Were you recently bitten by a dog in Scottsdale, Arizona? Don’t hesitate to contact KRLG Injury Lawyers at (623) 303-5754 for a free consultation. The dog’s owner should be held accountable for your painful injuries and financial losses. Our experienced Scottsdale dog bite lawyers can help you maximize your recovery.
Our personal injury firm fights to protect the rights of Arizona injury victims. As trial-tested attorneys backed by 43 years of combined legal experience, we’ve successfully recovered more than $250 million in damages for accident victims and their families.
Now, we’re ready to help you demand financial justice for your dog bite injuries, too. Contact our personal injury attorneys today to learn more and schedule a complimentary case review.
Why Hire KRLG Injury Lawyers After a Dog Bite in Scottsdale, AZ
You will have one opportunity to seek compensation for your dog bite injuries, so it’s essential to make the most of it. It’s why dog bite victims in Scottsdale, AZ, turn to KRLG Injury Lawyers for help. Our law firm was founded on the premise that every client deserves a relentless advocate in their corner who can offer honest guidance and personalized legal strategies.
Here are some other reasons you should choose our Scottsdale personal injury lawyers for help after a dog bite:
- We have over 100 five-star reviews on trusted platforms like Google and Facebook.
- We’re passionate about making a difference in the lives of each and every client we represent.
- We have decades of combined experience and considerable experience litigating high-stakes personal injury cases at trial.
- We never back down when powerful insurance companies try to manipulate and overpower our clients.
- We’ve recovered hundreds of millions of dollars in settlement agreements and jury awards.
Discover how we can make a difference in your dog bite case by calling our Scottsdale dog bite attorneys. There’s no charge for an initial case review.
Does Arizona Have a One-Bite Rule?
No. Instead, Arizona law holds dog owners strictly liable for their animals’ attacks. Under A.R.S. Section 11-1025, dog owners are typically liable for damages if their dog bites someone while on public property or lawfully on private property, regardless of whether the dog has previously bitten anyone or otherwise shown a history of viciousness.
When you file a dog bite lawsuit against the owner of the dog that bit you, you’ll need to prove you were bitten:
- By a dog owned by the defendant, and
- While lawfully on someone else’s property or in public.
You generally don’t have to show that the dog’s owner was negligent or that the dog had a documented history of viciousness. Instead, the owner is automatically responsible for your injuries as long as the above elements can be established.
What if I’m Bitten By a Dog on Someone Else’s Property?
Property owners with no relationship to the dog can also potentially be liable for your dog bite injuries. There are situations where dog bite claims also involve premises liability.
In Arizona, property owners, government agencies, and businesses generally have a duty to protect invited guests and visitors. This requires more than keeping their premises free from slip and fall hazards. It also requires the owner to protect against reasonably foreseeable threats to a person’s safety, like dog bites.
If a property owner knows that there’s a dangerous dog on the premises, they might be required to take certain steps to keep that dog away from visitors. The owner could post signs, require the dog to be leashed inside, or take other precautions to minimize the risk that the dog will bite anyone.
If a property owner doesn’t protect you against a reasonably foreseeable threat to your safety, they can be considered negligent and, in turn, liable if you’re bitten by a dog.
What Could My Dog Bite Case Be Worth?
It will depend on many factors, including the types of dog bites you suffer, the severity of those wounds, and how the dog bite affects your life.
It’ll be important to consider:
- Your age at the time of the attack
- Missed time at work and lost wages
- Long-term disability
- Physical disfigurement and scarring
- Changes in your quality of life
The more catastrophic your injuries, the more your life is bound to change. In turn, the more compensation you might be entitled to receive when you file a dog bite lawsuit.
What Types of Damages Can Be Paid to Scottsdale Dog Bite Victims?
As the victim of a dog bite in Scottsdale, AZ, you can seek compensatory damages to help you get back on your feet.
Compensatory damages can include different types of awards, including economic and non-economic damages.
Economic damages are designed to help you handle the objective costs of your dog bite, such as:
- Emergency room treatment, diagnostic tests, hospitalization, surgery, and other current medical bills
- Future medical expenses
- Rehabilitation
- Personal care assistance
- Out-of-pocket expenses
- Lost wages and income
- Diminished earning capacity
Non-economic damages are designed to acknowledge the more difficult-to-value life changes you experience as someone who’s been bitten by a dog, such as:
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Mental anguish
- Pain and suffering
- Physical scarring
- Post-traumatic stress disorder
- Emotional distress
- Chronic physical pain
The dog’s owner and their insurance company will try to argue that your damages are overstated and work to limit your financial recovery. Our Arizona dog bite attorneys in Scottsdale won’t let their tactics stand between you and the compensation you deserve.
We’ll build a compelling claim that highlights your losses and clearly demonstrates why the dog’s owner (and, in some cases, other parties) must be held fully accountable.
Common Dog Bite Injuries
Millions of Americans are bitten by dogs every year. Many, including a large percentage of dog bite victims who are children, need emergency medical care because their dog bite injuries are so severe.
Some of the most common dog bite injuries include:
- Crushing injuries
- Puncture wounds
- Facial injuries
- Eye injuries
- Degloving injuries
- Amputation injuries
- Soft tissue injuries
- Cuts and lacerations
- Broken bones
- Nerve damage
- Infections
- Chest injuries
- Brain injuries
- Back injuries
- Spinal cord injuries
- Catastrophic injuries
- Wrongful death
It’s important to report your dog bite to the authorities (and the owner of the premises) right away, and then seek prompt medical attention. Once you’ve been seen by a doctor, don’t hesitate to call KRLG Injury Lawyers to learn about your legal rights. Our dog bite attorneys in Scottsdale can answer your questions and help you determine the best course of action forward.
What Happens if the Dog’s Owner Tries to Blame Me for the Dog Attack?
The dog’s owner might try to say that you provoked the dog bite to sidestep responsibility for your injuries. You’ll need to dispute these allegations aggressively. In Arizona, damages can be reduced proportionately to fault if you’re assigned shared fault for your dog bite injuries.
However, Arizona’s pure comparative negligence rule might not always apply when children are involved. Kids don’t always appreciate the potential consequences of their actions. So, it’s important to consider the child’s age and mental capacity when determining if allegations of contributory fault should affect their dog bite claim.
How Much Does It Cost to Hire a Dog Bite Attorney in Scottsdale?
Our dog bite attorneys in Scottsdale, AZ, work on a contingency fee basis. It costs nothing to hire our personal injury law firm until we’ve won compensation for your dog bite claim. If we don’t win, you pay nothing.
When we’re successful in securing a settlement or jury award, our attorney fees are paid out of that financial recovery. While the specific percentage varies from case to case, the exact details of your arrangement will be outlined in a contingency fee agreement that we’ll both sign.
When Is the Filing Deadline for My Arizona Dog Bite Lawsuit?
Barring any exceptions, you’ll usually have two years from the date you’re bitten by a dog to file a personal injury lawsuit in Arizona.
The two-year statute of limitations can be tolled if a child is the dog bite victim. In these situations, the statute of limitations would begin to run on the child’s 18th birthday unless a claim has already been filed on their behalf.
Schedule a Free Consultation With an Experienced Scottsdale Dog Bite Lawyer
Contact KRLG Injury Lawyers if you or your child were recently bitten by a dog in Scottsdale, AZ. You have rights, and our Scottsdale dog bite lawyers are ready to help you hold the animal’s owner fully accountable for your damages.
We’re top-rated Arizona trial attorneys with decades of combined experience. Standing up to fight for our clients’ best interests, we’ve successfully won hundreds of millions of dollars on their behalf.
Today, we’re ready to help you fight for justice for your dog bite injuries, too. Contact our law office in Scottsdale to learn more. Your initial case evaluation is free.