Dog Bite Lawyer
Robert J. Hartigan is the founding attorney of Lionhart Injury Law and an experienced dog bite injury attorney serving clients in Boston, Atlanta, and Decatur. Recognized as a Super Lawyers Rising Star in 2021, 2022, and 2026 and named a Boston Magazine Top Lawyer in 2021, Robert has a track record of recovering substantial compensation for dog bite and animal attack victims. His most significant dog bite result is a $600,000 settlement for a child who was attacked by a dog, reflecting the serious physical and emotional harm these cases can cause. He understands the important legal differences between Massachusetts’s strict liability dog bite law and Georgia’s knowledge-based standard, and he uses those differences strategically to build the strongest possible case for his clients.
A dog attack can happen in seconds and leave injuries that last a lifetime. Deep puncture wounds, torn muscles and tissue, nerve damage, facial injuries, permanent scars, and infections can require extensive medical treatment or reconstructive surgery. For children especially, the emotional effects of an attack can continue long after the physical wounds have healed.
If you or your child was attacked by a dog, you need a dog bite injury lawyer who understands that these cases involve much more than proving that a bite occurred. The location of the attack, who owned or controlled the dog, the dog’s history, local animal-control laws, available insurance coverage, and what happened immediately before the attack can all affect your right to compensation.
I have recovered $600,000 for a child who was attacked by a dog. I handle dog bite and dog attack cases in both Massachusetts and Georgia, where the laws governing owner liability are significantly different. I know what evidence to look for, how to investigate the dog’s history, and how to build the case under the law that applies where the attack occurred.
If you or a loved one was bitten by a dog, I invite you to call my office at 1-855-343-0997 to schedule a free consultation.
Massachusetts Dog Bite Law
Massachusetts provides strong statutory protections for people injured by dogs. Under M.G.L. c. 140, § 155, the owner or keeper of a dog is generally liable when the dog causes damage to another person’s body or property.
Unlike states that require proof that an owner knew a dog was dangerous, Massachusetts does not require a dog to have bitten someone before. You generally do not have to prove that the owner knew or should have known the dog was aggressive.
The statute creates exceptions, however. Liability under § 155 may be affected when, at the time of the injury, the injured person was:
- Trespassing
- Committing another tort
- Teasing the dog
- Tormenting the dog
- Abusing the dog
This is more precise than describing Massachusetts as having only two defenses of “provocation and trespassing.” The statute expressly identifies the conduct that can take a claim outside its liability provision.
Massachusetts Dog Bite Claims Involving Children
Massachusetts law provides an additional protection for young children. When the injured child is under seven years old, M.G.L. c. 140, § 155 creates a presumption that the child was not trespassing, committing another tort, or teasing, tormenting, or abusing the dog. The defendant has the burden of proving otherwise.
That can become particularly important when an insurance company attempts to argue that a young child somehow caused or provoked the attack.
How Long Do You Have to File a Massachusetts Dog Bite Lawsuit?
Massachusetts dog bite injury claims are generally subject to the three-year limitations period for tort actions under M.G.L. c. 260, § 2A.
In a typical dog attack case, that period will generally begin when the injury occurs. However, exceptions and tolling rules can affect the deadline, particularly in cases involving minors. You should not assume that the general limitations period resolves every deadline issue in a particular case.
Georgia Dog Bite Law
Georgia takes a different approach to dog bite liability.
Under O.C.G.A. § 51-2-7, a person who owns or keeps a vicious or dangerous animal and, through careless management or by allowing the animal to go at liberty, causes an injury to someone who did not provoke the injury may be liable for the resulting damages.
For a Georgia dog bite lawyer, one of the most important questions is how to establish that the animal had the dangerous or vicious propensity required by the statute.
Proving a Dog Was Dangerous in Georgia
Evidence of prior behavior can become important. Depending on the circumstances, an investigation may look for evidence such as:
- A previous bite or attack
- Prior aggressive incidents involving people or other animals
- Previous complaints made to the owner
- Animal-control records
- Prior warnings or citations
- Statements from neighbors or witnesses familiar with the dog
- Measures previously taken by the owner because of the dog’s behavior
Georgia law also provides another way to establish vicious propensity. Under O.C.G.A. § 51-2-7, it is sufficient for purposes of proving vicious propensity to show that an applicable city, county, or consolidated-government ordinance required the animal to be at heel or on a leash and that the animal was not at heel or on a leash when the incident occurred.
That makes the local ordinance where the attack happened extremely important.
Leash and Restraint Laws in Atlanta and DeKalb County
Rather than assuming that every Georgia municipality has the same “leash law,” I determine exactly which local ordinance applied at the location of the attack.
For example, DeKalb County Code § 5-4 requires an animal to be under restraint and control while it is off the owner’s property, subject to designated off-leash areas. DeKalb County also prohibits owners from allowing animals to run at large in specified locations.
Atlanta’s rules depend in part on location. The city’s animal ordinances contain control requirements, and Atlanta Code § 110-70 generally requires pets in city parks to be leashed unless they are in an area specifically designated for off-leash use.
The details matter. I investigate the exact ordinance in effect at the location of the attack rather than assuming that a general leash requirement applies everywhere.
How Long Do You Have to File a Georgia Dog Bite Lawsuit?
Under O.C.G.A. § 9-3-33, actions for injuries to the person generally must be brought within two years after the right of action accrues.
For a typical dog bite injury claim, that generally means two years from the attack. However, exceptions and tolling provisions can affect the applicable deadline. Evidence can also disappear well before the statute of limitations expires, making it important to investigate the dog’s history and circumstances of the attack promptly.
Common Dog Bite Injuries
A dog does not have to cause a single deep bite for an attack to result in a serious injury. Victims may be bitten repeatedly, knocked to the ground, dragged, or injured while attempting to escape.
Common injuries in dog bite and dog attack cases include:
- Puncture wounds and lacerations: A dog’s teeth can penetrate skin, muscle, tendons, and other tissue, sometimes causing substantial damage beneath a wound that appears relatively small at the surface.
- Facial injuries: Children are particularly vulnerable to injuries involving the face, head, and neck. These wounds may require plastic or reconstructive surgery and can result in permanent scarring or disfigurement.
- Nerve damage: A deep bite can damage nerves and cause numbness, weakness, loss of function, or chronic neuropathic pain.
- Tendon and muscle injuries: Bites to the hands, arms, legs, and feet can damage structures necessary for normal movement and function.
- Broken bones and fall injuries: A large dog can knock someone to the ground even without biting them, potentially causing fractures, head injuries, or other trauma.
- Infections: Dog bites can introduce bacteria into a wound and may result in cellulitis, abscesses, or other infections requiring antibiotics, drainage, hospitalization, or additional treatment.
- Scarring and disfigurement: Visible scars, particularly on the face, neck, hands, and arms, can have both physical and emotional consequences.
- Psychological injuries: A serious dog attack can cause anxiety, nightmares, fear of animals, emotional distress, or symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder.
When rabies exposure is a concern, medical professionals and public health authorities can determine whether rabies post-exposure prophylaxis is appropriate. A person who has been bitten should seek prompt medical attention rather than attempting to evaluate that risk on their own.
Dog Bite Injuries to Children
Children can be especially vulnerable in a dog attack because of their size and their proximity to a dog’s head and mouth. A severe attack can leave a child facing surgeries, permanent scars, fear of dogs, nightmares, anxiety, and emotional effects that continue as the child grows.
These cases require careful consideration of future damages. A scar that affects a child at age six may continue affecting that child socially and emotionally as a teenager and adult. Additional procedures may also become necessary as the child grows.
I understand the importance of evaluating the entire long-term impact of these injuries. I recovered $600,000 for a child who was attacked by a dog, and I approach cases involving children with particular attention to future medical needs, scarring, disfigurement, and psychological harm.
Does Homeowners or Renters Insurance Cover a Dog Bite?
Many dog bite injury claims are handled through homeowners or renters’ liability insurance, but coverage should never be assumed.
Depending on the policy, coverage issues can arise because of:
- Animal-related exclusions
- Prior bite or attack history
- Policy-specific restrictions
- Coverage limits
- Whether the dog owner qualifies as an insured under the policy
- Where the attack occurred
- Other exclusions or conditions contained in the insurance contract
A dog bite does not necessarily have to occur at the owner’s home for liability coverage to potentially apply. The policy language and circumstances of the incident determine whether coverage is available.
As an experienced dog bite injury attorney, I investigate the available insurance rather than relying solely on what the dog owner says about their coverage. When appropriate, I look for homeowners, renters, umbrella, and other potentially applicable liability policies.
What Compensation Is Available After a Dog Attack?
The compensation available depends on the injuries, applicable state law, available insurance, and the long-term effect of the attack.
A dog bite injury claim may include compensation for:
- Past and future medical expenses
- Emergency treatment and hospitalization
- Plastic or reconstructive surgery
- Physical and occupational therapy
- Psychological counseling and treatment
- Lost wages
- Loss or reduction of future earning capacity
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Permanent scarring and disfigurement
- Loss of function or permanent impairment
- Other damages recognized under applicable law
A serious dog attack claim should account for more than the initial emergency-room bill. My job is to determine how the injury has affected you or your child now and how it may continue to affect your life in the future.
Dog Bite Lawyer Serving Boston, Atlanta, and Decatur
Lionhart Injury Law represents dog bite and dog attack victims in Massachusetts and Georgia. Because the liability standards are different, I build each case around the law that applies where the attack occurred rather than treating every dog bite claim the same way.
For information specific to your location, visit:
Frequently Asked Questions About Dog Bite Claims
What is the difference between Georgia and Massachusetts dog bite laws?
The biggest difference is what an injured person generally must establish. Massachusetts M.G.L. c. 140, § 155 generally imposes liability on a dog’s owner or keeper without requiring proof that the dog previously showed dangerous tendencies, subject to the statutory exceptions.
Georgia O.C.G.A. § 51-2-7 takes a different approach and requires proof addressing the animal’s vicious or dangerous propensity, careless management or allowing the animal to go at liberty, causation, and lack of provocation. An applicable leash or heel ordinance can be particularly important under the Georgia statute.
Does a dog have to have bitten someone before for me to recover in Georgia?
No. A prior bite can be important evidence, but Georgia does not require a previous bite in every case. Other evidence may establish the necessary dangerous propensity. In addition, O.C.G.A. § 51-2-7 expressly provides a method of proving vicious propensity when an applicable ordinance required the animal to be at heel or on a leash and the animal was not at heel or on a leash when the injury occurred.
What if the owner says I provoked the dog?
That allegation needs to be investigated rather than accepted at face value. Massachusetts specifically addresses teasing, tormenting, or abusing a dog in § 155, while Georgia’s § 51-2-7 addresses injuries to a person who does not provoke the injury by their own act.
I investigate witness accounts, video, photographs, the dog’s history, and what happened immediately before the attack to determine whether a provocation defense has factual and legal support.
Will homeowners or renters’ insurance pay for my dog bite injuries?
It may. Many homeowners and renters policies provide personal liability coverage that can apply to dog-related injuries, but policies differ and exclusions or limitations may apply. I investigate all potentially applicable policies, including umbrella coverage when appropriate, to determine what insurance is actually available.
What damages can I recover after a dog bite?
Depending on the case, compensation may include medical expenses, future treatment, reconstructive surgery, lost income, diminished earning capacity, pain and suffering, emotional distress, counseling expenses, permanent impairment, scarring, and disfigurement.
When the victim is a child, evaluating future medical treatment, the long-term appearance of scars, and psychological effects can be especially important.
How long do I have to file a dog bite lawsuit?
Massachusetts tort claims are generally subject to a three-year limitations period under M.G.L. c. 260, § 2A. Georgia personal injury claims are generally subject to a two-year limitations period under O.C.G.A. § 9-3-33.
Exceptions can affect these deadlines, particularly when the injured person is a minor. Do not wait until the limitations period is approaching to investigate a dog bite claim.
What should I do immediately after a dog bite?
Get to a safe location and seek medical attention, particularly for deep wounds, uncontrolled bleeding, facial injuries, signs of infection, or possible rabies exposure. Report the attack to the appropriate local animal-control authority so the incident can be documented.
If possible, obtain the dog owner’s name and contact information, identify witnesses, photograph your injuries and the location of the attack, and preserve damaged or bloody clothing. Do not confront the dog or put yourself at risk trying to obtain evidence.
Contact a dog bite injury lawyer as soon as possible so evidence concerning the dog, its history, its owner or keeper, and available insurance coverage can be investigated and preserved.
Can a child recover compensation for a dog bite?
Yes. Children injured in dog attacks can pursue compensation under both Massachusetts and Georgia law when the applicable requirements are met.
Massachusetts provides a particularly important statutory protection: under M.G.L. c. 140, § 155, a child under seven is presumed not to have been trespassing, committing another tort, or teasing, tormenting, or abusing the dog, and the defendant bears the burden of proving otherwise.
Claims involving children should also account for the possibility that scarring, reconstructive needs, and psychological trauma may continue or change as the child grows. I have recovered $600,000 for a child injured in a dog attack and understand the importance of evaluating those long-term consequences.
Schedule A Free Consultation With An Experienced Bite Dog Lawyer
Ready to Fight for You. Contact Lionhart Injury Law for a Free Consultation.
Boston: (617) 871-9093 | Atlanta: (404) 239-5245 | Decatur: (678) 321-8339
Toll-Free: (855) 343-0997
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