A dog bite can leave you dealing with more than a painful wound. You may need medical treatment, follow-up care, time away from work, and answers about who may be responsible. You also may need to preserve evidence quickly because the circumstances surrounding a dog attack can become harder to prove as time passes.
Georgia dog-bite law is more fact-specific than a rule that an owner is automatically responsible whenever a dog causes an injury. Georgia Code § 51-2-7 addresses liability for injuries caused by vicious or dangerous animals and recognizes the significance of applicable local leash or restraint ordinances. The facts of the attack—including the dog’s conduct, what the owner knew or should have known, how the animal was managed, and whether the injured person provoked the injury—can affect the claim.
This guide explains what to do after a dog bite, how to preserve evidence, how Georgia law may apply, what insurance issues to consider, what damages may be available, and when legal help may be useful.
Key Takeaways
- Get appropriate medical care promptly and follow the treatment plan. Medical records can document both the injury and the treatment it required.
- Georgia Code § 51-2-7 can impose liability when a vicious or dangerous animal causes an injury through careless management or by being allowed at liberty, provided the injured person did not provoke the injury.
- A violation of a city, county, or consolidated-government leash ordinance can be sufficient evidence of vicious propensity under § 51-2-7; the exact ordinance and circumstances still matter.
- Preserve photographs, witness information, animal-control records, medical records, video, and other evidence that may help establish what happened.
- Do not assume a landlord or property owner is automatically liable simply because an attack happened on the property. Liability depends on the applicable duty, control, knowledge, and facts.
- Homeowners or renters insurance may provide liability coverage in some dog-attack cases, but coverage depends on the policy, exclusions, insured status, and facts.
- Georgia generally provides two years for actions for injuries to the person, subject to exceptions and case-specific rules.
- Damages may include medical expenses, lost income, pain and suffering, scarring or disfigurement, and other legally compensable losses supported by evidence.
Get Medical Care as Soon as Possible
Your health should come first after a dog bite or attack. Dog bites can cause puncture wounds, tissue damage, infection, nerve or tendon injuries, and scarring. A medical professional can clean and evaluate the wound, determine whether additional treatment is needed, and address tetanus or rabies exposure when appropriate.
If the dog’s vaccination status is unknown, tell the medical provider. Rabies exposure may require prompt evaluation based on the circumstances. Follow medical advice rather than trying to determine the risk yourself.
Medical records can become important evidence because they document when you sought care, the nature of the injury, treatment recommendations, and how the injury developed. Keep copies of records, bills, prescriptions, and follow-up instructions.
Document the Dog Attack and Your Injuries
Photograph your injuries.
Take clear photographs from multiple angles and continue documenting the healing process when appropriate, particularly if scarring or disfigurement develops.
Photograph the location.
If safe, document gates, fences, restraints, warning signs, sidewalks, yards, and other conditions that may explain how the dog reached you.
Get the owner’s information.
Record the owner’s name and contact information and keep any insurance information provided.
Identify the dog.
Record identifying details such as size, color, markings, and, when known, breed or breed mix. Do not approach a dangerous animal to obtain a photograph.
Identify witnesses.
Get contact information for people who saw the attack or its immediate aftermath.
Write down what happened.
Record the date, time, location, what you were doing, how the dog approached, what the owner or handler did, your response, and what happened afterward.
Report the Dog Bite and Address Rabies Concerns
Reporting requirements can vary by jurisdiction. Contact the appropriate local animal-control or public-health authority to determine what reporting is required where the attack occurred.
An investigation may help establish the dog’s identity, vaccination status, quarantine status, or prior complaints. Those records can become useful evidence when lawfully available.
Do not attempt to confront the owner about the dog’s history or obtain veterinary records informally. If relevant records cannot be obtained voluntarily, an attorney may be able to pursue them through appropriate legal procedures.
How Georgia Dog Bite Law Works
Georgia Code § 51-2-7 provides that an owner or keeper of a vicious or dangerous animal may be liable when, through careless management or by allowing the animal to go at liberty, the animal causes injury to a person who did not provoke the injury. The statute also provides that, when an applicable city, county, or consolidated-government ordinance requires the animal to be at heel or on a leash, proof that the animal was not properly restrained can be sufficient to prove vicious propensity.
Read the statute: Georgia Code § 51-2-7.
The dog’s vicious or dangerous propensity
A central issue can be whether the animal had a propensity to cause the type of injury at issue and whether the defendant knew of it. Prior bites are one possible form of evidence, but they are not necessarily the only evidence that can matter.
What the owner knew or should have known
Evidence may include prior incidents, complaints, warnings, statements by the owner, or other facts concerning the dog’s behavior. Section 51-2-7 also addresses proof involving local leash or restraint ordinances.
Provocation
The statute expressly addresses injuries that were not provoked by the injured person. Whether conduct amounted to provocation is fact-specific, so preserve witness accounts, video, and other evidence concerning what happened immediately before the attack.
Leash and restraint ordinances
Local leash rules can matter even without a prior bite. Section 51-2-7 provides that violation of an applicable leash or restraint ordinance can be sufficient to prove vicious propensity. The specific local ordinance should be identified rather than assuming one rule applies statewide.
Who May Be Responsible for a Dog Bite?
Dog owner or keeper
A claim under § 51-2-7 may focus on ownership or keeping of the animal, the dog’s propensity, the defendant’s knowledge, management of the animal, and whether the statutory requirements are satisfied.
Property owners and landlords
A landlord or property owner is not automatically liable because a dog attack happened on the property. A separate analysis may be required concerning possession, control, knowledge, premises duties, and the facts surrounding the attack.
Handlers or caregivers
If someone other than the owner was caring for or controlling the dog, the facts may support a negligence claim against that person if a legal duty and breach can be established.
Multiple defendants
More than one person may potentially be responsible under different legal theories. Each proposed defendant should have a fact-supported legal basis for liability.
Dealing With Homeowners or Renters Insurance
Insurance can be an important source of recovery in dog-attack cases, but coverage is not automatic. A homeowners or renters policy may provide liability coverage, while exclusions, endorsements, the insured’s status, and the circumstances can affect coverage.
Report the claim carefully
Provide accurate facts and keep copies of correspondence, claim numbers, bills, and settlement communications. Avoid guessing about details you do not know.
Review coverage and exclusions
Coverage depends on the policy language and facts. Do not assume an insurer’s initial position is the final answer if the policy and circumstances suggest otherwise.
Be cautious with releases and settlements
Before signing a release, understand what claims, parties, and damages it resolves, especially when treatment is ongoing or long-term effects are not yet known.
There is no legal rule that an insurer’s first offer is automatically inadequate. The relevant question is whether a proposed resolution reasonably reflects the provable damages, liability risks, coverage, and future consequences of the injury.
Evidence That Can Strengthen a Dog Bite Claim
- Medical records, bills, prescriptions, photographs, and treatment instructions
- Photographs or video of injuries, the location, dog, gates, fences, or other relevant conditions
- Animal-control or public-health reports and records
- Witness names and contact information
- Security-camera, doorbell-camera, or cellphone footage
- Evidence of lost income or missed work
- Evidence of permanent scarring, disfigurement, reduced function, or ongoing treatment
- Communications with the owner, property manager, insurer, or other involved parties
- Lawfully obtained evidence of prior complaints or incidents
- A contemporaneous written account of what happened
What Damages May Be Available?
The damages available depend on the claims supported by the facts and evidence. Depending on the circumstances, compensatory damages may include:
Medical expenses
Reasonable and necessary treatment related to the injury, including emergency care, follow-up treatment, medication, therapy, and other supported expenses.
Lost income
Income lost because the injury prevented you from working, and potentially diminished future earning capacity when supported by the evidence.
Pain and suffering
Compensation for physical pain and other non-economic harm supported by the evidence, including effects on ordinary activities and quality of life.
Scarring and disfigurement
Permanent scars or disfigurement may be relevant to damages, particularly when they affect visible areas or physical function.
Other documented losses
Other losses may be recoverable when legally compensable and supported by evidence.
Punitive Damages
Punitive damages are different from compensatory damages. Under Georgia Code § 51-12-5.1, punitive damages require clear and convincing evidence of the statutory level of culpable conduct, such as willful misconduct, malice, fraud, wantonness, oppression, or an entire want of care showing conscious indifference to consequences. They are not available in every dog-bite case.
Georgia’s Dog Bite Statute of Limitations
Georgia Code § 9-3-33 generally requires actions for injuries to the person to be brought within two years after the right of action accrues. A typical dog-bite personal-injury claim therefore has a two-year limitations period, but the exact deadline can depend on the facts and any applicable exception.
Do not rely on a generic deadline if the case involves a minor, a delayed-discovery issue, a governmental defendant, a special statutory claim, or another circumstance that could affect limitations. Evidence and coverage issues can also become harder to manage as time passes.
Should You Hire a Dog Bite Lawyer?
You are not required to hire an attorney for every dog-bite claim. Legal representation can become more useful when liability is disputed, injuries are serious or permanent, multiple parties may be involved, coverage is contested, or the insurer seeks a broad release.
Investigating liability
Counsel can help identify relevant evidence, including local ordinances, animal-control records, witness testimony, photographs, and information bearing on the dog’s conduct and the owner’s knowledge.
Handling insurance communications
Counsel can communicate with insurers, evaluate settlement proposals, and help protect against unintentionally resolving claims that have not been fully evaluated.
Evaluating damages
Serious injuries may involve ongoing treatment, scarring, lost income, or other consequences that are difficult to value immediately after an attack.
Preparing for litigation
If a claim cannot be resolved, counsel can evaluate whether filing suit is appropriate and handle pleadings, discovery, motions, mediation, and trial when necessary.
A Documented Dog-Bite Result From Kevin A. Adamson, P.C.
Kevin A. Adamson, P.C. reports a $72,691,278.50 DeKalb County verdict for a minor client who was attacked by two pit bulls while shooting basketball in her driveway. Case results are not guarantees of future outcomes, and the circumstances of each case are different.
See the firm’s case results for additional reported results.
Common Mistakes to Avoid After a Dog Bite
Delaying medical care
A delay can affect both your health and the documentation of the injury.
Failing to preserve evidence
Video, photographs, witness information, and other evidence can disappear quickly.
Guessing about facts
When speaking with an insurer or investigator, distinguish what you remember from what you assume.
Signing a release too quickly
A settlement release may affect your ability to pursue additional compensation later.
Posting detailed commentary online
Public posts, photographs, or statements can become evidence in a disputed claim.
Assuming the legal theory is obvious
Georgia dog cases can involve § 51-2-7, negligence, premises-liability issues, local ordinances, or other theories depending on the facts.
What Happens If the Case Goes to Court?
Filing the complaint
A lawsuit begins with a complaint stating the factual and legal basis for the claims and the relief requested.
Discovery
The parties may exchange documents and written discovery and take depositions. Evidence can include medical records, photographs, animal-control records, communications, and witness testimony.
Motions
The parties may ask the court to resolve particular legal issues before trial. The result depends on the evidence and applicable law.
Mediation or settlement
The parties may attempt to resolve the case through negotiation or mediation. Settlement is a case-specific decision.
Trial
If the case proceeds to trial, the parties present evidence and arguments, and the judge or jury resolves the issues submitted under applicable law.
Appeal
A party may have appellate rights after a final judgment. Appeals can extend the overall timeline.
Get Help After a Georgia Dog Bite
A dog attack can leave you dealing with medical treatment, lost income, scarring, and uncertainty about who is responsible. The first step is understanding the facts and preserving evidence that may support your claim.
Kevin A. Adamson, P.C. handles Georgia dog-bite and animal-attack claims. Learn more about the firm’s Georgia dog bite legal services or
contact the firm for a free consultation.
FAQs
Do I have a case if the dog has never bitten anyone before?
Possibly. Georgia law does not make a prior bite the only way to establish a dangerous or vicious propensity. Section 51-2-7 also addresses evidence involving the animal’s behavior and applicable leash or restraint ordinances.
What if I was bitten while trespassing?
Trespassing can affect the legal analysis, but the result depends on the facts and legal duty involved. Do not assume that trespassing automatically decides the case.
Can I recover if I was partly at fault?
Potentially. Georgia’s comparative-fault statute generally reduces damages in proportion to a plaintiff’s percentage of fault and bars recovery when the plaintiff is 50% or more at fault. The percentage of fault is fact-specific.
How much is a Georgia dog-bite case worth?
There is no reliable fixed value. Potential recovery depends on injury severity, treatment, permanent effects, lost income, pain and suffering, liability evidence, insurance, and other case-specific factors.
What if the dog owner has no insurance?
Recovery can be more difficult when there is no applicable liability coverage or meaningful assets. The investigation may still need to consider other potentially responsible parties and other sources of coverage.
How long does a dog-bite case take?
There is no standard timeline. Clear claims may resolve sooner, while disputed liability, permanent injuries, contested coverage, multiple parties, or litigation can take substantially longer.
Will I have to go to court?
Not necessarily. Many personal-injury claims resolve without trial, but no attorney can guarantee settlement. If litigation becomes necessary, counsel can explain what participation may be required.
Can I recover if a dog knocked me down but did not bite me?
Potentially. Section 51-2-7 addresses injuries caused by a vicious or dangerous animal, not only bite wounds. Other negligence theories may also apply depending on how the incident occurred.
Important Legal Information
This article provides general information about Georgia dog-bite law and is not legal advice. Dog-attack claims can involve different legal theories, local ordinances, insurance policies, and fact-specific defenses. The applicable law and deadline should be evaluated based on the individual case.
Disclaimer: This article is provided by Kevin A. Adamson PC for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Reading this content does not create an attorney-client relationship. Laws, fees, regulations, and court decisions referenced may change. For advice on your specific situation, please contact Kevin A. Adamson PC directly to schedule a consultation.
