Mesa Dog Bite Lawyers

Injuries from a dog attack may go beyond scrapes and cuts, with significant financial, emotional, and physical consequences for your life. Dog owners are responsible for their pets’ behavior and should be held liable when their dogs attack or bite innocent people. If you or a loved one was bitten by a dog, your focus should be on healing rather than dealing with difficult insurance companies and complex legal cases. Protect your rights by retaining legal counsel immediately.

The Mesa dog bite injury attorneys at our law firm represent people who have been injured in animal attacks in Maricopa County and throughout Arizona.

Common Injuries in Dog Bite Cases

According to medical literature, up to 18 percent of dog bite cases reported infections, some of which may be extremely harmful to humans. Infections from dog attacks may lead to severe conditions, including Tetanus, Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), Pasteurella multocida, Capnocytophaga spp., and Rabies. Aside from infections, dog bites may cause several other injuries, such as:

• Head trauma
• Loss of limbs
• Disfigurement
• Puncture wounds
• Cuts or lacerations
• Soft tissue damage
• Permanent scarring
• Tendon and nerve damage
• Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
• Avulsion, amputation, or crush injuries
• Broken bones, fractures, or dislocations
• Back injuries, such as bulging or herniated discs

Every animal attack case is unique due to the facts and circumstances involved. However, each of the types of infections and injuries above can be incredibly painful, often requiring extensive treatment and long-term costs. A 2022 report by the American Society of Plastic Surgeons indicated that approximately 19,000 patients required reconstructive procedures due to dog bite injuries. If you were attacked by someone’s dog in Mesa, call or fill out an online contact form for a free consultation.

Who is Responsible for a Dog Bite?

In most cases, the owner of the dog is responsible for the injuries and losses that occur from an animal attack. However, financial recovery is often through liability coverage, with homeowner’s insurance being the most common source. If the dog owner is a tenant, the renter’s insurance is likely to cover the damages. In cases where the landlord or their representatives were aware of the tenant’s dog and its viciousness, the landlord may be held liable. The dog owner or the landlord may be deemed negligent if the dog escaped through inadequate maintenance of fences or gates.

Compensation in a Personal Injury Case for an Animal Attack

Dog attacks may cause significant harm to injured parties and their families. Under Arizona personal injury law, those who are injured due to another party’s negligence may have the right to seek justice. In dog bite cases, justice is achieved when injured parties recover compensation for the damages they have suffered. Two types of damages may be awarded in these cases, including economic and non-economic damages. Economic damages cover tangible financial losses whereas non-economic damages are related to subjective harms. These include:

• Medical Costs: An injured party may be entitled to compensation for medical expenses related to their injuries from an animal attack, including any future medical bills deemed reasonable and necessary for ongoing treatment.
• Lost Income and Diminished Earning Capacity: Injuries from dog attacks may often cause injured parties to miss work, leading to loss of earnings. Compensation may cover both current wage loss and any future earnings impacted by the injury.
• Out-of-Pocket Expenses: In dog attack cases involving severe injuries, an injured party may require specialized equipment to remain mobile or long-term care. These costs, whether past or future, may also be recoverable.
• Emotional Distress: An individual who is attacked by a dog may experience emotional trauma, such as sleep disturbances due to nightmares, anxiety, and fear of dogs. Damages for emotional distress address the mental challenges that affect the injured party’s overall well-being.
• Pain and Suffering: Psychological trauma and physical pain following an animal attack may lead to compensation for pain and suffering damages for the plaintiff. These damages are intended to reflect the impact of dog bite injuries on the plaintiff’s quality of life.
• Scarring and Disfigurement: These damages address the emotional and physical impact of permanent marks to appearance resulting from the animal attack. Compensation may cover the psychological effects of visible scars and costs of cosmetic procedures to improve appearance.

What Evidence is Needed to Prove a Dog Bite Case?

When an individual is attacked by someone’s dog, it is important to gather and preserve evidence to protect their rights and personal injury case. Without evidence, it may be challenging to hold a dog owner responsible for the actions of their aggressive or vicious pet. In dog bite cases, it is important to have the following evidence to establish negligence and causation:

• Medical records
• Photos of visible injuries
• Police and animal control reports
• The identity of the dog and its owner
• The location where the incident occurred
• Any correspondence between the involved parties
• The identity of the landlord if the dog owner is a tenant
• Names of any eyewitnesses and notarized witness statements
• Financial documents showing incurred losses, such as wage loss
• Relevant insurance information, such as homeowners, renters, or umbrella coverage

Many other types of information may also serve as evidence in animal attack cases. It requires legal expertise to not only gather and preserve this evidence but to determine which pieces are relevant and admissible. As such, hire an experienced Mesa dog bite lawyer who can protect your rights and build the strongest case possible for maximum compensation.

Establishing the Facts of an Animal Attack Case

The first step in determining how to proceed with a dog bite injury case is to thoroughly examine the facts and circumstances surrounding the incident. Some questions that may be considered during this evaluation include:

• Breed of dog involved
• Time, date, and location of the incident
• Whether the injured party sought medical care
• The types of injuries sustained in the animal attack
• Response of the injured person during the incident
• Whether the injured party was attacked on public or private property
• Whether the injured person was aware of anything that may have provoked the dog bite

A thorough analysis of these cases must begin with the facts as these are just as important to a case as the applicable law. To learn more, reach out to an experienced dog bite injury lawyer in Mesa, AZ, immediately.

Is There a Time Limit on Animal Bite Cases in Arizona?

In Arizona, the statute of limitations for a dog bite case is two years. This means that an injured person must file a lawsuit within that timeframe to protect the statute. The case must be filed in civil court if a settlement agreement is not met with the opposing party. While the details are still clear in your mind and your injuries are visible, it is important to explore your options with the assistance of an experienced Mesa dog attack lawyer.

Contact a Dog Bite Injury Attorney in Mesa

Dog bites can be both traumatic and devastating. Unfortunately, they occur all too often, and those affected must take action to protect their rights and interests. If you were injured in an animal attack, a Mesa dog bite attorney can review your case in a free consultation. Call our office today at (602) 777-3300. Our experienced legal team can assess your case and any potential claims, guiding you on the best course of action moving forward.