Dog Bite / Animal Attack

Dog bites cause serious physical and psychological injuries — and in most states owners are strictly liable regardless of prior bite history.

Dog bites and animal attacks cause approximately 4.5 million injuries annually in the United States, with children accounting for the majority of serious bites and significant permanent scarring. Dog bite injuries range from puncture wounds requiring suturing to severe mauling injuries involving nerve damage, tendon damage, deep infection, disfiguring facial wounds, and traumatic psychological harm. The legal landscape for dog bite liability has evolved significantly in favor of victims. The majority of states have adopted strict liability dog bite statutes that hold dog owners liable for bites regardless of whether the dog had ever shown prior aggression — eliminating the historical "one free bite" rule. In states that still require proving prior knowledge of the dog's dangerous propensity, courts have increasingly found that prior aggressive behavior (growling, lunging, or snapping) short of an actual bite is sufficient notice. Beyond strict liability, bite victims can also pursue negligence claims based on the owner's failure to control or confine the dog, and landlord liability may exist when a landlord knew a tenant's dog was dangerous and failed to enforce lease terms. The psychological harm of dog attacks — particularly in children — is a substantial component of non-economic damages, often requiring long-term therapy for PTSD, phobia, and trauma-related disorders. Dog owner homeowner's or renter's insurance policies commonly provide coverage for dog bite liability, creating a practical recovery source in most residential dog bite cases.

For informational purposes only. Not legal advice. Consult a licensed attorney.

Common Causes

• •Dog owner failing to properly restrain or contain a known aggressive dog
• •Dog escaping from an inadequately fenced yard or unsecured gate
• •Owner allowing off-leash interaction between their dog and a stranger or child
• •Negligent landlord allowing a known dangerous dog to remain on the premises
• •Dog provoked or startled by a child's interaction that the owner failed to prevent

Who Can Be Sued

Liability in a dog bite / animal attack case may extend beyond just the primary at-fault party. Identifying all potentially liable defendants is one of the most important functions of an experienced personal injury attorney.

1. 1The dog owner under strict liability statutes or negligence theories
2. 2A landlord who knew of the dog's dangerous propensity and failed to require removal
3. 3A parent or guardian who negligently supervised a child's dangerous dog
4. 4A property owner where the dog bite occurred if they controlled the premises

Key Legal Facts