Glendale Dog Bite Lawyer

Dog Bite Lawyer Serving Glendale, Arizona After a Dog Attack

A dog bite lawyer in Glendale can explain whether the dog's owner is responsible, deal with the insurance company, and tell you the deadline that applies. Under Arizona's strict liability rule, an owner is generally liable when a dog bites someone in a public place or someone lawfully on private property, without proof that the dog had bitten before (A.R.S. 11-1025). The strict liability deadline is one year, not two, so call early.

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A large dog on a leash pulling toward the camera on a suburban sidewalk, owner's legs only

Strict liability claim: 1 year; A.R.S. 11-1025, 12-541
Negligence claim: 2 years; A.R.S. 12-542
Owner liability: Public place or lawfully on private property; no prior-bite proof needed; A.R.S. 11-1025

Dog Bite Lawyer in Glendale: The One-Year Deadline Most People Miss

A claim built on Arizona's strict liability rule has a one-year deadline (A.R.S. 11-1025, 12-541). A claim built on the owner's negligence generally has two years (A.R.S. 12-542). Many people assume they have two years for everything and wait too long. If the dog belonged to a city, county or other public entity, a written notice of claim is generally due within 180 days (A.R.S. 12-821.01). These rules have exceptions, so call us and we will explain how they apply to you. Our Arizona statute of limitations guide has more detail.

Where Dog Attacks Happen in Glendale

Glendale has no published bite counts that we could find, so we describe the places where claims come from rather than numbers.

A large dog behind a short chain-link front yard fence in a Phoenix neighborhood, mid-bark, sidewalk in front

City dog parks: Glendale has four: Foothills Park (57th Avenue and Union Hills Drive), Sahuaro Ranch Park (63rd Avenue and Mountain View Road), Northern Horizon Park (63rd Avenue and Northern Avenue) and Glendale Heroes Park (83rd Avenue and Bethany Home Road). The city's rules say owners must be present with a leash, aggressive dogs are prohibited, and owners are liable for injuries.
Apartment complexes and neighbors' yards: A guest, a delivery worker or a maintenance worker who is lawfully on the property is covered by the strict liability rule. A landlord's own responsibility depends on the facts.
Sidewalks, trails and parks: Grand Canal Linear Park and Skunk Creek Linear Park have trails for walking and biking. A bite in a public place does not require proof of a prior bite.
Shopping and event areas: Arrowhead Towne Center, Westgate and the streets around State Farm Stadium draw crowds from across the West Valley. A bite to a visitor lawfully there is still a public-place bite.

Strict Liability Versus Negligence in a Glendale Dog Bite Claim

A dog attack lawyer in Glendale usually looks at both theories, because each has its own proof and its own clock.

Strict liability (one year)

The owner is liable if you were in a public place or lawfully on private property.
No proof that the dog had bitten before is needed (A.R.S. 11-1025).
The owner may argue provocation (A.R.S. 11-1027).
The claim generally must be filed within one year (A.R.S. 12-541).

Negligence (two years)

The owner failed to use reasonable care, for example by letting a known dangerous dog loose.
The claim can cover situations the strict liability rule does not.
Arizona's pure comparative fault rule applies (A.R.S. 12-2505).
The negligence claim generally must be filed within two years (A.R.S. 12-542).

Arizona

Who to Report a Dog Bite To, and Where Glendale Victims Are Treated

Report the bite quickly, because the report creates a record. These are the Glendale and county offices and hospitals that come up.

Maricopa County Animal Care and Control
Handles stray animals and dog bites, and Glendale's own Animal Information page directs people to the county to report a dog or cat bite or a vicious dog. The county call center is open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily, there is an online report, and emergencies go to 911. The county serves 17 cities and towns.
Glendale Code Compliance
Takes barking dog complaints and animal abuse reports. It does not take the place of the county's bite report.
Glendale Police Department
Main station at 6835 North 57th Drive. Call 911 if the dog is still a danger.
Banner Thunderbird Medical Center
5555 W. Thunderbird Rd., a Level I trauma center. St. Joseph's Westgate Medical Center (7300 N. 99th Ave.) holds a Level IV designation.
Justice courts serving Glendale
Glendale is split among several Maricopa County justice court precincts, whose courts are in Surprise and Avondale. Small claims go up to $5,000 and justice court up to $10,000 (A.R.S. 22-503, 22-201).

What to Do After a Dog Bite in Glendale

Get medical care first. Then protect the claim.

1
Get medical care.
Bites can cause deep tissue injury, scarring and infection. Keep every record and bill from the first visit. Our page on scarring and disfigurement claims explains how those injuries are treated in a claim.
2
Report the bite.
Report it to Maricopa County Animal Care and Control, through its call center or online report, and get the report number.
3
Identify the owner and the dog.
Get the owner's name, address and any proof of rabies vaccination, and ask neighbors for names.
4
Photograph the injury as it changes.
Take photos of the wound, the clothing and the place, if safely possible. Do not post about the bite online.
5
Be careful with the owner's insurer.
A homeowner's or renter's policy often covers a dog bite. You are not required to agree to a recorded statement, and a remark that you are fine can injure your legal rights later.

A loose dog with no leash crossing a neighborhood sidewalk toward a jogger seen from behind, morning

Talking With an Animal Bite Lawyer Before the Insurance Company Calls

An animal bite lawyer in Glendale starts with a few questions. Who owns the dog? Was the owner there? Was the dog loose, tethered or in a yard? Was the bite on the owner's property, and were you invited? Insurance companies and attorneys often negotiate the percentage of fault, and the owner's side will often argue that the victim provoked the dog. We read the facts and tell you what we see.

Valley Accident Law is a Scottsdale firm, and we do not have an office in Glendale. We start by phone, and the firm takes cases anywhere in Arizona. Our guide to Arizona dog bite law explains the rules in detail, our statewide page from an Arizona dog bite lawyer covers the claim in full, and our page for a personal injury lawyer in Glendale covers the other injury cases we see from the area. Animal attack cases can involve children, and a child's filing deadline against a private owner is generally paused until age 18 (A.R.S. 12-502).

Dog bites by city

Other practice areas in Glendale

Questions

Questions about Glendale dog bite cases

How do I find the best dog bite lawyer in Glendale for my case?

Look for someone who explains the deadline, tells you how the fee works and does not promise a result. You pay no attorney fee unless we recover money for you. Request a free case review and judge for yourself.

Do I need a dog bite attorney in Glendale if the owner admits the dog bit me?

An admission helps, but it does not settle what the claim is worth or whether the insurer will pay it. An animal attack lawyer in Glendale can look at the medical bills, the lasting effects and the deadline before you accept anything. An early payment will under most circumstances close your claim permanently.

Who do I report a dog bite to in Glendale?

Maricopa County Animal Care and Control handles dog bites for Glendale. Use the county call center, open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily, or its online report, and call 911 for an emergency. Glendale Code Compliance handles barking complaints, which is a different matter.

I was bitten at a Glendale dog park. Can I still make a claim?

Often yes. The city's dog park rules say owners must be present, aggressive dogs are prohibited, and owners are liable for injuries. A dog park is a public place, so strict liability may apply. The owner may argue provocation, so the details matter.

Is the deadline really only one year?

For a strict liability claim, yes: one year (A.R.S. 12-541). A negligence claim generally has two years (A.R.S. 12-542). We stress hiring an attorney as soon as possible, because the shorter clock is easy to miss.

Where is a dog bite lawsuit from Glendale filed?

In Maricopa County Superior Court, which assigns civil cases to a judicial district by ZIP code. A 2018 administrative order uses the ZIP code of the plaintiff's lawyer when the plaintiff has one, so a case is not necessarily heard in the West Valley. A small claim may go to a justice court instead.

Does the owner's homeowner's policy pay for my injuries?

It often does, up to the policy limit, but each policy is different. We ask for the coverage early so we can see what is available.

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Talk With Us About Your Glendale Dog Bite

Call (602) 584-8054 or request your free case review. Our experienced and friendly attorney will explain your legal rights and the deadline that applies to you. The earlier you call, the better, but it's never too late to find out your legal rights.

(602) 584-8054

Call any time. Office visits Monday to Friday, 9 to 5.