Bitten or attacked by a dog in Phoenix? Arizona law may hold the dog owner responsible even if the dog has never bitten anyone before. Gordi can protect your claim, deal with the insurance company, and pursue compensation for your injuries and losses.
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I want to express my sincere appreciation for Elmm Law Group. Gordana is an exceptional attorney, and I’m a big fan of her work. I’d also like to acknowledge Nancy for all the support she provides; she keeps clients informed and ensures everyone stays up to date throughout the process. Highly recommended.
– Maryan A.
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I had a great experience with this law firm from start to finish. The entire team was responsive, professional, and truly cared about my case. Laura was especially helpful; she kept everything organized, communicated clearly, and made the process so much less stressful. Highly recommend!
– Elisabeth H.
Strict Liability
Arizona law can hold a dog owner responsible for a bite even if the dog had never bitten anyone or shown signs of aggression before.
No “One-Bite Rule”
You generally don’t have to prove that the owner already knew their dog was dangerous to bring a statutory dog bite claim.
Deadlines Matter
Dog bite claims can involve deadlines that differ depending on the legal basis for the claim. Getting advice early helps protect your options.
Provocation Can Be a Defense
The dog owner or insurer may argue that the victim provoked the animal, making evidence about what happened immediately before the bite especially important.
Insurance Often Comes Into Play
Applicable homeowners, renters, or other liability insurance may provide coverage for injuries caused by a dog.
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Not necessarily. That’s one of the most important things to understand about Arizona dog bite law.
Under A.R.S. § 11-1025, a dog owner may be liable when their dog bites someone in a public place or while the victim is lawfully in a private place, even when the dog had never bitten before and the owner had no prior warning that it might attack.
That can make a statutory dog bite claim different from an ordinary negligence case.
But that doesn’t mean every dog bite claim is automatic.
Where the attack happened, whether the victim was lawfully present, what happened immediately before the bite, and whether the owner raises a provocation defense can all become important.
Arizona law may also provide other legal theories depending on the circumstances, including negligence when an owner fails to reasonably control or restrain a dog.
The question isn’t simply whether a dog bit you. It’s which Arizona laws apply to the circumstances surrounding the attack.
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The dog owner is usually the first person considered in an Arizona dog bite claim. But determining who is legally responsible, and where compensation may come from, can require looking beyond ownership alone.
Under Arizona’s dog bite statute, the owner may be held liable when their dog bites someone in a public place or while the victim is lawfully on private property, subject to applicable defenses.
In many cases, compensation is pursued through an applicable insurance policy rather than directly from the dog owner’s pocket. Homeowners and renters policies may provide premises liability coverage for dog-related injuries, depending on the policy and circumstances.
Some cases involve additional parties. Depending on where and how the attack occurred, questions may arise about a person who had custody or control of the dog, a property owner, landlord, business, or another party whose conduct contributed to the attack.
Identifying every potentially responsible party matters, especially when a serious bite causes substantial medical expenses, permanent scarring, or long-term injuries.
Our job is to determine who may be legally responsible and identify the available sources of compensation before deciding how to pursue your claim.
A dog bite claim should account for more than the cost of your first trip to the emergency room. Depending on your injuries and circumstances, the effects of an attack can continue long after the wounds have healed.
Compensation may include:
The value of a dog bite claim depends on the full impact of the injury, not simply the medical bills you have today.
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A dog attack can cause much more than a surface wound. Teeth can damage skin, muscles, tendons, nerves, and other tissue, while the force of an attack can cause additional injuries if the victim is knocked to the ground.
Common dog bite injuries include:
Puncture Wounds & Lacerations
Dog teeth can cause deep punctures, cuts, and tearing injuries that may require stitches, wound care, or surgery. Even relatively small wounds can require medical evaluation because of the risk of infection.
Scarring & Disfigurement
Deep bites can leave permanent scars, particularly when the face, neck, hands, or arms are injured. Some victims may eventually require scar revision, reconstructive surgery, or other treatment.
Nerve, Tendon & Muscle Damage
Bites to the hands, arms, legs, and face can damage structures beneath the skin, potentially causing numbness, weakness, limited movement, or other lasting problems.
Infection
Dog bite wounds can become infected and may require antibiotics or additional medical treatment. Prompt medical attention is important even when the initial injury doesn’t appear severe.
Broken Bones & Fall Injuries
Large dogs can knock victims down or cause them to fall while trying to escape. That can lead to fractures, head injuries, sprains, and other injuries in addition to the bite itself.
Emotional Trauma
Some victims experience anxiety, nightmares, fear of dogs, or other psychological effects after an attack. For children especially, the emotional consequences can continue long after the physical wounds heal.
If a dog bite looks minor but is painful, deep, or worsening, don’t judge the seriousness of the injury by appearance alone.
Many dog bite victims aren’t attacked by an unfamiliar dog on the street. The dog may belong to a neighbor, friend, relative, customer, or someone whose home they entered for work.
Dog bites frequently arise during everyday situations such as:
Depending on the circumstances, applicable insurance may provide coverage for the injury.
Before assuming you shouldn’t pursue a claim because of your relationship with the owner, understand what options are available.
The hours and days after a dog attack can matter for both your health and any claim you may later pursue. If you’re able, take these steps:
You don’t need to build the case yourself. Your priority after an attack should be getting the care you need and protecting the information that may matter later.
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Recovering from a dog attack is enough to deal with. You shouldn’t also have to spend your time chasing records, arguing with an insurance adjuster, or figuring out which evidence matters.
When Elmm Law Group handles your dog bite claim, we can:
Throughout the case, Gordi keeps you informed about what’s happening and the decisions that affect you.
You take care of your recovery. We’ll take care of building the case around it.
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You have options when choosing a personal injury lawyer. At Elmm Law Group, your case combines experienced Arizona representation with something that’s harder to find at larger firms: direct access to the attorney handling it.
17+ Years in Arizona’s Legal System
Gordi Mikalacki brings more than 17 years of Arizona legal experience to her clients, giving her an understanding of the courts, laws, and legal system where your claim will be handled.
Former Arizona Assistant Attorney General
Before representing injured people, Gordi served in the Arizona Attorney General’s Office. That background gives her experience investigating cases, evaluating evidence, and building legal arguments from the ground up.
Direct Access to Your Attorney
Your dog bite claim isn’t handed off while you wonder who’s actually responsible for it. You can communicate directly with Gordi and stay informed about the decisions affecting your case.
Focused on Personal Injury
Elmm Law Group focuses on representing injured people. That means your case is handled by a firm built around personal injury claims rather than treating them as one service among many.
No Attorney Fee Unless We Recover for You
There are no upfront attorney fees to hire Elmm Law Group for your dog bite claim. Our attorney fee is contingent on recovering compensation for you.
Knowing Phoenix isn’t about listing every neighborhood where a dog attack might happen. It’s knowing which local rules, agencies, records, and courts can matter when one does.
For a Phoenix dog bite claim, that can mean knowing:
Elmm Law Group is based in Phoenix and handles Arizona personal injury cases from here.
Do I actually have a case if the dog had never been aggressive before?
You may. Arizona’s statutory dog bite law does not generally require a prior bite or proof that the owner already knew the dog was dangerous.
The insurance company already offered me money. Should I take it?
Before accepting an offer, consider whether the full extent of your injuries is known. Scarring, future treatment, nerve damage, and psychological effects may not be clear immediately. Accepting a settlement and signing a release can prevent you from seeking additional compensation later.
Do I have to sue the dog’s owner personally?
Not necessarily. Depending on the circumstances, applicable homeowners, renters, or other liability insurance may cover a dog bite claim. An attorney can investigate available coverage before you decide how to proceed.
What if I was bitten while working or making a delivery?
You may still have a claim against the dog owner or another responsible party. Depending on your employment and the circumstances of the attack, additional sources of benefits or compensation may also need to be considered.
What happens if the dog owner doesn’t have insurance?
Lack of homeowners or renters coverage can make recovery more difficult, but it doesn’t necessarily end the investigation. Other potentially responsible parties, policies, or sources of recovery may need to be evaluated based on the facts.
Can I recover for a permanent scar?
Permanent scarring and disfigurement can be important components of a dog bite claim. The location and severity of the scar, future treatment, and its impact on the victim may all be relevant when evaluating damages.
Do I need a lawyer for a dog bite claim?
Not every bite necessarily requires litigation or legal representation. But when injuries are significant, liability is disputed, scarring may be permanent, a child is involved, or an insurer is pressuring you to settle, having an attorney evaluate the claim can help you understand what you’re giving up before making a decision.
You don’t need to know which Arizona statute applies. You don’t need to know what your case is worth. And you don’t need to have all the evidence gathered before you call.
Start by telling Gordi what happened.
We’ll help you understand your rights, what may happen next, and whether Elmm Law Group can help with your dog bite claim.
The consultation is free. There are no upfront attorney fees, and you pay no attorney fee unless we recover compensation for you.
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Gordana “Gordi” Mikalacki, Esq. is the founder and lead attorney at Elmm Law Group. She earned her J.D. from the Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law at Arizona State University and brings a background that sets her apart from most personal injury attorneys in Phoenix.
Before founding Elmm Law Group, Gordi served as an Assistant Attorney General for the State of Arizona and clerked for the Arizona Court of Appeals. Those roles gave her a deep understanding of how Arizona law is interpreted and applied at the highest levels, knowledge she now uses exclusively on behalf of injury victims.
Gordi handles personal injury cases only. She does not divide her attention across multiple practice areas. When you hire Elmm Law Group, you work directly with Gordi, not a paralegal or a case manager you have never met. She is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and she communicates with clients in English, Spanish, and Serbo-Croatian.
Dog bite and personal injury victims in Phoenix deserve an attorney who understands both the law and the community. Gordi lives and works in this city, and she brings that commitment to every case she takes.
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Given our firm specializes in and exclusively handles personal injury cases, we’re able to provide one-on-one Client-Attorney contact to ensure our clients feel heard. Also, we don’t get paid unless you do! Our team can provide multilingual services in English, Spanish, and Serbo-Croatian.
If you’ve been injured in a car crash, motorcycle wreck, pedestrian accident, trucking collision, or from a dog bite, call our Phoenix personal injury lawyer today for a FREE consultation. We’re available 24/7!
Take your first step towards speaking with our office by contacting us for a FREE consultation today. Call us at (480) 329-5084 or complete the form below. We look forward to evaluating your case!