Pennsylvania Dog Bite Lawyers
Dog attacks can cause puncture wounds, scarring, nerve damage, infections, psychological trauma, and serious injuries to children and adults. Pisanchyn Law Firm represents dog bite victims throughout Pennsylvania.
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How Our Pennsylvania Dog Bite Attorneys Can Help
Dog bite claims can involve the circumstances of the attack, the dog’s history, local reports, property conditions, witness accounts, medical treatment, insurance coverage, and the long-term effect of scarring or other injuries.
Our attorneys investigate what happened, identify the people and insurance policies involved, preserve evidence, and document the physical and emotional impact of the attack.
- Where and how the attack happened
- The dog owner, property owner, witnesses, and any prior incidents
- Medical treatment, infection risk, scarring, and future care
- Homeowners, renters, or other potentially available insurance coverage
Tell Us What Happened
Free consultation. Tell us what happened and we’ll review the next steps with you.
Child Dog Bite Injuries
Children may suffer facial injuries, scarring, fear, and long-term emotional effects after an attack.
Facial Scarring
Bites to the face can require plastic surgery, scar revision, and careful documentation of permanent changes.
Hand & Nerve Injuries
Bites to the hands and arms may damage tendons, nerves, joints, or mobility.
Infections
Dog bites can create infection risks that require prompt medical evaluation and treatment.
Knockdown Injuries
A victim does not always need to be bitten to be injured; being chased or knocked down can also cause harm.
Insurance Claims
Homeowners or renters insurance may become important depending on where the attack occurred and who owned or controlled the dog.
More Pennsylvania Dog Bite Resources
Our Injury Resource Center includes practical dog-bite guidance and Pennsylvania-specific information.
What Should You Do After a Dog Bite?
Prompt medical treatment and good documentation can protect both your health and the ability to understand what happened.
- Wash and protect the wound and seek appropriate medical care.
- Identify the dog and owner when possible without putting yourself at further risk.
- Photograph wounds, torn clothing, blood, the location, and any visible hazards.
- Get witness names and contact information.
- Keep medical records, bills, photographs of healing, and scar progression.
- Report the incident to the appropriate local authority when required or appropriate.
Scars and other injuries can change over time, so continued photographs and medical follow-up may become important evidence of the long-term effect of the attack.
Dog Attacks Can Leave Permanent Injuries
Beyond the initial wound, victims may face infection, nerve damage, surgery, visible scarring, lost work, and lasting fear or trauma.
What Compensation May Be Available After a Dog Bite?
Available compensation depends on the facts, insurance coverage, injuries, treatment, and long-term effects.
- Emergency and follow-up medical expenses
- Plastic surgery and scar treatment
- Lost wages
- Future medical care
- Pain and suffering when legally available
- Permanent scarring or disfigurement
- Psychological treatment
- Loss of quality of life
Serving Scranton, Harrisburg & Pittsburgh
Our statewide practice is supported by offices in Northeastern, Central, and Western Pennsylvania.
Pennsylvania Dog Bite FAQs
Who may be responsible after a dog bite?
Responsibility depends on the circumstances, including ownership, control of the dog, location of the attack, prior conduct, and applicable Pennsylvania law.
What if the dog belonged to a friend or family member?
Claims often involve insurance rather than a direct out-of-pocket payment. The relationship with the owner does not eliminate the need to understand coverage and injuries.
Should I photograph the injury as it heals?
Yes. A series of photographs can help document swelling, wounds, stitches, healing, and any permanent scarring.
What if I was knocked down but not bitten?
A dog-related injury can occur without a puncture wound. The circumstances and resulting injuries still need to be evaluated.
What if the victim is a child?
Children can face different medical, scarring, and emotional concerns. Prompt treatment and careful documentation are especially important.
Dog Bite Attorneys
According to the Centers for Disease Control, 885,000 people are bitten by dogs each year, and one out of every five of those require medical attention. Liability for these injuries a subsequent damages that occur after a severe animal attack falls on the pet owner. Owners are also liable for compensating victims if the dog had been considered dangerous in the past. If you or a loved one has been injured as a result of a dog bite or attack, you could receive compensation for all that you have endured.
STEPS TO TAKE IF YOU’VE BEEN BITTEN BY A DOG
The first steps to take after a dog bite are
- Get the dog owner’s contact information
- Make sure the dog is up to date on all of their shots
- Try to determine if there is any possibility that the dog has rabies
- Seek medical treatment
- Report the dog bite to both the police and your local animal control agency
A dog bite can be broken down into two categories, severe and non-severe, which determine what type of compensation can be recovered by victims.
- Severe Injury: These types of injuries result in disfigurement or broken bones. Recovery for these injuries is lengthy as they can require surgery, multiple sutures or months of physical therapy. Victims of severe injuries can receive compensation for their medical bills and other damages such as emotional trauma, lost wages, etc.
- With a non-severe injury the victim can still file a lawsuit against the animal’s owner but can only seek compensation for medical expenses.
PENNSYLVANIA DOG BITE LAWS
Pennsylvania follows strict liability when it comes to dog ownership. This means that dog owners in PA are liable for any and every injury that their dog inflicts on someone else. Exceptions to this law are only made if someone is trespassing and bitten as a result or if someone intentionally provokes a dog, causing it to become aggressive.
RESPONSIBILITIES FOR DANGEROUS DOG OWNERS IN PA
If the dog has had previous aggressive encounters with humans then it has likely been labeled as “dangerous,” based on the following criteria.
A dog is considered dangerous if it has done one or more of the following:
- It has inflicted injury without provocation
- It has harmed or killed another animal without cause
- It has charged or attempted or successfully attacked a person with being provoked
- It has been used to aide in a crime.
If a dog has been labeled as dangerous, there are several stipulations the owner must meet to keep the dog. They must:
- Register the dog as dangerous
- Maintain liability insurance for at least $50,000 that insures the owner for any injuries the dog may inflict to another person or animal
- Obtain fencing or a suitable enclosure for the dog
- Label their property as housing a dangerous animal and display a sign that informs children that a dangerous dog lives there
- Muzzle the dog and restrain it on a leash at all times when off the owner’s property
- Notify the Bureau of Dog Law Enforcement, the State Dog Warden, and local police departments if the dog is gotten loose, is unconfined, has attacked an animal or another person, has been sold, or has died.
WHY DOGS BITE
Dogs may bite for a variety of reasons. Any dog can become agitated and aggressive and no matter their gender or size, no breed is exempt from this risk.
A dog may bite if it:
- Is defending their territory, their belongings, or their food
- Is stressed
- Has been scared or startled
- Feels threatened
- Is sick or sore due to an injury or surgery
- Is playing, but doesn’t know their own strength and bites too hard
CALL THE PISANCHYN LAW FIRM’S DOG BITE LAWYERS
We have prosecuted numerous cases of this nature and can honestly pledge to you, without any equivocation, that should we accept your case, we will make completely sure that you get the justice you deserve.
For these reasons, when you retain the attorneys at the Pisanchyn Law Firm you know that you have a first-rate PA Dog Bite Law Firm that will fiercely pursue your rights and the money you deserve. As we have pledged, you will never pay a fee until we win your case.
Call our PA dog attack lawyers toll free at 1-800-444-5309 for your free consultation. We have locations in Pittsburgh, Harrisburg, Philadelphia and Scranton and will travel to you.
Bitten or Attacked by a Dog in Pennsylvania?
Tell us what happened. We can review the attack, available insurance coverage, medical treatment, and the long-term effect of the injuries.
