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Dog Bites
Dog Bite Lawyer in Arizona
Arizona does not give a dog “one free bite.” Owners are held strictly liable for the injuries their dog causes, regardless of whether the dog ever showed signs of aggression before.
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Does the Dog Owner Have to Be Negligent for You to Recover?
Quick answer: No. Under Arizona’s strict liability dog bite statute (A.R.S. § 11-1025), a dog owner is liable if their dog bites you while you are lawfully in a public place or lawfully on private property, regardless of whether the dog was ever known to be aggressive before. You do not have to prove the owner was careless, only that the bite happened while you were lawfully present.
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Strict Liability Under Arizona Law
A.R.S. § 11-1025 holds a dog’s owner liable for injuries the dog causes by biting someone who is in a public place or lawfully on private property, including the owner’s own property. Unlike many states, Arizona does not require you to show the owner knew or should have known the dog was dangerous, this is what “strict liability” means.
Awards & Recognition
Founding Partners Michael Tamou and Simon Touma’s personal injury litigation work has been independently recognized, earned, never purchased.
The One Real Defense: Provocation
The main defense available to a dog owner under this statute is that the injured person provoked the dog. What counts as provocation is fact-specific, and insurance companies often stretch this argument aggressively, claiming normal behavior (a child approaching a dog, someone entering a yard) amounted to provocation.
A Shorter Deadline Than Most Injury Claims
Strict liability dog bite claims under A.R.S. § 11-1025 generally carry a one-year statute of limitations, shorter than the standard two-year deadline for most Arizona personal injury claims. If that window is missed, a separate negligence-based claim may still be available under the general two-year deadline (A.R.S. § 12-542), but it requires proving the owner was actually careless, a higher bar than strict liability.
What If the Dog Didn’t Technically “Bite” You
If you were injured by a dog knocking you down, chasing you into traffic, or otherwise causing harm without a bite, the strict liability statute may not apply directly, but a standard negligence claim against the owner often will, under the general two-year statute of limitations.
Injured by someone else’s dog in Arizona? Talk to our litigation team before you respond.
Call 602-932-6010What You Can Recover
Remedies & Damages
Arizona law allows recovery for the full medical and personal impact of a dog attack.
Economic Damages
Medical billsPast & future
Scarring/reconstructive surgeryCase-specific
Non-Economic Damages
Pain and sufferingCase-specific
Emotional distress / traumaEspecially common in child victims
The One-Year Deadline Is Easy to Miss
Because most personal injury claims in Arizona have a two-year deadline, people are often surprised to learn strict liability dog bite claims must generally be filed within one year.
How These Disputes Get Resolved
Litigation Strategy
How Owners Try to Defend a Dog Bite Claim
Provocation: arguing you did something to provoke the attack.
Trespassing: claiming you were not lawfully on the property when bitten.
Comparative fault: arguing you failed to exercise reasonable caution around the dog.
Common Questions
Dog Bite Lawyer in Arizona FAQs
Do I have to prove the owner knew the dog was dangerous?
No. Arizona’s dog bite statute (A.R.S. § 11-1025) imposes strict liability regardless of the dog’s prior history.
What if I was on the dog owner’s property when I was bitten?
You can still recover if you were lawfully on the property, for example as an invited guest or someone with a legitimate reason to be there.
How long do I have to file a dog bite claim in Arizona?
Generally one year under the strict liability statute (A.R.S. § 11-1025), shorter than the standard two-year personal injury deadline, so acting quickly matters.
What counts as provocation?
It depends on the facts, and insurers often argue provocation broadly. Normal behavior around a dog is not automatically provocation, but this is frequently contested.
Can I file a claim if my child was bitten?
Yes. Dog bite injuries to children are common and often involve significant facial injuries and emotional trauma, which are compensable under Arizona law.
Key Takeaways
- Arizona imposes strict liability on dog owners, you do not have to prove negligence.
- Provocation is the main defense, and it is often disputed aggressively by insurers.
- The deadline to file is generally one year, shorter than most personal injury claims.
- You must have been lawfully present, in public or on private property, when bitten.
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Arizona Litigation Group · Phoenix Office
The information on this page is for general informational purposes only and is not legal advice. No attorney-client relationship is formed by reading this page or submitting a contact form. Past results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
