Dog owners have a responsibility to keep their animals from harming others, and Arizona law reflects this by being very victim-friendly in dog bite cases. Arizona is not a “one bite” state (where a dog gets a free pass for the first bite). Instead, we have a strict liability rule: if a dog bites someone who is in a public place or lawfully on private property, the dog’s owner is liable for the injuries, regardless of whether the dog had shown any prior aggression or the owner was negligent. In simple terms, the first bite is on the owner.
The only major exceptions are if the victim provoked the dog or was trespassing – those are defenses the owner might raise. But absent provocation or trespass, an injured person doesn’t have to prove the owner did anything wrong; it’s enough to prove the bite occurred and caused harm. Dog bite injuries can be serious: puncture wounds, lacerations (often requiring stitches or plastic surgery), nerve damage, infections, and psychological trauma, especially for children. Arizona recognizes how traumatic these incidents can be and allows victims to recover all damages stemming from the bite – medical bills (including future scar revision surgeries or rabies shots), lost income if any, and pain and suffering, which can be significant when disfigurement or emotional scars are involved. Additionally, Arizona has specific statutes of limitations for dog bites: generally two years to file a lawsuit, but it’s wise to act sooner as evidence like photos of injuries or witness recollections are best obtained fresh. There may also be local county ordinances requiring the incident to be reported to animal control (for public safety and rabies monitoring).
At Bellah Law, we are dedicated to helping dog bite victims get full and fair compensation while also addressing the incident with the seriousness it deserves. Our attorneys have handled cases from minor nip wounds to severe maulings, and we approach each with care and urgency. One of the first things we do is ensure the bite is reported to the proper authorities and that you’ve received appropriate medical care (dog bites can be prone to infection; sometimes a medical expert’s input on future treatment is needed).
As your legal team, we then gather evidence to build your claim ironclad. Arizona’s strict liability law is on our side, but we still prepare for any pushback. We collect animal control reports, which often document the circumstances and any history of aggression. We interview witnesses or neighbors who might testify about the dog’s behavior or the lack of provocation. If the dog owner tries to claim you provoked the dog, we counter that with facts – for instance, perhaps the dog was off-leash in violation of local leash laws (which is itself evidence of negligence).
Bellah Law’s trial-ready posture means if the insurance company (typically a homeowners’ or renters’ insurance in dog bite cases) doesn’t offer a satisfactory settlement, we won’t hesitate to file a lawsuit and present your case to a jury. Juries in Arizona tend to be sympathetic to dog bite victims, especially when we can show the real impact: we might use medical illustrations of the injury, photographs over time, and even psychologist testimony if you or your child developed a fear or PTSD from the attack.
Through it all, our firm’s client-first, compassionate approach ensures that you feel supported. We know interacting with legal processes after a traumatic event can be daunting, so we make it as easy as possible – our bilingual team can communicate in Spanish to keep you comfortable, and we handle all the hard conversations with insurers and opposing parties. At Bellah Law, our goal is not just a financial recovery, but also to give you peace of mind. We take on the burden of the legal fight so that you can focus on healing, knowing that a capable, caring team is advocating for you and working to make your community safer by holding negligent dog owners accountable.