Arizona Dog Bite Lawyers

Arizona Personal Injury and Dog Bite Lawyers in Phoenix, Mesa, Glendale, Tucson and Statewide

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report that 4.5 million Americans are bitten by dogs each year.  Of these, twenty percent require medical attention, and more than 30,000 people undergo reconstructive surgery as a result of their dog bite injuries.

Children and adult males are most at risk for dog bites, with children being more likely than adults to require medical care following a dog bite injury.  For information about dog bite prevention, we encourage you to visit CDC - Dog Bite Prevention.

The Importance of Acting Promptly Following a Dog Bite Injury

 

As with all personal injury claims in Arizona, those for dog bite injuries generally must either be settled or a lawsuit filed within a specified time after the incident.  If this requirement is not met, the claim will be barred, and the victim will not receive compensation from the dog’s owner.  Although there are a few exceptions to this rule, it is unwise to delay the proper presentation of a claim.

The timing requirement is referred to as a “statute of limitations.”  For reasons that are too complicated to explain here, there are two statutes of limitation affecting dog bite claims in Arizona.

In the absence of circumstances that would stop the time from running, the latest a lawsuit can be filed is two years from the date of the incident.  It is almost always preferable, however, to comply with the other limitation, which is a one year period.

In addition to statute of limitations considerations, practical problems can arise with delays in developing and presenting dog bit injury claims.  Evidence can be lost, memories of witnesses fade and the dog’s owners may become more difficult to locate.

We Can Help You

 

We understand the special complexities of medicine and law that apply to dog bite injury cases.  We also have the resources to stand toe-to-toe with the largest insurance companies.

Please call or email us for a confidential, no-obligation consultation about your dog bite injury matter.  Our experienced staff of certified injury specialists are ready to help you now, regardless of where you live.

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