After a dog attack, the first questions are who is legally responsible and what compensation a dog bite victim can recover. The answer starts with where the bite happened, because states do not all follow one rule.
You pay nothing unless we win. Zinda Law Group offers a free consultation about your dog bite claim at (800) 863-5312.
Article summary
Key things to know
- Some states use a strict liability statute, and others use the one-bite rule.
- The one-bite rule does not require an earlier bite. It turns on what the dog owner should have known.
- Trespassing or provoking the dog can defeat or reduce a case.
- The filing deadline varies by state, and exceptions can change it.
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What a dog bite lawyer does
A dog bite lawyer handles injury cases against the dog owner and negotiates with any insurance company behind the owner. The legal team gathers medical records, photos and witness statements, then builds a case on the state law that applies.
Your dog bite lawyer also deals with the adjuster while you focus on medical treatment, and compares each offer with what the injuries cost, because a fair offer reflects that cost. Clients make the final call.
When the dog owner is liable
Responsibility usually starts with the dog owner. In some states the law also reaches a person who keeps or has custody of the dog. Our article on who to blame for a dog bite gives an example.
Some states have a statute that makes the owner liable for a bite even if the dog never showed aggression before. Under strict liability, the dog’s history does not decide the case, as our strict liability article explains. You still have to prove that the bite caused your injuries.
Other states follow the older one-bite rule. The victim must prove the owner knew, or should have known, the dog was dangerous. “One-bite rule” is a nickname, and an earlier bite is not required.
Under either rule, an owner who handled the dog carelessly can also face a negligence case, which turns on the owner’s responsibility to use reasonable care.
When you can sue for a dog attack
A victim can sue to recover damages when the state’s rule creates liability and the attack caused the injuries. A lawyer for a dog attack starts by checking which rule fits the particular case.
Some statutes are written for bites only, so a knockdown or another kind of animal may call for a different statute or a negligence case instead. An animal attack lawyer reads the statute’s wording first to determine which path fits your facts. The FAQ on when you can sue explains more.
Dog bite laws by state
Dog bite cases generally follow the rules below in the states where Zinda Law Group regularly represents clients.
| State | Liability rule | General deadline to file suit | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Texas | No civil dog bite statute. Under the one-bite rule, liability turns on whether the owner knew, or had reason to know, the dog was dangerous | Generally two years | Marshall v. Ranne (Tex. 1974) and Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code 16.003 |
| New Mexico | No civil dog bite statute. Under the one-bite rule, liability turns on whether the owner knew, or should have known, the dog was vicious | Generally three years | Smith v. Village of Ruidoso (N.M. Ct. App. 1999) and NMSA 1978, 37-1-8 |
| Arizona | Statute. The owner is liable for a bite in a public place or to a person lawfully on private property, even if the dog was never vicious before | Generally one year for a case under the statute, and two years for other injury lawsuits | Murdock v. Balle (Ariz. Ct. App. 1985) and A.R.S. 11-1025, 12-541 and 12-542 |
| Colorado | Statute. For a bite that causes serious bodily injury to a person lawfully on public or private property, the owner is liable for economic damages even if the dog was never vicious before | Generally two years | C.R.S. 13-21-124 and 13-80-102 |
| Florida | Statute. The owner is liable for a bite in public or to a person lawfully on private property. The victim’s own negligence, when it is a proximate cause of the bite, reduces the amount | Generally two years for a negligence claim that arose after March 24, 2023. A case under the statute may have a different period | Fla. Stat. 767.04 and 95.11 |
The table gives general rules as of October 2026. A deadline can differ with the kind of claim, and every rule in the table has exceptions.
State-specific deadlines
Questions about how much time you have?
Where you were bitten can change the case
Several dog bite statutes protect a person in a public place or lawfully present on private property. A guest invited onto the property is one example of a person lawfully present, and a person doing a job the law requires is another. Some statutes make provocation a defense, and some do not protect a person who was on the property unlawfully. Our FAQ lists steps after bites on public property.
Your own share of fault can reduce what you recover, and in some states a large enough share bars it. Lawyers call this comparative fault.
Injuries dog bite victims face
- Puncture wounds
- Facial injuries
- Permanent scarring
- Nerve damage
Some victims need reconstructive surgery. Scars and nerve damage can mean lasting pain and suffering, and emotional distress can last after the wounds close.
The child injuries page covers an attack on a child.
What to do after a dog attack
- Get medical care. Go to an emergency room or urgent care the same day, and keep every follow-up care visit.
- Report the bite. Contact animal control or the police to report the bite. A separate article explains reporting rules in Texas.
- Identify the dog owner. Write down the owner’s name and address, and what neighbors say about the dog’s history.
- Collect proof. Photograph the wounds, and keep witness statements and medical records.
- Wait on statements. The owner’s insurance company may contact you for a recorded statement, so talk to a dog attack attorney first.
Victims who contact a lawyer early have more time to identify the dog owner’s insurer before the deadline.
Compensation and who pays
State law and the proof determine which losses you can recover compensation for.
- Medical bills, from the emergency room visit to future treatment the evidence supports
- Lost wages and other lost income
- Physical pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
Permanent scarring, and the suffering that comes with it, can be part of the compensation too. Colorado’s statute covers only economic damages for serious injuries, so the compensation available is a matter of state law.
Fair compensation accounts for every loss the law lets you recover. No lawyer can promise full compensation.
Compensation can be paid by an insurance company. Homeowners insurers paid about $1.86 billion on 28,450 dog bite and other dog-related injury claims in 2025, according to the Insurance Information Institute and State Farm.
A homeowners or renters insurance policy may cover the attack, depending on its terms. Your lawyer can ask the insurer to confirm coverage in writing, and our FAQ covers renters insurance. When no policy applies, the financial recovery depends on what the victim can recover from whoever is liable.
How to choose a dog bite lawyer
Not every personal injury firm that handles car accident cases is the right law firm for a dog bite. A good fit is a dog bite law firm that knows the state’s rule, names the records it needs at the first meeting and builds the case based on them.
Some people hesitate to contact an attorney for a dog bite because of cost. Four things are worth knowing before you hire anyone.
- Which lawyer handles the case
- How often the firm takes dog bite cases
- How clients reach their lawyer
- How fees and case costs are paid
When you are ready
Talk through the next step.
Dog bite lawyers by state and city
Zinda Law Group represents dog bite victims in the states below.
- Texas. Texas dog bite lawyers, Houston dog bite lawyer, Dallas dog bite attorney
- New Mexico. New Mexico dog bites, Albuquerque dog bite lawyer, Las Cruces dog bites
- Arizona. Arizona dog bites, Phoenix dog bite lawyer, Tucson dog bite attorney
- Colorado. Colorado dog bite attorneys, Denver dog bite lawyer, Colorado Springs dog bites
- Florida. Florida dog bite attorneys, Miami dog bite lawyer
If a dog bit you in another state, call us and we will tell you whether we can help.
A free consultation about your dog bite
If you are looking for a dog attack law firm, Zinda Law Group is a personal injury firm that handles these cases. A dog bite case starts with a free case evaluation, where lawyers from our personal injury practice explain who may be liable and the deadline that applies.
Once you hire us, our attorneys work to recover compensation while you focus on treatment.
Our firm works on a contingency fee basis, so there is no out-of-pocket cost to secure the legal representation you need.
