Phoenix Dog Bite Lawyer

A dog bite happens in seconds. The pain, stitches, and worry can last much longer. If you're looking for a Phoenix dog bite lawyer, you're in the right place. We cover what to do right after a bite, how Arizona's dog bite law works, what you may be able to recover, and how Kent Law takes on the insurance company for you. Arizona holds dog owners strictly liable for most bites. Insurers still look for ways to pay less. Don't face them alone. Call us at (480) 359-KENT for a free case review, and we'll tell you where you stand.

What to do after a dog bite in Phoenix

1. Get away from the dog and get safe. Put a door, a fence, or a car between you and the dog. Get children out of reach first.
2. Wash the wound and get medical care the same day. Dog bites can become infected, even small ones. Clean the wound with soap and water, then see a doctor, urgent care, or the emergency room that day. Keep every follow-up appointment. This is general information, not medical advice.
3. Get the owner's name, address, and phone number. Under Arizona law, the dog's owner or the person caring for the dog must give the owner's contact information to the person who was bitten.
4. Ask whether the dog's vaccinations are current. Tell your doctor what you learn.
5. Take photos. Photograph your wounds right away and again as they heal. Photograph the place where it happened. Photograph the dog if you can do it safely.
6. Get witness names. Neighbors, passersby, and delivery drivers may have seen it. Get names and phone numbers.
7. Report the bite to animal control or the police. A report creates a record of what happened and which dog was involved.
8. Keep torn or bloody clothing. Don't wash it or throw it away. Put it in a bag and set it aside.
9. Call us before you give a recorded statement. The owner's homeowner's or renter's insurer may call you soon. So may your own insurer. Call Kent Law at (480) 359-KENT before you give a recorded statement to any insurer, including your own. Your policy may require you to cooperate with your own insurer, and we help you do that the right way. The owner's adjuster works for the insurance company, not for you.

Arizona laws that affect your claim

Strict liability. Under A.R.S. § 11-1025(A), the owner of a dog that bites a person is liable for the damages if the person was in a public place or lawfully in a private place, including the owner's property. That's true whether or not the dog was vicious before, and whether or not the owner knew it. This is called strict liability. You don't have to prove the dog bit someone before.

What "lawfully" means. Under A.R.S. § 11-1026, you're lawfully on private property if you're there as an invitee or guest, or performing a legal duty, such as a mail carrier delivering mail.

Provocation. The owner may argue you provoked the dog. Under A.R.S. § 11-1027, the test is whether a reasonable person would expect the conduct to provoke a dog. Insurers raise this often, especially when a child is bitten. We push back with the facts.

Breed doesn't decide the case. Under A.R.S. § 11-1025(C), a court or other decision-maker may not consider a dog's breed when deciding whether the dog is aggressive or vicious or has created liability.

Loose dogs that injure without biting. A dog running loose can knock down a child, a runner, or an older adult. Under A.R.S. § 11-1020, the owner or person responsible for a dog at large is responsible for injuries it causes.

Comparative fault. If you were partly at fault, your damages may be reduced by your percentage of fault. In most cases, your claim is not barred (A.R.S. § 12-2505).

Deadlines. Dog bite cases can have two different deadlines. A strict-liability claim under Arizona's dog bite statute (A.R.S. § 11-1025) generally must be filed within one year (A.R.S. § 12-541). A negligence claim, for example one based on an owner's failure to control a dog, generally has two years (A.R.S. § 12-542). Which deadlines apply depends on your facts, so call us as soon as you can. The rules are stricter when a city, county, state agency, or government employee is involved. For example, if you were bitten at a government-run property or by a dog in a government agency's care, a notice of claim is generally required within 180 days (A.R.S. § 12-821.01). The lawsuit itself must generally be filed within 1 year (A.R.S. § 12-821).

Common types of dog bite cases

• Bites by a neighbor's dog. A dog slips through an open gate or a gap in the fence and attacks someone on the sidewalk or in their own yard.
• Bites at a friend's or relative's home. As a guest, you're lawfully on the property. Many people worry about making a claim against someone they know. Dog bites may be covered by the owner's homeowner's or renter's insurance, and the claim is usually paid by the insurer, not out of the owner's pocket. The insurer still works to pay as little as possible. We deal with the insurance company so you don't have to argue with a friend or family member.
• Bites on walks or in parks. Sidewalks, trails, and parks are public places. An off-leash dog or a dog that pulls free from its owner can cause serious harm.
• Attacks on children. Children are often bitten on the face and head. Scarring and emotional effects can last for years. A parent can bring the claim for a child. Insurers often claim a child provoked the dog, and we answer that with evidence.
• Delivery and service workers bitten on the job. Mail carriers, package drivers, and repair workers doing their jobs are lawfully on the property.
• Knock-down injuries by a loose dog. A charging dog can cause broken bones or a head injury without ever biting. If you hit your head, read about traumatic brain injury claims. Dog bite cases often happen on someone else's property and share ground with other slip and fall and premises liability claims. If a dog attack took a loved one's life, our wrongful death page explains how we help families.

Evidence and damages

Evidence we gather

• Photos of your wounds over time, from the first day through healing
• Medical records from the emergency room, urgent care, your doctor, and any surgeon
• The animal control or police report
• Witness statements
• The dog's history, including prior complaints or bites, when it helps your case
• Expert witnesses when a case needs them, such as doctors who explain scarring and future care

Dog bites can cause more than puncture wounds. Infection, nerve damage, and permanent scarring are possible. Some people need future care such as scar revision. This is general information, not medical advice. Your doctors decide your treatment. We make sure the full picture is documented.

Damages you may be able to recover

• Medical bills, past and future
• Future care, including scar treatment
• Lost wages
• Lost earning capacity
• Pain and suffering
• Scarring and disfigurement
• Emotional distress
• Property damage, such as clothing, glasses, or a phone

How Kent Law handles dog bite cases

We don't let insurance companies lowball you. Kent Law recovers millions of dollars for injured clients every year. We've handled thousands of injury cases. We handle negotiated settlements, mediation, arbitration and trial. We take on denied and stalled claims, including cases already at the litigation stage. Some insurance adjusters and defense attorneys have hired Kent Law for their own injury cases. People who work for the other side have trusted us with their own cases.

Adam C. Kent founded Kent Law in 2011 and has practiced in Arizona since 2006. He started his career as a prosecutor with the Maricopa County Attorney's Office. Jonathan Henry, our managing attorney, has extensive trial experience. We're aggressive, well prepared, and ready to take your case to trial. We fight for every penny of compensation you deserve.

Where your case is filed depends on court rules and the facts, such as where the bite happened and where the parties live. Phoenix-area and East Valley cases are usually filed in Maricopa County Superior Court, and we regularly file in Pima and Pinal counties too.

We work from one office in the Ahwatukee area of Phoenix. From there, we serve injured people in Tempe, Chandler residents hurt by someone else's dog, and families in Gilbert and Mesa. We usually meet at our office. If you can't get here, we can come to you at the hospital or at home, or meet by phone or video.

Past results do not guarantee a similar outcome.

What it costs

We handle dog bite cases on a contingency fee. No fee unless we win. Your case review is free. Before you sign anything, we explain our written fee agreement so you know how it works.

Talk with a Phoenix dog bite lawyer

The insurance company already has people working on its side. You should too. Call Kent Law at (480) 359-KENT today. Free case review. No fee unless we win. We usually meet at our office. If you can't get here, we can come to you at the hospital or at home, or meet by phone or video.

Se habla español. Interpretation is always available.

This page is general information, not legal advice. Every case is different.