Dog bite injuries can be severe. Victims may face significant medical expenses, lengthy physical recovery, or even permanent or life-threatening complications after a dog attack. If a dog bit you in Scottdale, Arizona, the experienced personal injury lawyers of Mushkatel, Gobbato & Kile, P.L.L.C., can help you hold the animal’s owner responsible for your damages.
Our full-service law firm has over 50 years of combined legal experience. Our full-service law firm has over 50 years of combined legal experience. Our highly rated and experienced dog bite lawyers are here to serve you with honesty, compassion, and individual attention. We can fight for the compensation you need to heal. Contact us today to learn more about your legal options.
Table of Contents
- What Are the Most Common Dog Bite Injuries?
- What Are the Dog Bite Laws in Scottsdale?
- What Does ‘Strict Liability’ Mean?
- What Is a ‘Dangerous’ Dog?
- Who Can Be Held Liable for a Dog Bite Injury in Scottsdale?
- What Should You Do After a Dog Bite Injury?
- What Compensation is Available in a Dog Bite Injury Lawsuit?
- Contact a Scottsdale Dog Bite Lawyer
What Are the Most Common Dog Bite Injuries?
The injuries you can suffer after being bitten by a dog include scratches, punctured skin, torn skin, broken bones, crush injuries, and nerve and tendon damage. The Cleveland Clinic reports that around 20 percent of dog bite wounds become infected.
Dog bites cause common infections, including Pasteurella, Staphylococcus, Capnocytophaga, and tetanus. Additionally, according to the World Health Organization (WHO), dog bites and scratches cause 99 percent of human rabies cases worldwide.
What Are the Dog Bite Laws in Scottsdale?
Under Arizona law, dog owners in Scottsdale may be held “strictly liable” for dog bite injuries. Maricopa County also has leash laws and asks victims to report bite injuries in Scottsdale to the authorities so they can investigate and, if necessary, act. The county can legally require owners to quarantine their pets. Laws also allow authorities to classify dogs as “aggressive” or “vicious.” Once dogs receive that classification, owners must take extra care to prevent attacks, or they may face civil liability and potential criminal penalties.
Arizona’s statute of limitations also affects dog bite claims. The law allows one year to file a case based on strict liability. You have two years to pursue a negligence-based case.
What Does ‘Strict Liability’ Mean?
Strict liability means that dog owners are financially responsible for damages arising from a bite injury, regardless of their dog’s previous viciousness or knowledge of it. Strict liability applies as long as the victim was lawfully on public or private property or not trespassing, including on the dog’s owner’s property.
Strict liability has a few exceptions. Owners may not be financially responsible if:
- The dog was a police or military service animal that bit while defending itself or assisting a law enforcement or military officer with their official duties.
- The dog bit an individual who was trespassing on private property.
- The victim provoked the dog into biting.
Strict liability also does not apply to any injuries other than bites. For example, if you broke your leg while a dog chased you, you must prove the owner acted negligently to recover compensation.
What Is a ‘Dangerous’ Dog?
A “dangerous” or “aggressive” dog is a dog that has bitten a person or domestic animal without provocation or has a known history of attacking without provocation.
Once authorities classify an animal as dangerous, its owner has legal obligations beyond most dog owners. Dangerous dog owners must ensure the animal cannot escape from their property and take reasonable measures to ensure it does not attack when in public. Failure to do these things may result in criminal penalties.
A “vicious” dog has a “propensity” to attack, cause injury, or threaten the safety of others without provocation. If authorities determine a dog is vicious, it may be taken from its owners and euthanized.
Who Can Be Held Liable for a Dog Bite Injury in Scottsdale?
If you suffered a dog bite injury in Scottsdale, you may seek to hold the animal’s owner strictly liable. You can also hold anyone liable whose negligence led to your injury. Other liable parties may include the individual “in control” of the animal at the time of your injury, such as a dog walker, pet sitter, or property owner. Our Scottsdale dog bite lawyer can help you identify all potentially liable parties.
What Should You Do After a Dog Bite Injury?
To protect your health after a Scottsdale dog bite injury, you should take as many of the following steps as possible:
- Wash the wound thoroughly.
- Stop any bleeding.
- Apply over-the-counter antibiotic cream.
- Wrap the wound in sterile bandages and change them often.
- Monitor the wound for infection, including redness, swelling, pain, or fever.
- Ensure your tetanus vaccinations.
If you develop signs of illness or infection, seek treatment from a medical professional.
If a dog bites or attacks you, report the incident immediately to Maricopa County Animal Care & Control (MCACC). Once you make a report, MCACC field officers will investigate the incident. Also, the MCACC will quarantine the dog for 10 days to ensure it does not have rabies. The MCACC investigation may result in a criminal charge for the dog owner. Bite victims may also pursue compensation from the dog’s owner.
What Compensation is Available in a Dog Bite Injury Lawsuit?
Dog bite victims can seek compensation for dog bites and animal attack injuries. If the dog’s owner has homeowners’ or renters’ insurance, you may be able to recover damages with a claim. If insurance is not available or does not offer a fair settlement, you can pursue your losses with a dog bite lawsuit.
Our Scottsdale dog bite attorneys can help you seek the maximum compensation possible for the following:
- Emergency medical treatment
- Doctor visits and hospitalizations
- Surgeries
- Prescription medications
- Physical therapy and rehabilitation
- Lost wages
- Lost future earnings and reduced earning capacity
- Physical pain and suffering
- Mental anguish and emotional distress
- Lost quality of life
- Wrongful death of a loved one.
Contact a Scottsdale Dog Bite Lawyer
You do not have to fight for compensation alone in your dog bite case. You can enlist the help of the experienced legal team at Mushkatel, Gobbato & Kile, P.L.L.C. We are proud to offer big-firm resources in a small-firm package. When you work with us, we personalize your representation to meet your unique needs and goals.
Contact us today to learn more about how our Scottsdale dog bite lawyers can serve you. We can tell you more about how our law firm can protect your rights and future.
Site by