Dog Bite Injuries in Glendale, AZ

If you have been injured as a result of an animal attack in Glendale or throughout the state of Arizona, you may be entitled to compensation from the animal’s owner, a company, a landlord, or any other responsible party. Dog bites and other animal attacks can be extremely dangerous, causing serious injury that could result in permanent disfigurement, chronic pain, loss of use of a limb, mental anguish, and so much more.

The funds you receive can help cover medical expenses and lost income. A skilled attorney specializing in dog bite cases can guide you through the process of obtaining the full compensation you deserve. At Klink Law, we offer experienced counsel and guidance through animal attack injury cases, including dog bites and more. We recognize that injury victims need experienced counsel to protect their rights and receive the compensation they deserve. With our extensive experience, proven track record, and financial resources, we are prepared to take on the insurance company on your behalf.

To discuss your dog bite injury case, reach out to Klink Law by calling (602) 483-6059 today.

How To Prove Your Dog Bite Case In Arizona

Dog bites and animal attack injuries are a form of premises liability claim. This doctrine essentially states that property owners have a duty to protect and care for visitors to their property and prevent them from becoming injured however they can. Failing to do this can be the result of negligence, or disregard for the safety of others—either willfully or by accident—in a way where any reasonable person should have been able to recognize the danger. 

In simple cases, if a homeowner has a dog in their yard and someone were to walk up to the fence to pet the dog, the homeowner/dog owner would likely be held responsible if the dog were to bite the person who attempted to pet them. If the dog were to escape and chase that person down the street, causing them to trip and become injured, the dog owner could still be held liable due to their negligence in allowing the animal to escape. However, premises liability law does not permit victims to intentionally injure themselves or knowingly put themselves at risk of being injured for the purposes of filing a claim against the property owner.

Establishing Liability

According to Arizona law, the compensation you receive for dog bite damages depends on your ability to establish the owner’s liability. This means demonstrating that the owner knew or should have known that the dog had the potential to bite someone. In order to prove a dog owner’s negligence in an attack, the following elements must be shown:

• The dog was in the defendant’s possession or under their control at the time of the bite. This may or may not be the dog’s owner, depending on various factors.
• The defendant acted negligently. Holding a dog owner accountable for a bite requires showing that they were aware of the potential for the dog to bite but failed to take preventive measures. Negligence can be demonstrated by instances such as not using a leash, failing to properly restrain the animal, or neglecting to repair a hole in the fence.
• The defendant’s negligence directly caused the dog bite. It is also necessary to prove that the injury would not have occurred if the defendant had acted with reasonable care. 
• The bite directly led to injuries or other damages. This includes physical discomfort, suffering, medical expenses, loss of income, and potentially emotional or psychological trauma, which are commonly associated with dog attacks.

Case Illustration of a Dog Bite in Glendale

Scott was starting his day as he always had for the last six months: with a jog down around his neighborhood. He was running on the sidewalk, taking in the views, when he felt a sharp pain in his calf. A dog owner was walking their dog without a leash, and it was triggered by the keychain that was dangling from Scott’s pocket.

Since Scott was running with his earbuds in, he didn’t hear the owner call out to their dog.

While the bite doesn’t seem too bad, he has puncture wounds and goes home. The next morning, he’s sore, and in three days, he has night sweats. Scott finds out that his leg is infected. He will need to have the wound drained and pay for medication. He was also told to stay off his feet for a week, which is not reasonable for a construction worker.

A Glendale dog bite lawyer is Scott’s best bet to seek damages for:

• Lost wages
• Medical bills
• Medication
• Scarring 

Scott would be one of the 4.5 million people bitten by dogs in the U.S. each year. While a nip may not break the skin or cause any lasting damage, over 800,000 of these incidents end up with someone needing medical attention. If you find yourself in this situation, you can seek damages for your medical bills, pain and suffering, emotional injuries, and more.

Common Dog Bite Injuries 

Dog bites can cause a wide range of injuries, from breaking the skin to soft tissue injuries, shearing, torn tissues, crushed bones and even death in the most serious of cases. If you’re lucky, the bite will be minor and may not break the skin or cause any damage. For others, bites can lead to:

• Puncture wounds
• Infections
• Crushing injuries
• Tissue damage

If puncture wounds are severe and the dog won’t let go, it can lead to skin tears that require skin grafting and surgery to correct. Loss of mobility has also occurred in serious attacks.

Additionally, injuries may occur as a result of the attack, but not necessarily as a result of a bite directly. Remember how we described a situation earlier where someone running away from an animal could trip and fall? Falls from an attack can cause broken bones, head injuries, and other potentially serious complications. Plus is mental and emotional suffering to contend with. Many victims are left with PTSD and severe anxiety. Some life-long dog lovers have even found themselves legitimately terrified of even the smallest dogs in the aftermath of a serious attack, resulting in a serious loss of quality of life. Nightmares and flashbacks are also a very real concern and something that, if it impacts you, may be calculated within your compensation, too.