{"id":353446,"date":"2017-08-23T19:44:47","date_gmt":"2017-08-24T00:44:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/content.findlaw-admin.com\/ability-law\/injury\/torts-and-personal-injuries\/do-i-need-a-dog-bite-attorney.html"},"modified":"2023-06-28T16:04:00","modified_gmt":"2023-06-28T21:04:00","slug":"do-i-need-a-dog-bite-attorney","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/injury\/torts-and-personal-injuries\/do-i-need-a-dog-bite-attorney.html","title":{"rendered":"Do I Need a Dog Bite Attorney?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div class=\"wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 fl-sectionWithSidebar fl-container fl-flex fl-flex-wrap fl-gap30\">\n<div class=\"fl-page-articles fl-section-main fl-section-main-full-width\"><h1 class=\"fl-no-margin-top\">Do I Need a Dog Bite Attorney?<\/h1>\n\n<section class=\"fl-gutenberg-byline\">\n    <div class=\"fl-gutenberg-byline-content\">\n                    By <a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/company\/our-team.html\">FindLaw Staff<\/a> | Legally reviewed by <a\n                href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/company\/our-team\/joseph-fawbush-esq\/\">Joseph Fawbush, Esq.<\/a>\n                | Last updated\n        <time>\n                            June 28, 2023\n                    <\/time>\n    <\/div>\n\n    \n    <details class=\"fl-gutenberg-byline-toggle fl-gutenberg-byline-legally-reviewed\">\n        <summary>\n            <i class=\"fl-gutenberg-byline-icon\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i>\n            Legally Reviewed\n        <\/summary>\n\n        <div class=\"fl-gutenberg-byline-toggle-content\">\n            <p><em>This article has been written and reviewed for legal accuracy, clarity, and style by <a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/company\/our-team.html\">FindLaw\u2019s team of legal writers and attorneys<\/a> and in accordance with <a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/company\/company-history\/editorial-policy.html\">our editorial standards<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n        <\/div>\n    <\/details>\n\n    <details class=\"fl-gutenberg-byline-toggle fl-gutenberg-byline-fast-checked\">\n        <summary>\n            <i class=\"fl-gutenberg-byline-icon\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i>\n            Fact-Checked\n        <\/summary>\n\n        <div class=\"fl-gutenberg-byline-toggle-content\">\n            <p><em>The last updated date refers to the last time this article was reviewed by FindLaw or one of our <a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/company\/our-team\/contributing-authors.html\">contributing authors<\/a>. We make every effort to keep our articles updated. For information regarding a specific legal issue affecting you, please <a href=\"https:\/\/lawyers.findlaw.com\/?fli=bylinelink\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">contact an attorney in your area<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n        <\/div>\n    <\/details>\n<\/section>\n\n\n    <div class=\"fl-callout-text article-blockquote\">\n        <p>If a dog bite caused a serious injury, you may want a lawyer to represent you during the claim process. An attorney can help you seek compensation for your medical bills and other damages.<\/p>\n\n    <\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Dog owners love their pets for providing endless amounts of love and companionship. They don&#8217;t love when their animal attacks someone and causes serious injuries. These injuries can be&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/injury\/torts-and-personal-injuries\/dog-bites-animal-attacks.html\">property damage or personal injuries.<\/a><\/p>\n<p>Whether your dog bit someone or a dog bit you, you may need to hire a <a href=\"https:\/\/lawyers.findlaw.com\/animal-bites-plaintiff\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">dog bite attorney<\/a>. But you might not know if a dog bite is serious enough to take legal action or if you really need an attorney to do so. This article explains a few factors about dog attack liability and injuries to consider when deciding whether you should get legal help.<\/p>\n<h2>How a Lawyer Can Help<\/h2>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/injury\/torts-and-personal-injuries\/dog-bite-laws-by-state.html\">Dog bite laws vary by state<\/a>,&nbsp;so it&#8217;s important to pick a local personal injury lawyer with experience in dog bite claims. These&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/lawyers.findlaw.com\/personal-injury-plaintiff\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">personal injury attorneys<\/a> help evaluate your dog bite case.<\/p>\n<p>A lawyer can tell you if:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>You have a claim against someone else<\/li>\n<li>You are liable, or responsible, for your dog&#8217;s actions<\/li>\n<li>Your dog is a&nbsp;dangerous dog under the law<\/li>\n<li>There are any legal defenses to make<\/li>\n<li>Your homeowner&#8217;s insurance policy will cover any damages<\/li>\n<li>There will be any legal or monetary consequences<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Dog bite attorneys often have a free case evaluation. They play an important role in these lawsuits since they know the&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/injury\/torts-and-personal-injuries\/dog-bite-laws-by-state.html\">applicable laws of your state<\/a>, how to calculate damages, statute of limitations, and how to present evidence to a jury.<\/p>\n<h2>What Can I Do if I&#8217;m Injured by a Dog?<\/h2>\n<p>You have several options if someone else&#8217;s animal attacks you. You or your loved one should report the attack to animal control and seek medical treatment. You should also make sure to get the phone number and contact information of the owner of the dog and any witnesses who saw the incident. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/injury\/torts-and-personal-injuries\/how-to-file-a-dog-bite-report.html\">Filing a dog bite report<\/a>&nbsp;is important to your case.<\/p>\n<p>Next, you can&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/injury\/accident-injury-law\/stages-of-a-personal-injury-case.html\">pursue a personal injury claim<\/a>. Personal injury can include medical expenses and disfigurement suffered in the dog attack.<\/p>\n<p>If the dog bite happened on the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/injury\/torts-and-personal-injuries\/what-happens-if-a-dog-bites-someone-on-your-property.html\">other person&#8217;s property<\/a>, you would file a homeowners insurance claim with the dog owner&#8217;s insurance company. Most homeowners insurance policies will cover an initial dog bite claim (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/injury\/torts-and-personal-injuries\/what-is-the-one-bite-rule.html\">&#8220;one-bite rule<\/a>&#8220;) on the insured&#8217;s property.<\/p>\n<p>Some policies will also cover dog bite victims&#8217; claims that occur off the property. In those situations, the policyholder owns or keeps the dog on the insured property covered by the insurance company.<\/p>\n<p>A dog bite attorney can be helpful in negotiating with the insurance company and giving you legal advice. They use their knowledge and experience to make sure you get fair compensation based on the severity of your injuries. Compensation includes your medical bills, lost income, and emotional trauma. A&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/legalblogs\/personal-injury\/how-much-is-a-dog-bite-injury-lawsuit-worth\/#:~:text=On%20average%2C%20people%20can%20expect%20around%20%2440%2C000%20for,out-of-pocket%20expenses%2C%20lost%20wages%2C%20and%20other%20consequential%20damages.\">severe dog bite case averages $40,000<\/a>, but it depends on the facts of your case and state laws. Some courts look at the <a href=\"https:\/\/apdt.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/ian-dunbar-dog-bite-scale.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Dunbar Dog Bite Scale<\/a>, which rates dog bites into levels of severity from a scale of one to six.<\/p>\n<p>You can also file a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/injury\/torts-and-personal-injuries\/landlord-liability-for-dog-bites.html\">lawsuit against a&nbsp;landlord<\/a> or the dog&#8217;s owner for damages. Some state dog bite statutes even allow these lawsuits to cover other types of dog-related injuries, like lacerations not caused by a bite.<\/p>\n<h2>Proving Liability in a Dog Bite Case<\/h2>\n<p>Whether you can hold someone liable for your dog bite injuries depends on state law and the facts of your case. In some states, the traditional common law &#8220;one-bite&#8221; rule imposes responsibility in limited situations. A dog gets a pass for its first bite unless the owner did something wrong. For example, if the owner <a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/injury\/torts-and-personal-injuries\/proving-owner-knowledge-of-a-dog-s-viciousness.html\">knew or had reason to know their dog was dangerous<\/a>, then they would be liable to a dog bite victim.<\/p>\n<p>Approximately half the states have statutes that impose&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/dictionary.findlaw.com\/definition\/liability.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">strict liability<\/a>&nbsp;on dog owners. This means the injured person only has to show that a dog caused their injury. The dog bite victim must not have been trespassing and had to have a legal right to be where they were. Precautions taken by the owner are not considered in those states.<\/p>\n<p>States that do not have dog bite statutes follow the common law negligent standard. This means the owner must act like a reasonable pet owner and keep their animal under control. Various dog bite and&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/injury\/accident-injury-law\/negligence.html\">negligence statutes<\/a>&nbsp;mean that the owner generally has a duty to protect others from harm caused by their dog. This includes guests, workers&nbsp;on the owner&#8217;s property, and people in public places. Owners also have to obey local&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/codes.findlaw.com\/va\/title-3-2-agriculture-animal-care-and-food\/va-code-sect-3-2-6539\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">leash laws<\/a> and statutes that create liability. In some states, owners must take extra measures if they own a particularly dangerous animal or a specific breed of dog.<\/p>\n<p>There are situations where a dog bite incident may lead to a verdict against another person who is not the dog owner. These other liable parties can include:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Parents of a dog-owning minor<\/li>\n<li>Animal caretakers (such as dog sitters or a kennel)<\/li>\n<li>Property owners<\/li>\n<li>Landlords<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>Potential Defenses in a Dog Bite Case<\/h2>\n<p>The potential defenses someone might use against you in a&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/injury\/torts-and-personal-injuries\/dog-bites-and-animal-attack-overview.html\">dog bite case<\/a>&nbsp;will vary depending on the laws of your state. Some common arguments an opposing dog bite attorney may argue include the following:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Trespassing:<\/strong> Trespassers may have&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/realestate\/land-use-laws\/homeowner-liability-for-trespasser-injuries.html\">some legal protections.&nbsp;<\/a>Your state&#8217;s dog bite statutes may demand the victim prove he had permission to be in a location where he was bit. Under those rules, a person does not recover damages for a dog bite that occurs while trespassing.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Provocation:<\/strong> Another common liability defense is if the injured person provokes the dog before the attack. Should a person tease, corner, or hit a dog in some states, the dog owner will not have to pay damages in a dog bite lawsuit.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Comparative Negligence or Assumption of Risk:<\/strong> In some cases, the dog&#8217;s owner may argue that you are&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/injury\/accident-injury-law\/contributory-and-comparative-negligence.html\">partially responsible<\/a>&nbsp;for your own injuries. For example, if the owner provided adequate warnings about their dog, but you disregarded those warnings. Your reimbursement for medical care and injuries is reduced or denied.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>An experienced dog bite lawyer will know which arguments an opposing dog bite attorney might use against you. Experienced attorneys who handle personal injury cases will best know how to combat those defenses.<\/p>\n<h2>Contact a Dog Bite Attorney<\/h2>\n<p>Whether you&#8217;re pursuing a dog bite lawsuit or defending against one, the consequences can be significant. Depending on where the incident happened or where you live, a successful lawsuit can result in awards that cover medical bills,&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/injury\/torts-and-personal-injuries\/wrongful-death.html\">wrongful death<\/a>, lost income, loss of companionship, pain and suffering, and even&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/corporate.findlaw.com\/litigation-disputes\/avoiding-liability-for-punitive-damages.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">punitive damages<\/a>. Knowing which laws, damages, and defenses apply to your situation can be difficult. If you&#8217;re dealing with a lawsuit involving injuries caused by a dog, contact an experienced&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/lawyers.findlaw.com\/personal-injury-plaintiff\/?fli=dcta\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">dog bite attorney<\/a>&nbsp;in your area today.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"was-this-helpful\">\n    <div\n            class=\"was-this-helpful__question-container\"\n            aria-labelledby=\"was-this-helpful__question\"\n            role=\"group\"\n    >\n        <span\n                id=\"was-this-helpful__question\"\n                class=\"was-this-helpful__question fl-text-lg-bold\"\n        >Was this helpful?<\/span>\n        <button\n                class=\"was-this-helpful__button fl-text-sm\"\n                aria-label=\"Yes\"\n                value=\"yes\"\n        >\n            <span class=\"was-this-helpful__button-text fl-text-bold\">Yes<\/span>\n            <i class=\"was-this-helpful__button-icon\">\n                <svg width=\"22\" height=\"22\" viewBox=\"0 0 22 22\" fill=\"none\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\">\n                    <g id=\"thumbs-up\" clip-path=\"url(#clip0_604_3418)\">\n                        <path id=\"Vector\"\n                              d=\"M6 21H3C2.46957 21 1.96086 20.7893 1.58579 20.4142C1.21071 20.0391 1 19.5304 1 19V12C1 11.4696 1.21071 10.9609 1.58579 10.5858C1.96086 10.2107 2.46957 10 3 10H6M13 8V4C13 3.20435 12.6839 2.44129 12.1213 1.87868C11.5587 1.31607 10.7956 1 10 1L6 10V21H17.28C17.7623 21.0055 18.2304 20.8364 18.5979 20.524C18.9654 20.2116 19.2077 19.7769 19.28 19.3L20.66 10.3C20.7035 10.0134 20.6842 9.72068 20.6033 9.44225C20.5225 9.16382 20.3821 8.90629 20.1919 8.68751C20.0016 8.46873 19.7661 8.29393 19.5016 8.17522C19.2371 8.0565 18.9499 7.99672 18.66 8H13Z\"\n                              stroke=\"#666666\" stroke-width=\"2\" stroke-linecap=\"round\"\n                              stroke-linejoin=\"round\"><\/path>\n                    <\/g>\n                    <defs>\n                        <clipPath id=\"clip0_604_3418\">\n                            <rect width=\"22\" height=\"22\" fill=\"white\"><\/rect>\n                        <\/clipPath>\n                    <\/defs>\n                <\/svg>\n            <\/i>\n        <\/button>\n        <button\n                class=\"was-this-helpful__button fl-text-sm\"\n                aria-label=\"No\"\n                value=\"no\"\n        >\n            <span class=\"was-this-helpful__button-text fl-text-bold\">No<\/span>\n            <i class=\"was-this-helpful__button-icon\">\n                <svg width=\"22\" height=\"22\" viewBox=\"0 0 22 22\" fill=\"none\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\">\n                    <g id=\"thumbs-down\" clip-path=\"url(#clip0_604_3423)\">\n                        <path id=\"Vector\"\n                              d=\"M16 0.999995H18.67C19.236 0.989986 19.7859 1.18813 20.2154 1.55681C20.645 1.9255 20.9242 2.43905 21 3V10C20.9242 10.5609 20.645 11.0745 20.2154 11.4432C19.7859 11.8119 19.236 12.01 18.67 12H16M9.00003 14V18C9.00003 18.7956 9.3161 19.5587 9.87871 20.1213C10.4413 20.6839 11.2044 21 12 21L16 12V0.999995H4.72003C4.2377 0.994543 3.76965 1.16359 3.40212 1.47599C3.0346 1.78839 2.79235 2.22309 2.72003 2.7L1.34003 11.7C1.29652 11.9866 1.31586 12.2793 1.39669 12.5577C1.47753 12.8362 1.61793 13.0937 1.80817 13.3125C1.99842 13.5313 2.23395 13.7061 2.49846 13.8248C2.76297 13.9435 3.05012 14.0033 3.34003 14H9.00003Z\"\n                              stroke=\"#666666\" stroke-width=\"2\" stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\"\/>\n                    <\/g>\n                    <defs>\n                        <clipPath id=\"clip0_604_3423\">\n                            <rect width=\"22\" height=\"22\" fill=\"white\"\/>\n                        <\/clipPath>\n                    <\/defs>\n                <\/svg>\n            <\/i>\n        <\/button>\n    <\/div>\n    <span class=\"was-this-helpful__taken-action fl-text-sm-bold\"><\/span>\n    <div class=\"was-this-helpful__feedback-container\">\n        <div class=\"was-this-helpful__choose-option-message\" role=\"status\">\n            <p class=\"was-this-helpful__choose-option-message-text\"><\/p>\n        <\/div>\n        <form class=\"was-this-helpful__feedback-form\">\n            <div class=\"was-this-helpful__feedback was-this-helpful__feedback--positive\">\n                <fieldset>\n                    <legend class=\"was-this-helpful__feedback-form-title\" tabindex=\"0\">Why was this helpful?<\/legend>\n                    <div class=\"fl-radio-button-field fl-flex was-this-helpful__feedback-form-title\">\n                        <input\n                                id=\"was-this-helpful__radio-button--understandable\"\n                                class=\"fl-radio-button-field-input\"\n                                type=\"radio\"\n                                name=\"positive-feedback\"\n                                value=\"Easy to understand\"\n                        >\n                        <label\n                                class=\"fl-radio-button-field-label fl-text-sm was-this-helpful__radio-label\"\n                                for=\"was-this-helpful__radio-button--understandable\"\n                        >Easy to understand<\/label>\n                    <\/div>\n                    <div class=\"fl-radio-button-field fl-flex was-this-helpful__feedback-form-title\">\n                        <input\n                                id=\"was-this-helpful__radio-button--solved-problem\"\n                                class=\"fl-radio-button-field-input\"\n                                type=\"radio\"\n                                name=\"positive-feedback\"\n                                value=\"Solved my problem\"\n                        >\n                        <label\n                                class=\"fl-radio-button-field-label fl-text-sm was-this-helpful__radio-label\"\n                                for=\"was-this-helpful__radio-button--solved-problem\"\n                        >Solved my problem<\/label>\n                    <\/div>\n                    <div class=\"fl-radio-button-field fl-flex was-this-helpful__feedback-form-title\">\n                        <input\n                                id=\"was-this-helpful__radio-button--other\"\n                                class=\"fl-radio-button-field-input\"\n                                type=\"radio\"\n                                name=\"positive-feedback\"\n                                value=\"Other\"\n                        >\n                        <label\n                                class=\"fl-radio-button-field-label fl-text-sm was-this-helpful__radio-label\"\n                                for=\"was-this-helpful__radio-button--other\"\n                        >Other<\/label>\n                    <\/div>\n                <\/fieldset>\n            <\/div>\n            <div class=\"was-this-helpful__feedback was-this-helpful__feedback--negative\">\n                <fieldset>\n                    <legend class=\"was-this-helpful__feedback-form-title\" tabindex=\"0\">Why was this not helpful?<\/legend>\n                    <div class=\"was-this-helpful__choose-option-message\" role=\"status\">\n                        <p class=\"was-this-helpful__choose-option-message-text\"><\/p>\n                    <\/div>\n                    <div class=\"fl-radio-button-field fl-flex was-this-helpful__feedback-form-title\">\n                        <input\n                                id=\"was-this-helpful__radio-button--missing-info\"\n                                class=\"fl-radio-button-field-input\"\n                                type=\"radio\"\n                                name=\"negative-feedback\"\n                                value=\"Missing Information\"\n                        >\n                        <label\n                                class=\"fl-radio-button-field-label fl-text-sm was-this-helpful__radio-label\"\n                                for=\"was-this-helpful__radio-button--missing-info\"\n                        >Missing the information I need<\/label>\n                    <\/div>\n                    <div class=\"fl-radio-button-field fl-flex was-this-helpful__feedback-form-title\">\n                        <input\n                                id=\"was-this-helpful__radio-button--complicated\"\n                                class=\"fl-radio-button-field-input\"\n                                type=\"radio\"\n                                name=\"negative-feedback\"\n                                value=\"Too complicated\"\n                        >\n                        <label\n                                class=\"fl-radio-button-field-label fl-text-sm was-this-helpful__radio-label\"\n                                for=\"was-this-helpful__radio-button--complicated\"\n                        >Too complicated \/ too many steps<\/label>\n                    <\/div>\n                    <div class=\"fl-radio-button-field fl-flex was-this-helpful__feedback-form-title\">\n                        <input\n                                id=\"was-this-helpful__radio-button--dated\"\n                                class=\"fl-radio-button-field-input\"\n                                type=\"radio\"\n                                name=\"negative-feedback\"\n                                value=\"Out of date\"\n                        >\n                        <label\n                                class=\"fl-radio-button-field-label fl-text-sm was-this-helpful__radio-label\"\n                                for=\"was-this-helpful__radio-button--dated\"\n                        >Out of date<\/label>\n                    <\/div>\n                    <div class=\"fl-radio-button-field fl-flex was-this-helpful__feedback-form-title\">\n                        <input\n                                id=\"was-this-helpful__radio-button--negative-other\"\n                                class=\"fl-radio-button-field-input\"\n                                type=\"radio\"\n                                name=\"negative-feedback\"\n                                value=\"Other\"\n                        >\n                        <label\n                                class=\"fl-radio-button-field-label fl-text-sm was-this-helpful__radio-label\"\n                                for=\"was-this-helpful__radio-button--negative-other\"\n                        >Other<\/label>\n                    <\/div>\n                <\/fieldset>\n            <\/div>\n            <div class=\"was-this-helpful__form-buttons-container\">\n                <button\n                    class=\"was-this-helpful__feedback-button was-this-helpful__feedback-button--positive at-feedback-submit fl-button secondary\"\n                    type=\"submit\"\n                >\n                    <span class=\"fl-button-content\">Submit<\/span>\n                    <i\n                        class=\"fa fa-angle-right medium\"\n                        aria-hidden=\"true\"\n                    ><\/i>\n                <\/button>\n                <button\n                    class=\"was-this-helpful__feedback-button was-this-helpful__feedback-button--cancel fl-button primary disabled\"\n                    type=\"reset\"\n                >\n                    <span class=\"fl-button-content\">Cancel<\/span>\n                    <i\n                        class=\"fa fa-times-circle medium\"\n                        aria-hidden=\"true\"\n                    ><\/i>\n                <\/button>\n            <\/div>\n        <\/form>\n    <\/div>\n    <div class=\"was-this-helpful__thank-you-message\" role=\"status\">\n        <i class=\"was-this-helpful__thank-you-message-icon fa fa-check\"><\/i>\n        <p class=\"was-this-helpful__thank-you-message-text\" aria-live=\"polite\"><\/p>\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"fl-section-sidebar\"><div class=\"fl-editors-summary\" data-testid=\"fl-editors-summary\">\n    \n    <div class=\"fl-editors-summary-content\" data-testid=\"fl-editors-summary-content\">\n                    <h2>Can I Solve This on My Own or Do I Need an Attorney?<\/h2>\n                <div class=\"fl-editors-summary-content-main\" data-testid=\"fl-editors-summary-content-main\">\n            \n        <\/div>\n        <ul class=\"fl-list-style-none\">\n                            <li data-testid=\"fl-editors-summary-content-item\">\n                    <i class=\"fa fa-check medium fl-editors-summary-content-item-icon\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i>\n                    A lawyer can help seek fair compensation on your behalf\n\n                <\/li>\n                            <li data-testid=\"fl-editors-summary-content-item\">\n                    <i class=\"fa fa-check medium fl-editors-summary-content-item-icon\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i>\n                    A lawyer can help you gather evidence of an animal\u2019s dangerous nature and the owner\u2019s liability\n\n                <\/li>\n                            <li data-testid=\"fl-editors-summary-content-item\">\n                    <i class=\"fa fa-check medium fl-editors-summary-content-item-icon\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i>\n                    Animal injury claims are complex, and insurance companies have lawyers on their side\n\n                <\/li>\n                    <\/ul>\n                    <div class=\"fl-editors-summary-content-description\" data-testid=\"fl-editors-summary-content-description\">\n                <p>Get tailored legal advice and ask a lawyer questions about your injury. Many attorneys offer free consultations.<\/p>\n\n            <\/div>\n                            <div class=\"fl-editors-summary-content-link fl-flex\" data-testid=\"fl-editors-summary-content-link\">\n                <i class=\"fa fa-angle-right medium\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i>\n                <p class=\"find-attorney\"><a href=\"https:\/\/lawyers.findlaw.com\/personal-injury-plaintiff\/#USER_GEO\/?fli=esum:FL3905\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Find a local attorney<\/a><\/p>\n\n            <\/div>\n            <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"email-subscription fl-mb30\">\n    <div class=\"email-subscription-header\">\n        <div class=\"email-subscription-header-content\">\n            <h3 class=\"fl-callout-sm fl-no-margin\">Stay Up-to-Date With How the Law Affects Your Life<\/h3>\n        <\/div>\n        <div class=\"email-subscription-header-image fl-flex fl-items-end\">\n            <img decoding=\"async\"\n                src=\"https://www.findlaw.com/static/c/images\/images\/w_1200,c_limit,dpr_auto\/f_auto,q_auto:eco\/v1745902396\/ability-law\/wp-prod\/general-components-subscribe-module-Image-subscribeModule_1\/general-components-subscribe-module-Image-subscribeModule_1.png?_i=AA\"\n                alt=\"\"\n                loading=\"lazy\"\n            \/>\n        <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n\n    <div class=\"email-subscription-content fl-flex fl-flex-wrap\">\n        <div class=\"email-subscription-content-text fl-mb25\">\n            <h4 class=\"fl-no-margin\">Enter your email address to subscribe<\/h4>\n        <\/div>\n\n        <form class=\"email-subscription-content-form\">\n            <input type=\"hidden\" name=\"distributionList\" value=\"latl\" \/>\n            <label for=\"email-subscription-content-form-group-input\" class=\"fl-text-sm-bold\">Email (Required)<\/label>\n            <div class=\"email-subscription-content-form-group\">\n                <input id=\"email-subscription-content-form-group-input\" name=\"email\" autocomplete=\"email\"\/>\n                <button type=\"submit\" aria-label=\"Submit\">\n                    <i class=\"fa fa-angle-right\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i>\n                <\/button>\n            <\/div>\n            <p class=\"email-subscription-content-form-success subscribe-success-message fl-text-sm-bold\" aria-hidden=\"true\" role=\"status\">Thank you for subscribing!<\/p>\n            <p class=\"email-subscription-content-form-error subscribe-error-message fl-text-sm-bold\" role=\"alert\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/p>\n\n            <div id=\"email-subscription-content-form-recaptcha\" class=\"email-subscription-content-form-recaptcha subscribe-recaptcha\"\n                data-sitekey=\"0x4AAAAAAABGBEkK9kEeKxO-\"><\/div>\n        <\/form>\n\n        <div class=\"email-subscription-content-footer fl-text-sm\">\n            <p><a href=\"https:\/\/newsletters.findlaw.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Learn more about FindLaw\u2019s newsletters<\/a>, including our terms of use and privacy policy.<\/p>\n\n        <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"general-list\">\n    <h3>Helpful Links<\/h3>\n    <ul class=\"fl-list fl-no-margin\">\n                                    <li class=\"fl-list-item fl-flex\">\n                    <i class=\"fa fa-angle-right medium\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i>\n                    <a class=\"fl-list-item-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/injury\/torts-and-personal-injuries\/animal-bites-who-pays-damages.html\">\n                        Who Pays for Animal Bites?\n                    <\/a>\n                <\/li>\n                                                <li class=\"fl-list-item fl-flex\">\n                    <i class=\"fa fa-angle-right medium\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i>\n                    <a class=\"fl-list-item-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/injury\/torts-and-personal-injuries\/how-to-file-a-dog-bite-report.html\">\n                        How to File a Dog Bite Report\n                    <\/a>\n                <\/li>\n                                                <li class=\"fl-list-item fl-flex\">\n                    <i class=\"fa fa-angle-right medium\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i>\n                    <a class=\"fl-list-item-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/injury\/torts-and-personal-injuries\/dog-animal-bites-faq.html\">\n                        Dog\/Animal Bites FAQ\n                    <\/a>\n                <\/li>\n                        <\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\n\n    <div class=\"popularDirectory\">\n        <div class=\"general-popular-directory \">\n            <div class=\"general-popular-directory-title\">\n                <h3>Attorney Directory<\/h3>\n            <\/div>\n            <ul>\n                                    <li><a href=\"https:\/\/lawyers.findlaw.com\/animal-bites-plaintiff\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Animal Bites Lawyers<\/a><\/li>\n                                    <li><a href=\"https:\/\/lawyers.findlaw.com\/assault-battery-plaintiff\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Assault and Battery Attorneys<\/a><\/li>\n                                    <li><a href=\"https:\/\/lawyers.findlaw.com\/premises-liability-plaintiff\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Premises Liability Lawyers<\/a><\/li>\n                                    <li><a href=\"https:\/\/lawyers.findlaw.com\/personal-injury-plaintiff\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Personal Injury Attorneys<\/a><\/li>\n                                    <li><a href=\"https:\/\/lawyers.findlaw.com\/landlord-tenant\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Landlord and Tenant Lawyers<\/a><\/li>\n                                    <li><a href=\"https:\/\/lawyers.findlaw.com\/insurance-law\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Insurance Lawyers<\/a><\/li>\n                                    <li><a href=\"https:\/\/lawyers.findlaw.com\/criminal-law\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Criminal Defense Attorneys<\/a><\/li>\n                            <\/ul>\n        <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>FindLaw&#8217;s legal primer on whether you need a dog bite attorney if you&#8217;ve been bitten or otherwise injured by a dog or pet.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":41135,"featured_media":0,"parent":353411,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"app\/Http\/Controllers\/Templates\/ArticleWithBreadcrumbsController.php","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_stopmodifiedupdate":true,"_modified_date":"","_autodraft_ids":[],"_cloudinary_featured_overwrite":false,"_sb_is_suggestion_mode":false,"_sb_show_suggestion_boards":false,"_sb_show_comment_boards":false,"_sb_suggestion_history":"","_sb_update_block_changes":"","_is_real_time_mode":false,"_realtime_collaborators":"","footnotes":"","cf_checklist_status":[]},"categories":[2734],"tags":[],"state_laws_tags":[],"flmsa":[],"class_list":["post-353446","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry","category-injury"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/law-api\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/353446","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/law-api\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/law-api\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/law-api\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/41135"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/law-api\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=353446"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/law-api\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/353446\/revisions"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/law-api\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/353411"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/law-api\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=353446"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/law-api\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=353446"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/law-api\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=353446"},{"taxonomy":"state_laws_tags","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/law-api\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/state_laws_tags?post=353446"},{"taxonomy":"flmsa","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/law-api\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/flmsa?post=353446"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}