Dog Bite Attorneys Serving Arizona
Dogs are often seen as part of the family. There’s a reason people call them “man’s best friend.” Unfortunately, sometimes dogs can be unpredictable and suddenly become vicious, even if they have never acted that way before. When a dog bites another person, the victim can become seriously injured and require significant medical attention. Dog bite victims often suffer from torn muscles, broken bones, and nerve damage. These cases are challenging to prove but with the help of an experienced attorney, it can be done. Weintraub & Weintraub is ready to take on your case to help you hold a dog’s owner responsible for the accident. Contact our experienced dog bite attorneys today.
Arizona’s Dog Bite Laws
The state of Arizona takes dog bites seriously. In fact, because Arizona is a “strict liability” state, a dog’s owner can be held liable even if the dog has never bitten anyone before. Other states across the country require a dog to have bitten someone previously before the owner can be held liable. In Arizona, if an injured party wishes to take legal action against a dog’s owner, they must be able to fulfill the burden of proof on two accounts.
First, the injured party must be able to prove that their injury was, in fact, caused by a dog bite. Second, they must be able to show that the attack took place in a public setting or that the victim was lawfully in a private place. That being said, if a person trespasses onto someone’s private property and is not there legally, they cannot take legal action against a dog’s owner if they are bitten. It is also important to be aware that in Arizona, a dog’s owner is not liable for an attack if he or she can prove that the victim was provoking the dog, which ultimately caused them to bite.
After a Dog Bite
If you are bitten by a dog in Arizona, it is important that you obtain the contact information of the owner immediately. It is also critical that you determine whether the dog is up to date on its rabies vaccinations. If there are any witnesses to the attack, it is important to obtain their contact information because it may be beneficial down the road. If you do wish to bring a dog bite case against the owner, be sure to do so in accordance with Arizona’s statute of limitations. While you may bring a lawsuit against a person within the statute’s 2-year limit, you may benefit further from taking action within 1 year in accordance with the state’s strict liability statute. If you fail to take action within 2 years allotted by the state for personal injury matters, you may be barred from taking legal action against the liable party.
Contact Our Dog Bite Injury Attorneys
If you are the innocent victim of a dog bite in Arizona, it is important to consider your legal options. The attorneys at Weintraub & Weintraub can effectively assess your case and help you recover compensation for your medical bills, lost wages, emotional distress, and more. Our firm has decades of experience guiding clients through each step of the personal injury claims process. Contact our dog bite attorneys today for quality legal representation.