Mesa Dog Bite Lawyer

If you or a child were bitten by a dog in Mesa, Arizona, it’s important to call the team at AJ Law, PLC for legal help today. We offer free consultations and can help you fight for the compensation you deserve. Contact us at (602) 671-2363 today to learn how an experienced Mesa dog bite lawyer can fight for your family.

The dog’s owner may owe you significant compensation. Don’t settle for less than what your dog bite case is worth. Reach out today to get legal guidance to help protect your interests.

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Why Choose AJ Law, PLC for Help After a Dog Bite in Mesa, AZ?

Recovering compensation after a dog bite can be challenging. Having an experienced legal team on your side can help you navigate the claims process and protect your rights. At AJ Law, PLC, our Mesa personal injury lawyers bring more than 20 years of experience handling personal injury cases.

Our firm’s qualifications and accomplishments include:

Over $110 million recovered in settlements and verdicts for clients
Recognition among The National Trial Lawyers Top 100
Recognition by Super Lawyers
Membership in the Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum

Our Mesa dog bite attorneys are committed to helping you understand your legal options and pursue fair compensation for your injuries. We’ll handle communications with insurance companies, evaluate your damages, and advocate for your interests throughout the process.

What Do I Have to Prove to Recover Compensation After a Dog Bites Me in Arizona?

Arizona has strict liability dog bite injury laws.

To recover compensation from the dog’s owner, you must prove:

You were on public property or lawfully on private property
The dog bit you
The defendant was the dog’s owner

You don’t have to prove the dog had vicious tendencies. You don’t have to prove the dog had bitten before. You can seek compensation even if you were bitten while lawfully visiting the dog owner’s property.

What if I Was Injured Because the Dog’s Owner Was Negligent?

Negligence can be relevant to your case. For example, assume the dog attacked and injured you—but didn’t bite you. Arizona’s strict liability dog bite law wouldn’t apply. The dog’s owner can still be liable if they failed to use reasonable caution.

Can I Sue Someone Other than a Dog’s Owner for Damages After a Dog Bite in Mesa?

Possibly. It’s natural to first evaluate the dog owner’s responsibility. However, if the bite didn’t occur on the dog owner’s private property, another property owner may be liable.

For example, that’s possible if you were bitten while visiting a:

Business
Rental apartment complex or building
Government building

A third-party property owner is not automatically liable simply because a dog bite occurred on their premises. However, liability may arise if the property owner owed the injured person a duty of care, knew or reasonably should have known about a dangerous condition, and failed to take appropriate precautions.

If the property owner knows, or should know, that a dog poses a threat, they may be responsible. They could be required to take steps to prevent injuries. That could include requiring leashes, posting signs, or taking other reasonable steps to prevent dog bites.

What Is My Mesa Dog Bite Injury Claim Worth?

Personal injury settlements and verdicts vary significantly based on the facts.

Principal factors that our attorneys evaluate when calculating the value of a personal injury case include:

Severity of the bite injuries
Medical expenses, lost income, and other financial losses
Future treatment and rehabilitation needs
Permanent scarring, disfigurement, or lasting impairment
Physical pain and emotional distress
Changes in daily activities and quality of life

Our Mesa dog bite attorneys can help document your losses, address insurance company challenges, and pursue fair compensation for your injuries.

What Types of Compensation Are Available to Dog Bite Victims in Mesa?

When you’re injured, you can seek compensation from the responsible parties. Compensation falls into two primary categories: economic damages and non-economic damages. Each serves a separate purpose.

Economic damages offset financial costs, including:

Current medical expenses, including hospitalization, reconstructive surgery, and medications
Future medical expenses, rehabilitation, and follow-up care
Lost wages
Lost earning potential
Out-of-pocket expenses
Property damage

Non-economic damages help victims cope with injury-related losses that are more personal, including:

Pain and suffering
Diminished quality of life
Emotional distress and trauma
Anxiety, fear, and PTSD
Physical disfigurement and scarring
Loss of enjoyment of life
Loss of consortium

Our attorneys can work with medical and financial experts to evaluate your damages, negotiate with insurance companies, and prepare your case for trial when necessary.

What Happens to My Right to Recover Compensation if I Was Partly Responsible for a Dog Bite in Arizona?

Defendants often try to avoid taking responsibility by blaming victims. The dog’s owner might say that you provoked the dog. It’s important to take these allegations seriously.

Arizona follows a pure comparative negligence system for many negligence-based injury claims. If you are partly responsible for your injuries, your compensation may be reduced by your percentage of fault.

However, Arizona’s strict-liability dog bite law has a separate provocation defense. If the dog owner establishes that the victim provoked the dog under the applicable legal standard, that may prevent recovery under the statutory claim. The effect of a victim’s conduct depends on the legal theory involved.

How Much Does It Cost to Hire a Lawyer to Handle a Dog Bite Injury Case in Arizona?

AJ Law, PLC takes cases on a contingency fee basis. You’ll agree to pay an agreed-upon percentage of your settlement or verdict.

Under a contingency fee arrangement, attorney fees generally depend on obtaining compensation. We’ll explain the percentage charged, how case expenses are handled, and whether you could owe any costs if your case is unsuccessful.

What Are Some Common Dog Bite Injuries in Mesa, AZ?

Our attorneys are prepared to help you seek compensation for any and all injuries resulting from the dog’s attack, including:

Nerve damage
Eye and facial injuries
Broken bones
Concussions
Dislocations
Joint injuries
Soft tissue damage to the muscles, tendons, and ligaments
Traumatic brain injuries
Spinal cord injuries
Head and neck injuries
Infections
Amputations
Paralysis

Dog attacks can be incredibly violent. The injuries can be even more severe if the victim is a child. Our attorneys won’t let the insurance companies downplay your suffering. If you were bitten by a dog, call our law firm for your free consultation today.

What Causes Most Dog Bite Incidents in Arizona?

Dog bites can happen unexpectedly, even when a dog has never attacked anyone before. Although every incident is different, certain situations may increase the risk of an attack.

Common circumstances associated with dog bites include:

Fear or anxiety: A frightened dog may bite when it feels threatened or trapped.
Territorial behavior: Dogs may react aggressively when someone approaches their home or yard.
Protective instincts: Some dogs bite when they perceive a threat to their owner, puppies, or food.
Pain or illness: An injured or sick dog may react defensively when touched.
Lack of supervision: Unsupervised interactions between dogs and children can increase the risk of injury.

Understanding what happened before an attack can help your attorney investigate the circumstances and determine which Arizona liability laws may apply.

What Should I Do After a Dog Bite in Mesa?

You can take steps to protect yourself and your legal claim after a dog bite. You can start by applying pressure to any wounds and calling 911 if you need an ambulance.

If you don’t require an ambulance, you can:

Wash the wound promptly with soap and water
Obtain the owner’s contact details and the dog’s vaccination status
Get contact information from any witnesses
Take photos of the wounds and any visible injuries
Seek medical treatment at the nearest emergency room
Avoid making recorded statements to the insurance company
Report the dog attack to animal control or local police

Call an experienced attorney to learn about your legal rights. We can help you identify available insurance coverage and handle the details while you recover.

How Long Do I Have to File a Personal Injury Lawsuit After a Dog Bite in Arizona?

The deadline depends on the laws that apply in your case. You’ll have one year to sue the dog’s owner under Arizona’s strict liability law. Because liability is established by statute, the shorter one-year deadline applies.

For negligence-based cases, you have two years to file a personal injury lawsuit. So, for example, if you can sue a third-party property owner for damages, you have two years from the date of the bite to take legal action.

Contact Our Mesa Dog Bite Lawyers for a Free Consultation Today

AJ Law, PLC is an award-winning personal injury law firm. We know how to protect your legal rights after a dog bite injury. Arizona’s dog bite laws can be complicated. Different legal theories may be relevant—and the insurance company might try to take advantage of you.

If you or a family member were bitten by a dog, call our experienced Mesa dog bite attorneys today for a free consultation. We’ll start working to protect your interests immediately.