Free Guide
A dog bite is scary and it gets complicated fast, especially when the dog belongs to a friend or neighbor. Here's a calm checklist. And here's the part that puts most people at ease: these claims are almost always paid by insurance, not out of anyone's pocket, so taking care of yourself doesn't mean hurting someone you know.
Get medical care quickly. Dog bites carry serious infection risk even when they look small.
Photograph your injuries before and after treatment.
Get the dog owner's name, address, and insurance information.
Find out whether the dog had bitten anyone before.
Report the bite to animal control or local authorities to create a record.
Keep photographing the injury as it heals, including any scarring.
Keep all medical records and the report number.
Don't give a recorded statement to the owner's insurer before talking to a lawyer.
Guides are general. Your case isn't. Ask us, it's free and there's no obligation.
Start a free reviewThe first thing to do after a dog bite is get medical care, because bites carry a high infection risk even when they look minor. Then photograph the injury, get the owner's name and insurance information, find out if the dog has bitten before, and report it to animal control so there's an official record. These steps protect both your health and any claim.
In most cases, a dog bite injury is paid by the dog owner's homeowner or renter insurance, not by the owner personally. That's why you can pursue a fair claim even when the owner is someone you know, the money comes from their policy, not their savings. Peretz Law Firm identifies the right policy and handles the claim.
You may still recover money even if the dog had never bitten anyone before, depending on the state. New Jersey applies strict liability, so a clean history often doesn't protect the owner. Pennsylvania allows recovery of medical costs regardless of the dog's history. New York gives more weight to whether the owner knew the dog was dangerous. Peretz Law Firm applies the rule for where you were bitten.
This guide is general information for people in Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, it isn't legal advice for your specific situation, and reading it doesn't create an attorney-client relationship. For advice about your own case, talk to a lawyer. We're happy to be that first call, free.