Atlanta dog bite lawyer

A dog bite can tear skin, crush tissue and leave scars that last for years. When the victim is a child, the fear can last even longer.

If someone else's dog attacked you or your child in metro Atlanta, Georgia law may give you a claim against the owner. Gary Huggins is an Atlanta dog bite lawyer at Huggins Accident Injury Lawyer in Perimeter Center.

This page explains Georgia's dog bite statute, who usually pays and what to do in the first days after an attack. To talk it over, call (240) 421-5511. The phone is answered around the clock.

What should you do right after a dog bite?

1. Get medical care, even for a bite that looks small. Bites can become infected, and a doctor can address rabies concerns and document every wound.
2. Identify the dog and its owner. Get names, addresses and phone numbers, including whoever had control of the dog at the time.
3. Report the bite to the animal control or animal services office for the city or county where it happened, and call police if needed.
4. Photograph the wounds right away and as they heal, along with torn clothing and the scene, like an open gate or a broken fence.
5. Find witnesses and video. Neighbors' doorbell and security cameras can capture attacks on sidewalks and driveways.
6. Write down what the owner said. Comments like “he got out again” or “he has never done that before” can matter later.
7. Be careful with the owner's insurer. Read why a recorded statement can hurt your claim before you give one.

A report to animal control creates an official record of the dog, the owner and the attack. It can also help answer questions about the dog's rabies vaccination.

Still shaken and not sure what to do next? Call (240) 421-5511 and Gary will walk you through the next few days.

Georgia's dog bite law: O.C.G.A. § 51-2-7

Georgia does not make dog owners automatically responsible for every bite. Under O.C.G.A. § 51-2-7, a person who owns or keeps a vicious or dangerous animal may be liable when, through careless management or by letting the animal go at liberty, it injures someone who did not provoke it.

In plain words, you generally need to show:

• The person you are claiming against owned or kept the dog. A keeper can include someone caring for it, like a relative or a dog sitter.
• The dog was vicious or dangerous.
• The owner or keeper was careless in controlling it or let it run loose.
• You did not provoke the dog.

There are two main ways to prove the dog was dangerous:

1. The owner knew. Evidence shows the owner knew the dog had a dangerous tendency, for example because it had bitten, snapped at or tried to bite someone before.
2. A leash law was broken. A local ordinance required the dog to be on a leash or at heel, and it was not.

Under the statute, a leash-law violation can stand in for proof that the dog was dangerous.

Is Georgia a “one-bite” state?

Not exactly. In 2017, the Supreme Court of Georgia said the so-called “first bite” rule does not literally require a first bite. Earlier snapping or attempted bites can be enough to show the owner knew the dog was dangerous.

That question is usually for a jury. The court also noted that barking and growling alone generally have not been enough.

That makes the dog's history important. Animal control records, complaints from neighbors, earlier incidents at a dog park and even the owner's own social media posts can show what the owner knew.

Bitten by a dog with a history? Call (240) 421-5511 and Gary will start gathering the records that show what the owner knew.

Leash laws around metro Atlanta

Many cities and counties in metro Atlanta have ordinances that require dogs to be leashed or under control when they are off the owner's property. The wording differs from place to place.

Whether the bite happened inside city limits or in an unincorporated part of the county can change which ordinance applies. The question under Georgia law is whether an ordinance required a leash at the time and place of the attack.

Gary looks up the ordinance in force where you were bitten, whether that was a sidewalk in Brookhaven, a park in Dunwoody or a neighborhood in unincorporated Gwinnett County.

Provocation and Georgia's 50% rule

The statute protects people who did not provoke the dog. Owners and insurers often claim the victim did, by reaching over a fence, startling the dog or petting it without asking.

With children, insurers sometimes argue that running or reaching out was provocation. Witness accounts, video and the scene itself can show what really happened.

Georgia's modified comparative negligence rule also applies (O.C.G.A. § 51-12-33). If you are found 50% or more at fault, you recover nothing, and a smaller share of fault reduces your award. Read more about Georgia's 50% fault rule.

Who pays for a dog bite? Homeowner's and renter's insurance

In many cases, the dog owner's homeowner's or renter's insurance pays the claim through its liability coverage. Some policies exclude certain breeds or dogs with a bite history, and some owners carry an umbrella policy that adds coverage. Gary works to identify every policy that may apply.

Many bites happen at the home of a friend, neighbor or relative, and people often feel uneasy about making a claim against someone they know. A claim like this is usually paid by the owner's insurance company, not out of the owner's pocket. That is what the coverage is for.

Worried about making a claim against a neighbor or family member? Call (240) 421-5511 and talk it through with Gary in confidence.

What if a dog knocked you down but did not bite?

You do not have to be bitten to have a claim under Georgia's dog law. The statute covers injuries a dangerous dog causes, so a loose dog that knocks over a walker or runs into a cyclist's path can lead to a claim. The same rules about the owner's knowledge or a leash-law violation apply.

These injuries happen on sidewalks, in apartment complexes and on busy trails like the Atlanta BeltLine, PATH400 and the Silver Comet Trail. A fall can mean a broken wrist, a hip fracture or a head injury.

If you were riding when a dog caused your crash, our page on bicycle accident claims covers more of what to do.

When a child is bitten

Because children are small, a bite can easily reach the face, head or neck. These injuries can require plastic surgery and may leave lasting scars.

Many metro Atlanta families end up at a Children's Healthcare of Atlanta hospital, such as Scottish Rite near Perimeter Center or Arthur M. Blank off North Druid Hills Road. A child's claim can include:

• Emergency care, surgery and follow-up visits
• Future scar treatment or revision surgery
• Counseling for fear, nightmares or anxiety
• Pain, suffering and the effect of scarring on daily life

A plastic surgeon may recommend waiting months before deciding on scar revision. Don't let an insurer rush a child's settlement before doctors know how the scar will heal. In Georgia, a settlement for a minor may also need a judge's approval.

If your child was bitten, call (240) 421-5511. Gary can talk with you by phone tonight or meet your family at home.

Can a landlord or business be responsible?

A landlord usually is not responsible for a tenant's dog. A claim may be possible when the landlord knew the dog was dangerous and the attack happened somewhere the landlord controlled, such as an apartment complex's common areas or dog run.

These cases turn on specific facts: what the landlord knew and who controlled the area. Boarding kennels, groomers and dog walkers may also count as keepers under § 51-2-7.

Businesses that welcome dogs, such as patios, breweries and pet stores, owe customers ordinary care, which can bring in the premises liability rules that apply to unsafe property.

How long do you have to file a dog bite claim in Georgia?

You generally have two years from the date of the bite to file a lawsuit (O.C.G.A. § 9-3-33). A few exceptions matter:

• Children: the injury deadline generally does not run until the child turns 18 (O.C.G.A. § 9-3-90). A parent's own claim for the child's medical bills is treated differently, so call early.
• Government dogs: if a government agency was responsible for the dog, such as a police K-9 unit, written ante litem notice may be due within six months for a city (O.C.G.A. § 36-33-5) or 12 months for a county (O.C.G.A. § 36-11-1) or the State (O.C.G.A. § 50-21-26).

Bitten a while ago and worried you waited too long? Call (240) 421-5511 and Gary will check the dates for your situation.

What compensation can you recover after a dog attack?

You may be entitled to compensation for:

• Medical bills, past and future, including plastic surgery and counseling
• Lost wages
• Pain and suffering and emotional distress
• Scarring, disfigurement and loss of enjoyment of life

Georgia does not cap non-economic damages, like pain and suffering, in ordinary injury cases. Severe maulings can cause life-changing harm; see our page on catastrophic injuries.

For bites on or after April 21, 2025, juries may hear what your health insurer actually paid for treatment (O.C.G.A. § 51-12-1.1). Keep every bill and insurance statement.

How Gary handles a dog bite claim

Gary has 20 years of experience practicing law. He meets clients at his Perimeter Center office, by phone or video, or at home.

Gary speaks Spanish, and Spanish-speaking families can read about lesiones personales en español. In a dog bite case, he typically:

• Gets the animal control report, medical records and any earlier complaints about the dog
• Checks the leash ordinance where the attack happened
• Tracks down doorbell video and witnesses
• Identifies the homeowner's, renter's or umbrella policy
• Documents healing with photos over time and works with your doctors on future care
• Handles the insurance company so you can focus on getting better

In a dog bite case, there is no attorney's fee unless we recover compensation for you. Call (240) 421-5511 and Gary will review the bite, the photos and the insurance with you.

Talk to an Atlanta dog bite lawyer today

Visit Huggins Accident Injury Lawyer at 1050 Crown Pointe Parkway, Suite 500, Atlanta, GA 30338, in Perimeter Center near Perimeter Mall. Gary serves families across metro Atlanta, from Dunwoody and Sandy Springs to Decatur, Gwinnett and Cobb.

Our firm's motto is “Where every client is family.” Learn more about Gary Huggins, or call (240) 421-5511 any time for a free consultation.