Dogs That Bite and the
Arizona Lawyers to Call for Help
Loyal, loving, friendly and fiercely protective at their best — most dogs are wonderful animals that go their whole lives without ever biting anyone. Many of us, in fact, think of our dogs more as people than we do as animals.
But even people have bad days and unpredictable reactions to stressful events. And a dog's bite can cause a lifetime of bad days. Some bites are minor and some are catastrophic; some come from "friendly" dogs and some from scary dogs. But unless the person bitten was committing a criminal trespass or purposely taunting the dog, the dog owner is usually liable for the resulting harm.
As a law firm, Plattner Verderame, P.C., has been helping Arizona dog bite victims obtain justice and compensation for medical expenses and other damages since 1991. We care about our clients and strive to provide each one with the highest standards of personal service. We also care about our integrity and only accept cases where we know we're on the side that deserves to win. These values and our proven ability to get results in even the most difficult cases have made our law firm a resource other attorneys have relied on and referred cases to for years.
It was your neighbor's dog. You're not the kind of person who sues. You may even feel guilty just thinking about a lawsuit and the money that it would cost the dog's owners. Many people feel that way, and most don't know that the animal owner's homeowner's insurance will pay for the damages and the owner's legal defense, too. But if your dog bite injuries are serious, they can be seriously expensive. You shouldn't have to bear those expenses alone. If the insurance company is fighting for the dog's owner, who will fight for you? You deserve a fair shake. Contact us for the help you need to get it.
Arizona Dog Bite Laws
In Arizona, there are no "free bites," but there are two ways for a dog bite victim to obtain compensation. First, a victim could pursue a strict liability claim governed by Arizona Revised Statutes Sections 11-1020 and 11-1025.A. Generally, the only defense to this type of claim is that the attack was somehow provoked or that the person bitten was unlawfully on the property. That said, it is the animal owner's burden to prove a legal defense. Such a strict liability claim must usually be filed in court within one year of the injury. Second, the victim could pursue an ordinary negligence claim, typically by showing the dog had a known propensity to bite and was not properly controlled. These cases can usually be filed within two years of the injury.
Your rights can be lost if you wait too long to file suit. Your rights can also become impossible to protect without a prompt and thorough investigation by an experienced attorney. Don't delay in hiring counsel. The insurance adjuster may seem like your friend at the beginning of the case — but if his true colors show differently when it's time to write the check, it may be too late.
For more information on this topic and our practice, see:
If it was your dog that bit someone and your homeowner's insurance carrier is refusing to defend you or provide coverage, talk to us about filing a bad faith insurance claim.
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Nationwide Toll Free: 866-476-3054
Call or contact us today for a free consultation with an experienced lawyer.
We handle dog bite cases on a contingency fee basis, which means that you won't owe us anything to have us represent you unless we obtain a verdict or settlement on your behalf. If you're an honest person with honest injuries, we're a law firm that wants to help you.
Each of the attorneys on our staff has been certified by the Arizona Bar Association Board of Legal Specialization as a Specialist in Personal Injury and Wrongful Death Litigation.
