Can You Sue When Bitten by an Unrestrained Dog?

Article Summary

• Arizona statute holds dog owners responsible when their dog bites someone, even if the dog has never exhibited aggressive behavior previously.
• There are a couple of exceptions to owner liability, such as if a dog was provoked or if the person the dog bit was an intruder or was trespassing. 
• Settlements for dog bites in Arizona range based on the circumstances of the bite and the severity of the injuries.
  
  

It might be surprising to learn that millions of Americans are bitten by dogs every year. Data indicates that most bites are minor, but of the estimated 4.5 million bites every year, around 800,000 are serious enough to require medical attention. 

Dogs, sometimes without ever taking an aggressive posture, have the potential to bite and cause an injury. Their teeth are just that sharp, turning a fun game into a moment of pause that at the very least may require a band-aid and a cooling off period. Serious injuries from a dog bite are different. And anyone who has experienced one, including an unrestrained dog bite, may wonder what their rights are as a victim.

As an experienced Arizona dog bite lawyer, we at Torgenson Law are here to sort those details out. Arizona has specific statutes that address a dog owner’s liability when their dog bites someone. In part, Arizona dog bite law places responsibility on the owner of the dog if it bites someone in public or lawfully in private. Being “responsible” for the bite means dog owners need to cover the cost of medical bills, lost wages and pain for the person who was bitten.

This strict liability law for dog bites in Arizona applies to every dog owner, even those who have a dog that has never demonstrated aggressive behavior previously. The exception to this strict liability statute is when a dog bites an intruder or trespasser. It should also be noted that if a dog bites after being provoked, that may qualify as an exemption to the strict liability rule for owner responsibility.

While Arizona does embrace a pretty unambiguous liability rule when it comes to dog bites, there are still exceptions to the question, “Can you sue when bitten by an unrestrained dog?”

Understanding Dog Bite Liability

Injuries from dog bites can be wildly different from one individual to another. Where one bite may not leave a mark at all, others may require stitches, surgery or leave scarring. Dog owners are required to restrain their dogs at all times, and when they are at home, they are required to alert people to their presence — if the barking doesn’t give it away.

Put simply, in Arizona the onus is placed on the dog owner to take precautions that prevent dog bites from happening. And if those precautions aren’t taken, from using a leash to restraining them while answering the door, a dog owner could be found negligent when a dog bite occurs. Measuring that negligence, if someone pursues compensation for the dog bite they endured, requires nuance and is one of the reasons many people who pursue a case do so with an Arizona dog bite attorney at their side.

At Torgenson Law, we’ve managed numerous dog bite cases, recovering hundreds of thousands — and in one case more than $1 million — for our clients. When we work with someone who has received an unrestrained dog bite, we look at every variable to make sure our clients receive a settlement that appropriately reflects the experience they’ve gone through. 

The settlement process can be overwhelming, and insurance companies are counting on that, hoping people don’t understand exactly what they are owed. An experienced dog attack lawyer helps victims maximize their settlement by looking at the cost of medical treatment, by including lost wages and other factors, such as pain and suffering. Every dog bite is unique, but settlements can be determined by evaluating the circumstances and assessing the severity of the injury. 

No one should navigate a dog bite case alone. The team at Torgenson Law is here to support you through this process, ensuring your best interests are represented so you can focus on recovery. If you or a loved one have experienced a dog bite, reach out to our team today.

No pressure, no upfront costs, just answers from a legal team that takes your recovery personally.