Philadelphia Dog Bite Lawyers

If a dog bit or attacked you in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania law generally makes the owner or keeper responsible for your medical costs. You can pursue full compensation for pain, scarring and lost income when you can show the owner was careless. Most of these claims must be filed within two years of the bite.

What to do now:

1. Get the wound treated and documented. Keep every bill, photo and discharge note, especially for stitches, surgery or broken bones.
2. Identify the dog and its owner. Write down the address, the owner's name and any witnesses, and make sure the bite is reported so the dog's rabies status is checked.
3. Mark your filing deadline. Most Pennsylvania dog bite lawsuits must be filed within 2 years of the attack.

Charles Gilman co-founded Gilman & Bedigian and our firm represents people hurt by dogs and other animals from our Center City office at 1515 Market Street. Our firm's results include the $182 million birth injury verdict against the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania (Hagans v. Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania). No attorney fee unless we recover.

Call (800) 529-6162 for a free consultation.

Key Takeaways

• Pennsylvania's Dog Law (3 P.S. § 459-502) makes a dog's owner or keeper responsible for a bite victim's medical costs, even when the dog never bit anyone before.
• A severe injury under 3 P.S. § 459-102 means broken bones or disfiguring lacerations that require multiple sutures or cosmetic surgery. That label affects dangerous dog proceedings and how a claim is built.
• Recovering pain and suffering, lost wages and scarring damages generally requires proving the owner was negligent, for example by letting the dog run loose or ignoring known aggression.
• Under 42 Pa. C.S. § 7102, you can recover only if your share of fault is not greater than the defendants' combined share, and your award is reduced by your percentage.
• The general deadline to sue is 2 years from the bite (42 Pa. C.S. § 5524). Claims involving a city agency, such as a police dog, carry a 6-month written notice requirement (42 Pa. C.S. § 5522).

How Long Do You Have to File a Dog Bite Claim in Philadelphia?

In Pennsylvania, you generally have 2 years from the date of a dog bite to file a personal injury lawsuit, under 42 Pa. C.S. § 5524. Shorter notice rules apply when a government agency is involved, and different timing can apply to children. If the lawsuit is not filed in time, the court can dismiss it, no matter how serious the injury.

A dog bite claim is rarely about one ER visit. For a child bitten on the face, it can decide who pays for scar revision surgery years from now. For an adult, it can decide whether a mail carrier, nurse or tradesperson gets paid for the weeks a hand or arm can't be used. For a family that lost someone in an attack, it decides whether funeral costs and lost support are covered at all.

What Changes the Deadline?

The two-year rule is the starting point, not the whole answer. These situations change the timing:

A statute of limitations is the legal deadline for filing a lawsuit. Once it passes, the person who caused the harm can ask the court to throw out the case, even if fault is obvious.

What Evidence Disappears First?

The deadline is not the only clock. Evidence fades much faster.

• Doorbell and security camera video from neighbors on your block can be recorded over quickly.
• The dog itself may be rehomed, moved out of state or euthanized, which makes it harder to document size, behavior and history.
• Wound photos lose their value as the injury heals. Early photos show the depth and shape of punctures that a scar never will.
• Witnesses move, change phone numbers and forget details about whether the dog was leashed.
• Owners move. In a city with many rental properties, a tenant who owned the dog may leave before anyone records a forwarding address.

The strongest dog bite claims are usually the ones where someone started gathering this evidence in the first weeks. You don't need to build the case yourself. You need someone to start before it slips away.

If a fatal attack took someone you love, the separate rules for wrongful death apply, and the estate's representative should get advice early about who can file and when.

Questions about how these deadlines apply to your bite? Call (800) 529-6162 and we'll walk through the timing with you.

How We Build a Dog Bite Case From Our Philadelphia Office

We don't use a branded system or a script. Every dog bite case turns on three questions: who was responsible for the dog, what that person knew or should have done, and what the injury will cost you over your lifetime. Here is how we work through them.

Step 1: The First Conversation

Your case starts with a conversation about what happened. We ask where the attack took place, whether the dog was on a leash, and whether you know of any earlier incidents. We also ask about your treatment so far. Bring whatever you have: ER paperwork, photos, the owner's name, any letters from an insurance company.

We answer our phone 24/7, so you can reach us the night of an attack or the morning after.

Step 2: Identifying Every Responsible Party

The person walking the dog is not always the only person responsible. We look at who owned the dog, who kept or harbored it, who controlled the property, and whether a business such as a dog walker, groomer or daycare had custody. Then we look for every insurance policy that may apply: homeowner's, renter's, landlord or business liability coverage.

Step 3: Gathering Records the Owner Won't Volunteer

Prior aggression is often the most important fact in a dog bite case, and the owner rarely discloses it. Depending on the case, we seek:

1. Bite and rabies-observation records from the Philadelphia Department of Public Health
2. Complaint and pickup records from Animal Care and Control Team of Philadelphia (ACCT Philly)
3. Dog license, kennel and dangerous dog records kept by the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture's Bureau of Dog Law Enforcement
4. Prior police reports, neighbor complaints and lease records showing pet restrictions
5. Veterinary records that may note behavior concerns

Some of our attorneys previously worked at defense firms, representing a hospital system, corporations and insurance companies. That background helps us anticipate how an adjuster will evaluate a bite claim and where they will look for weak points.

Step 4: Documenting the Full Medical Picture

A bite that looks "healed" can still leave nerve damage, a visible scar or a lasting fear of dogs. We work with your treating providers and, where appropriate, outside specialists such as plastic surgeons to estimate future procedures. Charles Gilman has given lectures to fellow lawyers, at their request, on using expert witnesses at trial. That work shapes how we choose and prepare the specialists who explain scarring and future care to a jury.

Step 5: Negotiating With a Trial in Mind

Most claims resolve by settlement, but insurers set their numbers based on what they think a jury would do. Our co-founder Briggs Bedigian has tried more than 70 cases to verdict, and our firm prepares cases with that same expectation of trial. When an insurer won't make a fair offer, we are prepared to file suit and move forward.

Ready to talk through the facts of your case? Call (800) 529-6162 for a free case review with our Philadelphia team.

How Does Pennsylvania's Dog Law Treat Severe and Non-Severe Bites?

Pennsylvania's Dog Law, 3 P.S. § 459-101 and following sections, makes the owner or keeper of a dog that bites or attacks a person responsible for that person's medical costs (3 P.S. § 459-502). To recover broader damages, such as pain and suffering, lost wages and scarring, a victim generally must prove the owner was negligent or knew the dog was dangerous. Whether the injury qualifies as "severe" changes how the case is built.

This is where Pennsylvania differs from some neighboring states. If you were bitten in Maryland, a different statute controls, and the rules about the owner's knowledge work differently. In Pennsylvania, you need to understand both the Dog Law and ordinary negligence law.

What Counts as a "Severe Injury"?

Severe injury, under 3 P.S. § 459-102, means any physical injury that results in broken bones or disfiguring lacerations requiring multiple sutures or cosmetic surgery. A bite that needed a few stitches on a forearm may or may not qualify. A facial laceration referred to a plastic surgeon very likely deserves a closer look.

Medical records decide this question. That is why the ER note saying "multiple sutures" or "referred for plastic surgery evaluation" matters so much.

How the Pieces Fit Together

Does Pennsylvania Have a "One Free Bite" Rule?

Not in the way many people assume. Under the Dog Law, the owner is responsible for medical costs from the very first bite. For damages beyond medical bills, the owner's knowledge matters. Evidence that the dog had bitten, attacked or threatened people before makes negligence much easier to prove.

Dangerous propensity is the legal term for a dog's known tendency to attack or injure. If an owner knew, or should have known, about that tendency and failed to take reasonable precautions, Pennsylvania law can hold them responsible for the resulting harm.

Key insight: A first bite does not leave the victim without a remedy. Even with no prior history, an owner who let the dog roam loose or ignored warning signs can be found negligent.

How Does a Dog Get Declared Dangerous?

A dangerous dog proceeding is a separate court case, filed by a local police officer or state dog warden on the victim's behalf. Under 3 P.S. § 459-502-A, the court looks at what the dog did, such as inflicting severe injury on a person or attacking a person without provocation, or whether it has a history of unprovoked attacks. In Philadelphia, these matters generally go before the Philadelphia Municipal Court.

The outcome doesn't decide your injury claim. But testimony, photos and findings from that proceeding can become useful evidence in your civil case.

Who Is Legally Responsible When a Dog Bites in Philadelphia?

In Pennsylvania, responsibility for a dog bite usually falls on the dog's owner or keeper. The Dog Law defines "owner" broadly, covering anyone who has a property right in the dog, keeps or harbors it, has it in their care, or allows it to stay on premises they occupy (3 P.S. § 459-102). That definition means a roommate, relative or caretaker can sometimes share responsibility with the person who bought the dog.

The Owner and the "Keeper"

A keeper is someone who has control over a dog, even temporarily, without owning it. Think of a friend dog-sitting for a weekend, a family member who walks the dog daily, or a neighbor who lets the dog stay in their home. Each may owe a duty to keep the dog under control.

Landlords and Property Managers

Philadelphia is a city of rowhomes and apartments, and many dogs live in rental properties. A landlord is generally not responsible for a tenant's dog just because they own the building. The picture can change if the landlord knew the dog was dangerous and had the power to require its removal, or if the attack happened in a common area the landlord controlled, such as a shared hallway or courtyard.

These cases often overlap with slip and fall & premises liability principles, because the question becomes what the property owner knew and what they could have done about it.

Businesses That Handle Dogs

Dog walkers, groomers, boarding kennels and doggy daycares take on control of other people's animals. When a dog gets away from a professional walker on a busy sidewalk, both the walker's business and the owner may face claims. Each business may carry its own liability insurance.

Employers

Sometimes a dog bite happens during work, or a worker's dog bites someone. Employer responsibility depends on the facts, and an employer is not always responsible for a dog bite involving an employee. If you were bitten while doing your own job, such as delivering packages or reading meters, workers' compensation may also come into play.

Police Dogs and Government Animals

A bite from a police K-9 or an animal held by a city agency raises special issues. Claims against local government units face immunity rules and a 6-month written notice requirement under 42 Pa. C.S. § 5522. These cases need prompt attention.

What About Other Animals?

Pennsylvania's Dog Law covers dogs specifically. Injuries from other animals, such as a cat, a horse or an exotic pet, are usually pursued under general negligence principles, focusing on what the owner knew about the animal and how it was controlled. Rabies concerns can arise with any mammal; our discussion of who is responsible for a rabid dog bite covers that issue in more depth.

What Does the Philadelphia Leash Law Mean for Your Claim?

Pennsylvania requires dog owners to keep their dogs confined on their property, firmly secured so they can't stray, or under the reasonable control of a person (3 P.S. § 459-305), with narrow exceptions such as lawful hunting. Philadelphia's own animal-control rules in the Philadelphia Code add a leash requirement for dogs off the owner's property, with exceptions for designated off-leash areas. A loose dog that attacks someone is often the clearest proof of owner negligence in a Pennsylvania dog bite case.

What Is Negligence Per Se?

Negligence per se means carelessness established by breaking a safety law. Instead of arguing about what a reasonable owner would do, the victim shows the owner violated a rule designed to protect people like them. Pennsylvania courts may treat violations of the Dog Law's confinement rules this way, though the victim still has to show the violation caused the injury.

A Common Scenario

Hypothetical: A jogger on the Schuylkill River Trail is knocked down and bitten by a dog running off-leash outside any designated off-leash area. The owner says the dog "has never done anything like this." Even if that's true, the dog was off-leash where city rules require a leash, and arguably was not under the reasonable control state law requires. That breach can support a negligence claim for the jogger's full losses, not only the ER bill.

The same logic applies to a dog that slips through an unlatched gate in a South Philadelphia rowhome yard, or one that charges off a porch in Kensington. The question is whether the owner kept the dog confined or controlled.

What About Fences and "Beware of Dog" Signs?

A sign is not a substitute for control. It can actually show the owner knew the dog might be dangerous. On the other hand, a person who climbs a fence into a clearly secured yard faces tougher questions about fault, which we cover in the provocation section below.

Reporting a Loose or Aggressive Dog

ACCT Philly handles stray and loose animals within the city, and bite reports are tracked for rabies follow-up through the Philadelphia Department of Public Health. Under the Dog Law, a dog that bites or attacks a person generally must be confined and isolated for at least 10 days so it can be watched for signs of rabies (3 P.S. § 459-502(a)). Records from these agencies can show whether the same dog drew earlier complaints.

What Compensation Can a Dog Bite Victim Recover in Pennsylvania?

In Pennsylvania, a dog bite victim can recover medical costs from the owner under the Dog Law, and can pursue economic and non-economic damages when negligence is proven. Compensation can cover past and future medical care, lost income, scarring and disfigurement, and the pain and emotional harm the attack caused. Your own share of fault, if any, can reduce the total under 42 Pa. C.S. § 7102.

According to the American Veterinary Medical Association, more than 4.5 million people in the United States are bitten by dogs each year, and more than 800,000 receive medical attention. The CDC dog bite data and prevention guidance explain why many of these injuries need more than first aid.

Damages by Category

Why Scarring Drives So Many Dog Bite Claims

Dog bites tend to cause puncture and tearing wounds rather than clean cuts. Those wounds can heal unevenly, and scars can change for months. A plastic surgeon may recommend waiting before revision surgery, which means the full cost isn't known right away. That's one reason settling quickly can leave money on the table.

The lasting effect on daily life also matters. Courts recognize harms such as loss of enjoyment of life when an injury changes how someone lives.

When the Victim Is a Child

Children are often bitten on the face, head and neck because of their height. Their scars can grow and change as they do. A child's claim may need to account for surgeries in adolescence, counseling for fear and anxiety, and the effect of facial scarring during school years.

Parents should keep a simple journal of nightmares, changes in behavior, and missed school days. These details are hard to remember later and can carry real weight.

Psychological Injuries Are Real Injuries

Many adults and children develop intense fear after an attack. Some avoid walking their own street, parks such as Pennypack or Wissahickon, or friends' homes with dogs. Counseling records documenting that fear are part of your damages, not a side note.

Liens on Your Recovery

A lien is a legal claim to be repaid out of your settlement. If health insurance, Medicare or Medicaid paid for your bite treatment, they may have a right to reimbursement. We identify and address liens before a settlement is finalized, so you know what you'll actually receive.

What If the Owner Says You Provoked the Dog?

Pennsylvania follows modified comparative negligence under 42 Pa. C.S. § 7102. You can recover damages only if your negligence is not greater than the combined negligence of the defendants, and your award is reduced by your percentage of fault. If a jury finds you more than 50% at fault, you recover nothing on a negligence claim.

Comparative negligence is the system for splitting blame among everyone involved. A jury assigns a percentage to each party, and the injured person's recovery shrinks by their own share.

Common Defenses Owners Raise

Owners and their insurers often argue one of these:

• Provocation: The victim hit, teased, cornered or stepped on the dog.
• Trespass: The victim entered the property without permission.
• Ignoring warnings: The victim reached over a fence or approached after being told to stay back.
• Unexpected behavior: The dog had never shown aggression, so the owner couldn't have known.

Each defense depends on facts. Petting a dog with the owner's permission is not provocation. Walking up to a front door to deliver a package is not trespassing. And as discussed above, a lack of prior incidents does not excuse letting the dog run loose.

Children and Fault

Young children are judged differently than adults. Pennsylvania courts apply special standards to a child's conduct, and very young children generally cannot be found negligent at all. When an insurer suggests a small child "provoked" a dog by hugging it or running nearby, that argument deserves scrutiny.

How the Fair Share Act Affects Multiple Defendants

When more than one party is at fault, such as an owner and a dog-walking business, Pennsylvania's Fair Share Act generally makes each defendant pay only their own share. The exception: a defendant found 60% or more at fault, or responsible for an intentional tort, can be held liable for the full amount. This affects which parties are worth pursuing and which policies are available.

How Do Insurance Companies Handle Dog Bite Claims?

In Pennsylvania, many dog bite claims are paid by the owner's homeowner's or renter's insurance, which commonly includes personal liability coverage. Some policies limit or exclude coverage for dogs with a bite history, so coverage must be checked rather than assumed. When a landlord, business or other party shares responsibility, their liability coverage may also apply.

The Insurance Policies That May Apply

1. Homeowner's insurance of the dog owner, if they own their home
2. Renter's insurance of a tenant who owns the dog
3. Landlord or building liability coverage, when the landlord's knowledge or common areas are at issue
4. Commercial liability coverage of a dog walker, groomer, kennel or daycare
5. Umbrella policies that add coverage above the base limits

Many Philadelphia dog owners rent rather than own. Not every renter carries insurance, which is why identifying every responsible party early matters.

Should You Give a Recorded Statement?

The owner's insurer may call quickly and ask to record your account. You are usually not required to give a recorded statement to the other side's insurer. Adjusters may ask questions designed to suggest provocation or downplay the injury. Our guide on whether you should talk with an insurance adjuster in Philadelphia explains what to say and what to avoid.

Why the First Offer Comes Early

Early offers often arrive before scars have matured or before a surgeon has weighed in on revision. Once you sign a release, you generally can't reopen the claim, even if you later need surgery. That's why we wait to evaluate an offer until the medical picture is clear enough to value future care.

Paying for Treatment While the Claim Is Pending

Your own health insurance usually pays for treatment first. Keep every explanation of benefits. The Dog Law makes the owner responsible for medical costs, and those amounts, along with any lien, are sorted out as part of the claim.

Proven Results: What Is a Dog Bite Claim Worth in Philadelphia?

The value of a Pennsylvania dog bite claim depends on the severity of the injury, the strength of the evidence of negligence, the available insurance, and any share of fault assigned to the victim. No honest lawyer can give you a number before reviewing medical records and insurance coverage, because those facts drive the value. What we can show you is our record of taking cases to verdict.

Our Results

In a documented dog bite case, our firm obtained a $240,000 verdict for our client. That case went to trial rather than settling, which reflects how we prepare dog bite claims. Our firm's broader record includes the results below.

Past results depend on their own facts and don't predict the outcome of any other case.

Factors That Raise or Lower Value

• Location of the injury: Facial and hand injuries often carry greater long-term impact.
• Need for surgery: Reconstructive or scar revision procedures increase both costs and documented harm.
• Evidence of negligence: A loose dog, a prior complaint or a dangerous dog designation strengthens the case.
• Insurance limits: The available coverage sets a practical ceiling unless other assets or parties are involved.
• Fault arguments: A credible provocation defense can reduce the award under § 7102.

How Long Does It Take?

Timing depends on how quickly your medical treatment stabilizes, how cooperative the insurer is, and whether a lawsuit becomes necessary. Some claims resolve without a lawsuit. Others need litigation and, occasionally, a trial. Our explanation of why some cases go to court in Philadelphia covers the factors that push a claim toward trial.

Filing in the Philadelphia County Court of Common Pleas

Dog bite lawsuits arising in Philadelphia are commonly filed in the Court of Common Pleas of Philadelphia County, Trial Division, Civil Section, based at City Hall. Claims valued at $50,000 or less generally go through the court's compulsory arbitration program, while larger claims proceed on a standard civil track toward a jury trial. Your case notice will tell you exactly where and when your case is heard.

How Philadelphia Cases Move Through Court

Compulsory arbitration is a hearing before a panel of attorneys instead of a jury, used for smaller civil claims. Either side unhappy with the result can generally appeal and get a new trial in the Court of Common Pleas.

Larger cases follow a different path:

1. Complaint filed in the Court of Common Pleas
2. Case management sets deadlines for exchanging evidence
3. Discovery: both sides exchange records, take depositions and gather expert opinions
4. Settlement discussions, sometimes with a court-ordered conference
5. Trial before a Philadelphia jury, if the case doesn't resolve

The right venue depends on where the attack occurred and where the defendants live or do business. A bite in Conshohocken or elsewhere in Montgomery County may belong in the Montgomery County Court of Common Pleas in Norristown, where procedures and calendars differ. Our Conshohocken office serves clients across Montgomery County.

Dangerous Dog and Summary Matters

Separate from your civil claim, criminal and dangerous dog matters involving the owner generally proceed in the Philadelphia Municipal Court. You may be asked to testify. Those proceedings can create a record that later supports your injury case.

Where Philadelphia Bite Victims Get Treated

Bite victims across the city are treated at hospitals such as Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, Temple University Hospital, Penn Presbyterian Medical Center, the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia and St. Christopher's Hospital for Children. Wherever you were treated, those records become the backbone of your claim. We request them directly to help make sure nothing is missed.

The Places Attacks Happen

Dog bites in Philadelphia happen on rowhome blocks, in apartment hallways, at playgrounds, and on trails through Fairmount Park and the Wissahickon. Each setting raises different questions: whose property it was, whether a leash was required, and who else may share responsibility. For background on broader trends, see our article on how dog bite injuries are on the rise.

The Contingency Fee Model: What Does a Philadelphia Dog Bite Lawyer Cost?

We take all personal injury cases on a contingency fee basis. You pay no attorney's fee unless we recover money for you. That means you can hire a trial firm without paying anything upfront for our legal work.

Fees Versus Case Expenses

A contingency fee is a lawyer's fee paid as a percentage of the money recovered, rather than an hourly charge. Case expenses are different. These are costs like medical record fees, court filing fees and expert charges. We explain in writing how fees and expenses are handled before you sign anything, and you should ask any questions you have during your first conversation.

What You Can Expect From Us

• We answer our phone 24/7. You can reach someone when it matters to you.
• You'll understand your case. We explain the Dog Law, the evidence and each offer in plain language.
• You decide whether to settle. We give you our honest assessment, and the final choice is yours.

If you already have a lawyer and feel unheard, you have options. Our page on whether you can change attorneys in Philadelphia explains how that works.

Who We Are

Charles Gilman co-founded Gilman & Bedigian with H. Briggs Bedigian in October of 2012. His practice includes dog bites, slip and fall accidents, car accidents and medical malpractice. He is admitted to practice in Pennsylvania, state and federal, along with Maryland, New York, the District of Columbia and Texas. He was named a Super Lawyer from 2015 to 2022 and a Super Lawyers Rising Star from 2009 to 2014, and he was selected for The National Trial Lawyers Top 40 Under 40.

Our team includes trial attorneys who focus on dog bite, premises liability and catastrophic injury cases. The firm's attorneys have been featured on or in The Legal Intelligencer, FOX45 Baltimore, The Daily Record, The Wall Street Journal and other outlets. You can learn more about our firm.

What to Bring to Your First Meeting

1. Photos of the injury, ideally taken over several days
2. ER and follow-up medical records, plus bills
3. The dog owner's name and address, and the address where the attack happened
4. Names and phone numbers of witnesses
5. Any letters, emails or voicemails from an insurance company
6. Pay stubs or employer notes if you missed work

Don't worry if you're missing some of these. We can track down records you don't have.

The information on this page is general information and does not constitute legal advice. Every case is different, and past results do not guarantee future outcomes. Please consult an attorney about your specific situation.

Talk With a Philadelphia Dog Bite Attorney About Your Next Step

A dog bite can leave you with scars, medical bills and fear that lingers long after the wound closes. Pennsylvania law gives you a path to hold the responsible owner, keeper or business accountable. But that path has a limit: most claims must be filed within 2 years, and a claim involving a city agency needs written notice within 6 months.

We represent bite victims throughout Philadelphia and Philadelphia County from our office at 1515 Market Street, and we serve Montgomery County from Conshohocken. You owe no attorney fee unless we recover for you.

Call (800) 529-6162 to set up a free consultation and get clear answers about your deadline, your evidence and your options.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I have a case if a dog bit me in Philadelphia?

If a dog bit or attacked you in Pennsylvania, the Dog Law (3 P.S. § 459-502) generally makes the owner or keeper responsible for your medical costs. To recover more, such as lost wages, scarring and pain and suffering, you generally need to show the owner was negligent, for example by letting the dog run loose or ignoring signs of aggression. Your own conduct, like provoking the dog or trespassing, can reduce or bar recovery under 42 Pa. C.S. § 7102.

How long do I have to file a dog bite lawsuit in Pennsylvania?

Most dog bite lawsuits in Pennsylvania must be filed within 2 years of the bite under 42 Pa. C.S. § 5524. A child's own claim is generally paused until age 18 under 42 Pa. C.S. § 5533(b), though a parent's claim for the child's medical bills can follow different timing. Claims involving a city or local agency, such as a police dog, require written notice within 6 months under 42 Pa. C.S. § 5522.

How much does a dog bite lawyer cost?

Gilman & Bedigian takes all personal injury cases, including dog bite claims, on a contingency fee basis. You pay no attorney's fee unless we recover money for you. Case expenses, such as records and filing fees, are separate from the fee, and we explain how they are handled in writing before you sign.

What is my dog bite case worth?

The value of a Pennsylvania dog bite claim depends on how severe the injury is, whether surgery or scar revision is needed, how strong the evidence of negligence is, how much insurance is available, and whether you share any fault. A responsible estimate requires reviewing your medical records and the owner's coverage. Past results, including our firm's $240,000 dog bite verdict, do not predict the outcome of another case.

What counts as a "severe injury" under Pennsylvania's Dog Law?

Under 3 P.S. § 459-102, a severe injury is any physical injury that results in broken bones or disfiguring lacerations requiring multiple sutures or cosmetic surgery. A severe injury can support a dangerous dog proceeding under 3 P.S. § 459-502-A. It also tends to make scarring, surgery and future care central parts of the damages claim.

Should I accept the insurance company's first offer?

Not before you understand your full medical picture. Dog bite scars can change for months, and a surgeon may recommend revision later. Once you sign a release, you generally cannot reopen the claim, even if you need more treatment. Have a lawyer review the offer against your expected future costs first.

What if I was partly at fault for the dog bite?

Pennsylvania uses modified comparative negligence under 42 Pa. C.S. § 7102. You can still recover if your share of fault is not greater than the defendants' combined share, but your award is reduced by your percentage. If you are found more than 50% at fault, you recover nothing on a negligence claim, and young children are judged by a different standard than adults.

Can I sue my landlord if a tenant's dog bit me?

Sometimes. In Pennsylvania, a landlord is generally not responsible for a tenant's dog simply because they own the building. A landlord may share responsibility if they knew the dog was dangerous and had the power to remove it, or if the attack happened in a common area under their control.

What if the dog owner doesn't have insurance?

Many Philadelphia dog owners rent, and some don't carry renter's insurance. You may still have options against the owner personally, a landlord, a dog-walking or daycare business, or another keeper who had control of the dog. Identifying every responsible party early gives you the best chance of finding coverage.

How long does a dog bite case take to settle?

Timing depends on when your treatment stabilizes, how cooperative the insurer is, and whether a lawsuit is needed. In Philadelphia, smaller claims of $50,000 or less generally go through compulsory arbitration, while larger claims follow a longer path toward a jury trial. We can explain the likely path for your case after reviewing the facts.

Will my dog bite case go to trial?

Most claims settle, but some go to trial when an insurer won't make a fair offer. Our firm prepares cases with trial in mind, and one of our dog bite cases resulted in a $240,000 verdict. Whether to settle or try your case is always your decision.

How do I pay for treatment while my case is pending?

Your own health insurance usually pays for treatment first, so keep every bill and explanation of benefits. The Dog Law makes the owner responsible for your medical costs, and any reimbursement your insurer claims, called a lien, is resolved as part of your settlement or verdict.

Do I need a lawyer for a dog bite claim?

You are not required to hire one, but Pennsylvania's mix of Dog Law rules, negligence standards and comparative fault can be hard to sort out alone. A lawyer can gather animal control and health department records, identify every insurance policy, and value future scar care. If you have questions, a free consultation costs you nothing.