Dog Bite Lawyer in Alpharetta, GA

The Georgia rule

Georgia’s dog bite law is set out in O.C.G.A. § 51-2-7. In plain terms, an owner or keeper of a dog can be responsible when:

• the dog was vicious or dangerous,
• the owner was careless in managing it, or let it run loose, and
• you did not provoke it.

The first point is usually the hardest to prove. The ordinary evidence is the dog’s history — earlier bites, attacks, or aggressive behavior toward people.

But there is a shortcut. Many cities and counties require dogs to be leashed or at heel. Where such a rule applies and the dog was not leashed or at heel, that is enough to prove it was dangerous. You do not need a history of earlier bites. The other points — careless management, and no provocation — still have to be shown.

That shortcut matters a great deal in metro Atlanta, where most cities and counties have leash or animal-control ordinances. A dog that got out of a yard and bit someone on the sidewalk is often a clearer case. A bite inside the dog’s own home can be harder.

Who pays

In most cases, the dog owner’s homeowner’s or renter’s insurance. These policies commonly cover dog bites. So a claim against a neighbor or acquaintance is usually a claim against their insurer, not their savings. People hesitate to bring these claims for exactly that reason, and it is worth knowing.

The attack may have happened at a rental property, a business, or where someone other than the owner kept the dog. Then other parties may share responsibility.

Dog bites are one branch of our Alpharetta premises injury cases. The question is often who controlled the dog and the place it was kept.

What to do

• Get medical care right away. Dog bites carry a real risk of infection, and puncture wounds can be deeper than they look.
• Report the bite to animal control. It creates an official record, starts the rabies observation process, and may turn up earlier reports about the same dog.
• Identify the dog and its owner — name, address, and the dog’s vaccination status.
• Photograph the wounds, then keep photographing them as they heal. Scarring is often the largest part of these claims, and it changes over months.
• Get names of witnesses and any neighbors who know the dog’s history.

Children

A large share of serious dog bites happen to children, and often to the face. Facial scarring on a child can mean years of follow-up, including scar revision as they grow. Those future costs need to be part of the claim from the start. That usually means waiting until a plastic surgeon can give a realistic picture before valuing the case.

The American Veterinary Medical Association publishes dog bite prevention advice for families with young children.

If you were working

Mail carriers, delivery drivers, utility workers and home-service technicians are bitten at customers’ homes every week. If that was you, there may be a workers’ compensation claim through your employer and a separate claim against the dog’s owner. Workers’ comp pays nothing for pain and suffering or scarring. The claim against the owner can.

Deadline

Generally two years from the bite to file suit (O.C.G.A. § 9-3-33).

Related: premises liability · burn and scarring injuries

Common questions

Does Georgia have a one-bite rule?

Not exactly. Under O.C.G.A. § 51-2-7 you generally show the dog was dangerous, the owner was careless with it, and you did not provoke it. A leash-law violation can prove the dangerous part without any earlier bite.

Who pays for a dog bite claim in Georgia?

Usually the owner's homeowner's or renter's insurance. These policies commonly cover dog bites, so the claim is typically against the insurer, not the owner's savings.

Should I report a dog bite to animal control?

Yes. The report creates an official record, starts the rabies observation process and may turn up earlier reports about the same dog.

My child was bitten on the face. When should the claim be valued?

Usually not until a plastic surgeon can give a realistic picture of future treatment. Facial scarring on a child can mean years of follow-up, including scar revision as they grow.

I was bitten while delivering a package. What are my options?

You may have a workers' comp claim through your employer and a separate claim against the dog's owner. Comp pays nothing for pain or scarring, and the claim against the owner can.