Dog Bite Lawyer in Scottsdale, Serving the Phoenix Metro

The case is paid by their homeowner's or renter's insurance, not personally. Most insurers handle the claim quietly without affecting the friendship. We have seen this work many times.

Does not matter. Arizona is a strict-liability state. The owner is responsible regardless of prior history.

As long as you were lawfully there (invited, doing a job, delivering a package), the strict-liability statute covers you.

Not necessarily. Most bite reports lead to a quarantine and behavior assessment, not euthanasia. The civil case for damages is separate from the animal-control process.

One year for the Arizona strict-liability claim. Two years for negligence-based claims. Move fast either way.

Many dog bite claims move over a period of a few months to about a year, depending on how long treatment lasts and whether scarring requires additional surgery. We generally wait until treatment is finished, or a doctor can reasonably predict what future care will be needed, before sending a demand to the insurer. Rushing a claim before the medical picture is clear can reduce what you ultimately receive.

You are not required to accept an early offer, and in most circumstances you should have it reviewed before you sign anything. Insurers often make a quick offer before the full extent of scarring, nerve damage, or psychological impact is known. Once you accept and sign a release, the claim is generally closed for good, even if new symptoms appear later.

Animal control can often identify the owner through licensing records, a microchip scan, or witness information gathered at the scene. Reporting the bite right away gives investigators the best chance of finding the dog and its owner. If the owner cannot be identified, we look at other coverage that may apply, such as the property owner's insurance if the bite happened on someone else's premises.

Most dog bite claims in Arizona are resolved through negotiation with the homeowner's or renter's insurance company and, in most circumstances, do not reach a courtroom. We prepare every case carefully, because insurers tend to respond more seriously to a claim that is well documented. If a fair resolution is not offered, filing suit remains an option we discuss with you directly.

Ordinary contact like petting or approaching a dog is not the kind of provocation that defeats a claim under Arizona law. Insurers sometimes raise this argument anyway to try to reduce what they pay. We push back on those arguments and explain, based on the specific facts, whether they have any real effect on your case.