After a dog attack, the first questions are who is legally responsible and what compensation dog bite victims can recover. The answer starts with where the bite happened.
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 dog bite victim’s 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 can also deal with the adjuster while you focus on medical treatment, and review each offer against your documented losses. Clients make the final call on any compensation offer.
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, which changes who to blame for a dog bite.
Some states have a strict liability statute that makes the owner liable for a bite even if the dog never showed aggression before. Under these statutes, 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.
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 has a legal claim to recover compensation 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 and when you can sue.
Dog bite laws by state
Dog bite cases generally follow the rules below in the states where Zinda Law Group has offices.
| 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 had abnormally dangerous tendencies that caused the injury | 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. A posted “beware of dog” or “no trespassing” sign on the owner’s property is a defense | 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. A prominent “Bad Dog” sign is a defense, except for a child under 6 or harm caused by the owner’s negligence | 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 example. Some statutes make provocation a defense, and some do not protect a person who was on the property unlawfully. The same statutes cover bites on public property, such as a park or a sidewalk.
A victim’s own share of fault can reduce the recovery, and in some states a large enough share bars it. Lawyers call this comparative fault.
Injuries dog bite victims face
- Puncture wounds
- Facial injuries
- Lacerations
- Infections
- Fractures
According to the CDC, dog bite injuries include punctures, lacerations, infections and fractures. Facial bites can leave permanent scarring. A 2023 review of facial dog bite care notes that earlier studies found reconstructive surgery or scar revision in 77 percent of these patients.
Florida’s sign defense does not apply to a child under 6, one way child injuries claims differ.
What to do after a dog attack
- Get medical care. See a doctor right away, or go to an emergency room after office hours, and keep every follow-up care visit.
- Report the bite. Contact animal control or the police to report the bite, following reporting rules in Texas or local ones.
- Identify the dog owner. Write down the dog 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 a victim for a recorded statement, so contact a dog attack attorney first.
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
Pain and suffering and emotional distress are non-economic damages with no receipt, and the suffering can last after the bite heals.
Colorado’s dog bite statute covers only economic damages for serious bodily injury, but it does not rule out other claims.
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.
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, including coverage under 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
A fair test of a dog bite law firm is whether it knows the state’s rule, names the records clients need 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
Each state below has at least one Zinda Law Group office.
- 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 offers a free review of your claim. 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.
