Many states follow a "one-bite rule" — an owner is only liable if they knew the dog had bitten before. Arizona doesn't. Under A.R.S. § 11-1025, a dog's owner is liable for a bite that occurs in a public place or while the victim is lawfully on private property, even if the dog had never shown aggression. You don't have to prove the owner knew the dog was dangerous.
Who is protected
You're covered if you were in a public place or lawfully on private property — including being there to perform a duty like delivering mail, or at the invitation of the owner. The main exception is provocation: if you provoked the dog, that can reduce or defeat the claim under Arizona's comparative fault rule. Children are the most common victims of serious dog bites, and their injuries — often to the face and head — can require reconstructive surgery and leave lasting psychological effects.
Two deadlines, not one
Arizona gives bite victims two paths. The strict-liability statute (A.R.S. § 11-1025) has a one-year filing deadline — shorter than most injury claims. A common-law negligence claim carries the standard two-year deadline under A.R.S. § 12-542 and is useful in situations where the strict-liability statute doesn't apply, such as bites by animals other than dogs. Missing the strict-liability deadline doesn't necessarily end your options, but it forces the harder negligence theory. Don't wait.
What a bite claim can recover
Arizona law allows recovery for emergency treatment and hospitalization, reconstructive and scar-revision surgery, infection treatment, counseling for psychological trauma, lost wages, pain and suffering, and permanent disfigurement. In cases involving especially reckless conduct — an owner who knew the dog was dangerous and let it roam anyway — punitive damages may also be available.
The owner's homeowner's insurance
Most dog bite claims are paid through the owner's homeowner's or renter's insurance policy. These policies typically include personal liability coverage that applies to dog bites on and off the owner's property. Identifying the right policy and building the claim against it is where legal help makes a practical difference.
After a bite
Get medical attention immediately — dog bites carry significant infection risk, and wound documentation matters to the claim. Report the bite to local animal control. Photograph your injuries as they appear and evolve. Get the owner's name, address, and insurance information if possible. Don't accept a quick payment from the owner or their insurer before you understand what your injuries actually cost.
Our dog bite attorneys handle claims throughout Phoenix and Scottsdale on a contingency fee basis. No fee unless we win. Call (480) 418-SHER (7437) or reach out online.