Bite Lawsuits Statute of Limitations
• When is the Dog Owner Not Liable for Damages?
• The Cost of a Dog Bite
• What Does Compensation Cover?
• What Damages Can a Dog Attack Cause?
• Recovering from a Dog Attack
• When to Hire a Dog Bite Lawyer

Arizona Dog Bite Statute of Limitations

You would have one year from the date of the dog bite to pursue your claim under our state’s strict liability laws. You would have two years from the date of the attack to pursue a claim for negligence. Therefore, it’s important to speak with a Dog Bite Lawyer immediately to discuss your options.

If you or a loved one is a victim of a Dog Bite Attack, contact Hirsch Talcott today by calling day or night, or click this link to Schedule a Free Consultation.

Other Types of Dog-Related Injuries

ARS 11-1025 does not apply to other kinds of injuries caused by dogs, only dog bites. To bring a case against a dog owner for another type of dog-caused injury, the injured person will need to show that the owner failed to use reasonable care to prevent the dog from causing the injury. 

For example, if you are at a park and a dog runs into you and knocks you down, you will need to show that the owner failed to use reasonable care to prevent the dog from running into you.

When is the Dog Owner Not Liable for Damages?

Although Arizona uses “strict liability” in most dog bite cases, there are some exceptions where a dog owner may not be at fault for a dog bite injury.

If it can be proven that the victim intentionally provoked the dog, then the dog owner has a defense to your lawsuit.

Under A.R.S. § 11-1027, a dog owner may avoid liability in a dog bite claim if a reasonable person would believe the victim’s actions unquestionably provoked the dog to attack and that the animal would not have bitten the person otherwise.

Even if the dog is under the control of someone other than the owner at the time of the incident, both the dog’s caretaker and the owner can be held jointly liable for the victim’s injury.

The Cost of a Dog Bite

Dog attacks can quickly cost victims a lot of money.

The treatment for injuries can cost thousands of dollars alone and far more if the attack necessitates a long hospital stay. On top of this, the injuries may keep victims from working, resulting in lost wages and no income while the medical bills stack up.

Filing a lawsuit against the dog owner helps you recover these expenses.

While money cannot fully heal the holes in your life following an attack, it can be used to compensate you for what happened and to hold the owner responsible.

What Does Compensation Cover?

Medical bills and expenses can add up quickly due to the severity of dog bite accidents. A dog bite accident claim can provide the victim with compensation, including:

• Future medical expenses
• Loss of wages due to missing work
• Pain and suffering
• Counseling, therapy, or surgery, if needed
• Miscellaneous costs of care

Generally, these costs will be paid by the dog owner’s insurance policy. Insurance policies that cover dog bites typically include renter’s insurance, landlord insurance, homeowner insurance, or business insurance if the attack occurred at a place of business. For victims, it’s important to discuss your case with an injury attorney before making arrangements or settlements with the homeowner’s insurance company.

Without speaking to an attorney, you’ll have no way of getting an accurate estimate of compensation, and therefore no way to determine if an insurance company’s settlement is fair and accurate.

If you or a loved one is a victim of a Dog Bite Attack, contact Hirsch Talcott today by calling day or night, or click this link to Schedule a Free Consultation.

What Damages Can a Dog Attack Cause?

Though we invite them into our home, dogs are still animals. They possess sharp teeth and claws designed for hunting. If a large or aggressive dog attacks, it can easily result in significant damage.

Some types of damages suffered by dog attack victims:

• Deep cuts and tears
• Damage to muscles
• Broken bones
• Injury to the neck and spinal cord
• Blood loss
• Infection

Many victims also suffer from emotional distress and trauma after an attack, making the damage last far after the physical wounds have healed. Though it will not ever fully make everything right, money can be recovered for both the physical wounds and the emotional scars that remain with the victim.

Recovering from a Dog Attack

As soon as possible after an attack, you should seek medical attention. Damage may be partially internal and hard to detect without the care of a doctor.

In addition to getting the treatment you need, seeing a doctor for a full examination so that you can gather all the evidence you need to hold the owner of the dog responsible for the damage you suffered.

If you have been transferred to a hospital for emergency care, make sure you obtain a medical report and the doctors’ names who treated you. The evaluation at the hospital may be the best source of information for the injuries you need compensation for.

When to Hire a Dog Bite Lawyer

Dog bite attacks can permanently change lives in the blink of an eye.

Being bitten by a dog can happen anywhere: while walking in the neighborhood, shopping in public, or visiting the house of a friend.

While most owners cannot see their beloved pet attacking, the reality is that dog attacks happen and can result in horrible injuries. No matter the companion, dogs sometimes act like the instinctual animals they are and can injure adults and children.

When this happens, the dog bite victim of the attack can be saddled with physical and emotional injuries and the debt that goes with them. For a dog bite lawyer near me, contact Hirsch Talcott.

Dog attacks often result from the careless behavior of an owner that does not do enough to guard against tragedy. Dog bites happen, and the victim does not deserve to suffer more than they already have.

The highly trained personal injury lawyers at Hirsch Talcott Accident Law team offer professional legal services for those injured in a dog attack, here is what to look for.

If you are a victim, call us today or fill out our online Free Consultation form below, and you will be contacted by our experienced team.

You deserve to recover from the responsible parties for your injury and suffering.

Why Hiring a Dog Bite Lawyer is the Smart Choice

Litigation can be a difficult process where the dog owner tries to get out of liability. Undergoing this process without adequate preparation will only cause more pain. But with the right attorneys at the helm, you can be properly compensated and represented in your case.

The team of trained dog bite lawyers at Hirsch Talcott knows that dog bites can be devastating, leaving physical and emotional injuries that take time to heal.

You do not need more pain from debt while you do so. Let Hirsch Talcott help hold the dog owner that attacked you accountable and get you the compensation that you need to effectively heal.

If you or a loved one is a victim of a Dog Bite Attack, contact Hirsch Talcott today by calling day or night, or click this link to Schedule a Free Consultation.

It takes about 30 minutes, and we will go over your case from

Ready to pursue your bog bite injury claim with a Phoenix personal injury lawyer at Hirsch Talcott? Call us today or complete our online form.

People Also Ask

1. Can I sue for a dog bite in Arizona?

Yes. You can sue for a dog bite injury in Arizona. Arizona has a specific law that covers dog bite cases commonly referred to as the “Dog Bite Statute.” This statute is found in Section 11-1025 of the Arizona Revised Statutes.

2. How long do you have to file a dog bite claim in Arizona?

You would have one year from the date of the dog bite to pursue your claim under our state’s strict liability laws. You would have two years from the date of the attack to pursue a claim for negligence.

3. How do I claim compensation for a dog bite?

You need evidence To Support A Dog Bite Injury Claim. You need evidence to support your dog bite case such as medical report, animal control report, incident report, and photographs of the injuries. If you’re able to, ask for the dog owner’s details, the dog’s name and the breed and if possible pictures of the dog.

4. How much money can I get from a dog bite?

You can seek compensation for medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, emotional distress, and punitive damages, depending on your case specifics. Dog bite cases often settle up to $300,000 or more. Speak to our dog bite lawyer Phoenix. Still, they can be higher or lower depending on the severity of injuries, liability & negligence, and whether the case goes to trial or is settled.

5. Can I handle my dog bite injury case without a lawyer?

While it’s possible, it’s not advisable. Jack Hirsch’s expertise can significantly increase your chances of receiving fair compensation, as he knows the complexities of dog bite injury law and how to navigate them.

6. Are there levels of dog bite?

The Dunbar Dog Bite Scale categorizes dog bites into six levels, ranging from no skin contact to fatal attacks. It’s a system used to assess the severity of dog bites, providing a framework for legal and medical action. 

Here’s a breakdown of each level:

• Level 1: Aggressive behavior, like snapping, growling, or teeth showing, but no skin contact. 
• Level 2: Teeth make contact with the skin, but no puncture. 
• Level 3: A single bite with shallow punctures, typically not deeper than half the length of the dog’s canine tooth. 
• Level 4: A single bite with deep punctures, with at least one puncture deeper than half the length of the dog’s canine tooth, possibly with bruising or lacerations. 
• Level 5: Multiple bites at Level 4 severity, or multiple attacks with at least one Level 4 bite. 
• Level 6: Death of the victim as a result of the bite. 

Other Types of Dog-Related Injuries

ARS 11-1025 does not apply to other kinds of injuries caused by dogs, only dog bites. To bring a case against a dog owner for another type of dog-caused injury, the injured person will need to show that the owner failed to use reasonable care to prevent the dog from causing the injury. 

For example, if you are at a park and a dog runs into you and knocks you down, you will need to show that the owner failed to use reasonable care to prevent the dog from running into you.

11-1020. Dogs; liability

Injury to any person or damage to any property by a dog while at large shall be the full responsibility of the dog owner or person or persons responsible for the dog when such damages were inflicted.

11-1012. Dogs not permitted at large; wearing licenses

A. Neither a female dog during her breeding or mating season nor a vicious dog shall be permitted at large.

B. In a rabies quarantine area, no dogs shall be permitted at large. Each dog shall be confined within an enclosure on the owner’s property, secured so that the dog is confined entirely to the owner’s property, or on a leash not to exceed six feet in length and directly under the owner’s control when not on the owner’s property.

C. Any dog over the age of three months running at large shall wear a collar or harness to which is attached a valid license tag. Dogs that are used for control of livestock, being used or trained for hunting or dogs, being exhibited or trained at a kennel club event or engaged in races approved by the Arizona racing commission, and while the dogs are being transported to and from such events, need not wear a collar or harness with a valid license attached provided that they are properly vaccinated, licensed and controlled.

D. No person in charge of any dog shall permit such dog in a public park or upon any public school property unless the dog is physically restrained by a leash, enclosed in a car, cage or similar enclosure or being exhibited or trained at a recognized kennel club event, public school or park sponsored event.