The average dog has a bite force ranging between 230-250 psi, so it’s not uncommon for dog bite victims to sustain injuries that result in permanent scarring and even death. Dog attacks can also cause significant emotional and psychological trauma for victims. Unfortunately, victims in and around Chandler often struggle to obtain fair compensation for their injuries.
Our Chandler dog bite attorneys are committed to securing maximum compensation for our clients. If you or a loved one sustained a devastating dog bite injury in Arizona, one of our experienced personal injury lawyers who regularly handle dog bite claims would be happy to evaluate your case.
Arizona’s Strict Liability Laws Regarding Dog Bites
While most Arizona personal injury lawsuits fall under negligence statutes, Arizona operates under a strict liability law pertaining to dog bites. This means that your personal injury attorney is not required to prove negligence. Instead, the dog’s owner is almost always liable for the dog’s actions.
This means that you can recover compensation for your injuries and other losses even if this was the dog’s first time biting someone, and it has never shown signs of aggression in the past.
Arizona is much stricter on dog owners than other states that require there to be at least one bite on record for a dog owner to be held accountable.
For a free legal consultation with a dog bite lawyer serving Chandler, call 866-499-8989
Negligence in a Dog Bite Claim
Suppose it can be proven that a dog owner knew or should have known that their dog would bite someone, including them having knowledge of the dog previously attacking humans or pets. In that case, the dog owner may be required to pay additional compensation to the victim.
This additional compensation from an insurance settlement or through a jury verdict would be in the form of punitive or exemplary damages from the dog owner.
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A Dog Owner’s Liability When Their Dog Bites Someone
The high standard that Arizona holds dog owners to is good news for dog bite victims. Even if the animal that attacked you had never behaved viciously in the past, there is a high likelihood that its owner is responsible for your losses.
Arizona Revised Statutes Title 11 – Counties §11-1025 sets forth the circumstances under which a pet owner is responsible for damages stemming from animal bite injuries. The law holds an owner liable when their pet injures someone either in public or on private property, which includes the dog owner’s own property.
Whether the animal previously exhibited aggressive behavior does not factor into the dog owner’s responsibility, nor does the owner’s lack of knowledge of its proclivity to aggression.
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Dog Bite Claims Involving Children
Children make up the largest percentage of dog bite victims, and their injuries are typically more severe. Kids are bitten and mauled on the face more than anywhere else. Scarring, muscle damage, and life-altering disfigurement often result, not to mention psychological trauma.
Dog bite attacks are most likely to occur in a child’s own home or neighborhood. While not everyone wants to sue a friend, neighbor, or family member personally, most homeowners’ insurance policies cover damages resulting from dog bite incidents.
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Compensation You May Be Entitled to After a Dog Bite
Our team at Zanes Law has the experience and resources needed to obtain a fair settlement for you or your child. For example, one of our clients was awarded $122,000 after he sustained a hand injury and puncture wounds in a dog bite incident.
Of course, every case is different, and the amount of your settlement or award will depend on the unique circumstances of your case. That said, you may be entitled to compensation for the following categories of damages:
- Medical expenses (past, present, and future)
- Lost wages
- Decreased earning capacity
- Pain and suffering
- Scars and disfigurement
- Emotional distress
And these are just examples of the losses you might recover. A dog bite lawyer in Chandler can help you understand the value of your claim.
Possible Defenses in a Dog Bite Case
While Arizona law favors dog bite victims, there are two primary defenses to a dog-bite claim.First, the owner will not be liable if they can show that the injured party provoked their dog. Still, there is no set definition of what would be considered provocation in a dog attack.
That said, it is not always necessary that the dog be directly provoked. For instance, attacking the dog’s owner could constitute sufficient provocation for the dog owner to avoid culpability.
Second, the dog owner may not be responsible for a person’s injuries if that individual was unlawfully on the owner’s property. However, in some situations, the owner has a duty to warn trespassers of a dog’s presence, which could mean posting signs. As experienced premises liability lawyers, we can determine the property owner’s responsibility in your case.
Arizona’s Statute of Limitations
Arizona’s time limit for filing a personal injury lawsuit is generally two years from the day you were injured, as outlined in A.R.S.§12-542. However, the sooner you enlist the help of our firm in your dog bite case, the quicker your Chandler dog bite lawyer can begin compiling evidence to bolster your claim.
Our legal team will begin investigating your claim immediately, including interviewing eyewitnesses while the incident is still fresh in their minds. We understand the importance of moving quickly to preserve key evidence and meet important filing deadlines.
Reach Out to a Chandler Dog Bite Attorney Today
Our team at Zanes Law is ready and available to get started on your dog bite injury claim today. A dog bite attorney in Chandler can meet you in your home, our office, or wherever is most convenient for you.
You can also get started with us during a phone call, and since we operate on a contingency fee basis, there is never a fee until we win. Contact us today to schedule your free case evaluation.
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Free Case Evaluation form
When a dog bites and causes injury, its owner can be financially liable for the damages that result from the injury. By Arizona law, dog owners must take precautions to minimize the chance of their pets injuring others. If you or someone you love has been injured in a dog attack, a dog bite lawyer in Chandler, AZ, can help you pursue the owner for the compensation you deserve.
Our legal team will do everything from A to Z to make this process as convenient and effective as possible. We will come to you when and where works best for you to conduct a free case evaluation. We can even handle your case review—and sign you up as a client—via the phone.
Best of all, there is never an out-of-pocket cost to work with us. We get paid only when you do.
To learn more and to speak with a member of the Zanes Law staff today, call us at (866) 499-8989.
Legal Options for a Dog Bite Injury
It does not take a stereotypically powerful or aggressive breed of dog to bite in a way that inflicts harm. Even small dogs, such as chihuahuas, miniature pinschers, and other terrier breeds, can produce powerful bites that lead to long-term physical and emotional scarring, as well as disfigurement. Regardless of the breed of the dog that bit you or the circumstances that led to the attack, you deserve compensation for your dog bite injuries.
At Zanes Law, we will evaluate your dog bite injury claim no matter how the attack occurred. We will let you know your legal options and what to expect. If the owner was liable, we will gather evidence proving your case, and we will pursue them for the compensation you deserve.
Call Zanes Law today at (866) 499-8989 for your free, no-obligation case review.
The Dog Owner’s Responsibility After Being Bitten by a Dog
Arizona holds dog owners to high standards when it comes to protecting others from possible bites and attacks. Even if the dog that bit you had not been aggressive in the past, there is a good chance that the owner is still liable for your injuries.
Arizona legal code 11-1025 describes the conditions under which an owner is liable for damages arising from dog bite injuries. The law holds an owner liable when their dog bites a person either in a public place or on legally occupied private property, including the owner’s property. Whether the dog had previously exhibited vicious tendencies does not factor into the owner’s liability, nor does the owner’s awareness of the dog’s propensity to bite.
Choosing an Injury Attorney to Handle Your Dog Bite Case
The law firm you choose plays a large role not only in the outcome of your case, but also in the comfort and ease with which you will navigate this legal matter.
Here is what you can expect when you work with Zanes Law:
Client-Centered Service
At Zanes Law, our job is to make our clients’ lives easier in the days and weeks that follow an injury. Our goal is to make sure you collect the compensation you deserve. In the process of striving toward this goal, we take care of all the little things that can otherwise serve up monumental stress for a dog bite victim. Our legal support staff is eager to hear from you and to help you with anything you need. To make the process even more stress-free, we will even come to you for meetings and appointments.
Compassionate Representation
Zanes Law relentlessly protects the rights of injured victims in the Chandler area. Our clients are like family to us, and the outcome of your case means as much to us as it does to you. We will do whatever it takes to steer your dog bite injury claim to a fair settlement or judgment.
Immediate Help
We do not make you wait weeks to speak with a dog bite attorney. In most cases, we can meet with you the very day you contact us—and if not that day, then certainly within 24 hours of your call. Your free initial consultation takes less than 30 minutes to complete.
Dog Bite Injury Compensation
Zanes Law will take on the owner of the animal that bit you. We will fight for the compensation you deserve. Your settlement or award may include compensation for the following types of damages and more:
- Medical bills
- Reduced earning capacity
- Lost wages
- Pain and suffering and inconvenience
- Emotional distress
Every case is unique, and these are not the only damages you may be able to pursue. A dog bite lawyer in Chandler, AZ can help you determine the compensation to which you are entitled.
Arizona Statute of Limitations on Dog Bite Claims
Arizona’s statute of limitations on filing a dog bite injury claim is typically two years from the date of your injury. The sooner you hire a law firm to represent you, the sooner your attorney can begin gathering evidence and building your case. Besides working to ensure you do not miss state filing deadlines, our legal team will immediately start investigating your case, including interviewing witnesses whose memories will tend to fade over time.
Contact a Dog Bite Attorney in Chandler, AZ
Zanes Law is eager to get to work on your dog bite injury claim today. We will travel to you whenever and wherever it is convenient to conduct a free case evaluation. You can sign up with us in a single phone call, and there is never a fee until and unless we win. To speak with a member of the Zanes Law team today, call us at (866) 499-8989.