Arizona Dog Bite Lawyer
A dog bite can happen in seconds but leave injuries, scars, medical expenses and emotional trauma that last much longer. If you or your child was bitten or attacked by a dog in Arizona, The Maerowitz Law Firm, LLC can investigate what happened, identify available insurance coverage and pursue compensation supported by the injuries and evidence.
Arizona has specific laws governing liability for dog bites. You should not assume that the dog must have bitten someone before or that the owner must have known the dog was dangerous before a claim can exist.
CALL 480-927-3700 FREE & CONFIDENTIAL CONSULTATIONInjured by a Dog in Arizona?
Dog bites can cause puncture wounds, lacerations, infections, nerve injuries, scarring, disfigurement and other serious harm. Children can be particularly vulnerable because a bite to the face, head or upper body may leave visible injuries and lasting emotional effects.
After the initial medical concerns are addressed, injured people often face another problem: figuring out who is legally responsible and what insurance may be available to pay for the loss.
An experienced Arizona dog bite lawyer can investigate ownership of the dog, document the circumstances of the attack, evaluate available homeowners or other liability insurance and pursue a claim for compensation supported by the evidence.
Arizona Does Not Give a Dog Owner a “Free First Bite”
Under Arizona Revised Statutes § 11-1025, the owner of a dog that bites a person can be liable for the damages suffered when the person was in a public place or lawfully on private property, including the dog owner's property.
The statute applies regardless of whether the dog had previously shown viciousness or whether the owner knew the dog had dangerous tendencies.
Arizona's statutory dog-bite law is commonly described as a strict-liability law. The focus is not simply on whether the dog had a known history of biting people. The location of the bite, whether the injured person was lawfully present and whether provocation is alleged can be important.
What Does “Provocation” Mean in an Arizona Dog Bite Case?
Arizona law recognizes provocation as a defense to a statutory dog-bite claim. The question is whether a reasonable person would expect that the injured person's conduct or the surrounding circumstances would likely provoke a dog.
Arizona's current dog-bite statute defines provocation to include tormenting, attacking or inciting a dog and incorporates the statutory reasonable-person standard.
Because an insurance company may raise provocation when attempting to deny or reduce responsibility, the precise facts surrounding the moments before the bite can be important. Witnesses, photographs, video and other evidence may help establish what actually occurred.
Important Steps After an Arizona Dog Attack
Arizona Law Requires Dog Owner Contact Information After a Bite
Under current Arizona law, a person who owns or is responsible for the care of a dog that bites someone in a public place or while the person is lawfully on private property must provide the owner's contact information to the person who suffered the bite.
Identifying the correct dog owner matters because it is an important step in investigating liability and locating potentially available insurance coverage.
If the dog was being cared for by someone other than its owner, was loose, escaped from a property or was connected to rented or commercial property, additional facts may need to be investigated to determine whether other legal theories or responsible parties should be considered.
Dog Bites Can Cause More Than a Temporary Wound
When a Child Is Bitten by a Dog
A dog attack can be particularly traumatic for a child. Because children are smaller, bites may involve the face, head, neck or upper body, creating the potential for visible scarring and significant emotional distress.
Parents may suddenly have to deal with emergency treatment, follow-up appointments, scar evaluation and questions about how the injury may affect their child as he or she grows.
Photographs taken over time can help show the severity of the initial wounds and how scars or other visible injuries develop during recovery.
What Compensation May Be Available After an Arizona Dog Bite?
The value of a dog-bite claim depends on the injuries, treatment, recovery, available evidence, insurance coverage and other circumstances. Depending on the case, damages may include:
Who Pays for an Arizona Dog Bite Injury?
Many dog-bite claims involve liability insurance rather than payment directly from the dog owner's personal funds. Depending on the circumstances, homeowners, renters or other liability insurance may provide coverage.
Insurance coverage is not automatic, and policies can contain exclusions, limits and other terms that must be reviewed. Identifying the owner and available coverage is therefore an important part of investigating the claim.
An insurer may investigate how the bite happened, whether the injured person was lawfully present, whether provocation occurred, the nature of the injuries and the value of the claim. Having an attorney handle those issues allows you to focus on treatment and recovery.
Arizona Dog Bite Claims Can Have a Short Filing Deadline
Arizona dog-bite cases can involve more than one potential legal theory, and the applicable filing deadline can depend on the particular claim.
Arizona courts have held that a claim based specifically on the state's statutory dog-bite liability can be subject to a one-year statute of limitations, while a separate common-law personal injury theory may be governed by a different deadline.
Because waiting can eliminate legal options, it is important to have an attorney identify the applicable claims and deadlines as early as possible after a dog bite.
CALL 480-927-3700Building an Arizona Dog Bite Injury Claim
Dog-bite cases can involve legal liability, medical evidence, insurance coverage, witness testimony and disputes about how the attack happened. The Maerowitz Law Firm can handle the legal and insurance issues while you focus on recovery.
Depending on the circumstances, our work may include:
Why Hire The Maerowitz Law Firm After an Arizona Dog Bite?
The Maerowitz Law Firm, LLC is a Phoenix-based Arizona law firm providing experienced, personalized representation in personal injury matters. We take the time to understand how the injury occurred, how it has affected your life and what evidence is available to support your claim.
Managing Attorney Matt Maerowitz has 12 years of legal experience and more than a decade of litigation and trial experience. His practice includes personal injury representation for clients throughout Arizona.
Our approach emphasizes careful case preparation, direct communication and individualized attention rather than treating an injured person like another claim number.
Our personal injury cases are handled on a contingency-fee basis. That means you pay no attorney's fee unless we recover money for you. We also offer a free, confidential initial consultation with no obligation to hire the firm.
Looking for an Arizona Dog Bite Lawyer?
The Maerowitz Law Firm, LLC is based in Phoenix and represents personal injury clients throughout Arizona. If you or your child suffered injuries in a dog bite or dog attack, experienced legal representation can help identify the responsible parties, available insurance coverage and compensation supported by the evidence.
If you are searching for an Arizona dog bite lawyer, Phoenix dog bite attorney, dog attack lawyer, child dog bite attorney or Arizona personal injury lawyer, contact The Maerowitz Law Firm for a free and confidential consultation.
FREE CONSULTATION | 480-927-3700Frequently Asked Questions About Arizona Dog Bite Claims
Does a dog get one free bite in Arizona?
No. Arizona's statutory dog-bite law does not require an injured person to prove that the dog previously bit someone or that the owner already knew the dog was vicious. The statute imposes liability when its requirements are met.
What if the dog bite happened at the owner's house?
Arizona's dog-bite statute can apply when a person is lawfully on private property, including the dog owner's property. The circumstances surrounding why the person was there and how the bite occurred should be reviewed.
What if the dog never showed aggression before?
Prior aggression is not required for liability under Arizona's statutory dog-bite law when the statute's requirements are otherwise met.
Can provocation defeat an Arizona dog bite claim?
Provocation is a statutory defense. Arizona evaluates whether a reasonable person would expect the injured person's conduct or the surrounding circumstances to be likely to provoke the dog. The particular facts are therefore important.
Who usually pays for a dog bite claim?
Depending on the circumstances, homeowners, renters or other liability insurance may provide coverage for a dog-bite claim. The applicable policy, insured parties, exclusions and coverage limits should be reviewed.
How long do I have to file an Arizona dog bite lawsuit?
Do not assume that every Arizona dog-bite claim has the ordinary two-year personal injury deadline. Arizona courts have applied a one-year limitation to claims based specifically on statutory dog-bite liability, while other legal theories can involve different deadlines. Speak with an attorney promptly so the applicable deadline can be identified.
Can I recover compensation for a dog bite scar?
Scarring and disfigurement may be part of the damages analysis when supported by the evidence. The location, visibility, severity and permanence of the scar, along with the medical evidence and overall effect of the injury, can be important.
How much does it cost to hire The Maerowitz Law Firm for a dog bite case?
The Maerowitz Law Firm handles personal injury cases on a contingency-fee basis, meaning you pay no attorney's fee unless we recover money for you. We also offer a free and confidential initial consultation. Call 480-927-3700.
Bitten or Attacked by a Dog in Arizona?
If you or your child suffered injuries in a dog bite or dog attack in Phoenix or elsewhere in Arizona, contact The Maerowitz Law Firm to discuss what happened, the injuries, available insurance coverage and your legal options.
Dog-bite claims can have short deadlines. Consider speaking with an attorney as soon as possible after the injury.
480-927-3700 CALL FOR A FREE CONSULTATION CONTACT THE FIRMThis information is provided for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Liability, available damages, insurance coverage and filing deadlines depend on the particular facts and applicable Arizona law. Viewing this page or contacting the firm does not by itself establish an attorney-client relationship.