Dog bites are more common than most people realize and can lead to serious injuries and lasting emotional trauma. If you’ve been bitten by a dog in Pennsylvania, it’s important to learn about how the law handles these cases.
Pennsylvania’s dog bite laws determine when owners can be held responsible and what types of damages victims can recover. Knowing how these laws work can help you take the right steps toward compensation for damages.
Does Pennsylvania Have a “One Bite” Rule?
Pennsylvania has strict liability for medical expenses after a dog bite. This means if a dog bites you, the owner is automatically responsible for your medical expenses, regardless of whether the dog had ever shown aggression before.
However, recovering compensation for other damages requires proving that the dog owner was negligent. For example, you might need to show that the owner failed to restrain the dog appropriately.
Strict Liability vs. Negligence in Pennsylvania Dog Bite Cases
Pennsylvania’s dog bite laws can be divided into two parts:
- Strict liability: Owners are always responsible for paying medical costs for bite victims, regardless of fault.
- Negligence: Victims must prove the owner’s carelessness caused the attack to receive full compensation.
Negligence in these cases can take many forms, including:
- Allowing a dog to roam without a leash in public
- Failing to secure a dog with a known history of aggression
- Ignoring local animal control regulations
- Not warning visitors about a potentially dangerous dog
If you can show the owner violated these responsibilities, you may be eligible to recover full compensation for your injuries and related losses.
Dangerous Dog Classification in Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania law also addresses situations involving dangerous dogs. A dog may be declared “dangerous” in Pennsylvania (by a Magisterial District Judge) if it, without provocation, inflicts severe injury on a person, kills or severely injures a domestic animal while off the owner’s property, attacks a person, or is used in the commission of a crime.
Once a dog is declared dangerous, the owner must:
- Register the dog with the state
- Keep it in a secure enclosure or on a leash and muzzle in public
- Carry a minimum of $50,000 in liability insurance
If a dangerous dog attacks someone again, the owner can face criminal penalties and civil liability for all resulting damages.
What Types of Damages Can I Recover After a Dog Bite in Pennsylvania?
Dog bite injuries can cause far more than just medical expenses. Depending on the severity of your injuries, you may be entitled to a wide range of economic and non-economic damages, including:
- Medical care, both current and future
- Lost wages and diminished earning capacity
- Pain and suffering
- Out-of-pocket expenses
- Emotional distress
- Scarring and disfigurement
If the dog owner’s behavior was especially egregious, punitive damages might also be available. These are meant to punish extreme misconduct and discourage future negligence.
What if I’m Being Blamed in a Pennsylvania Dog Bite Incident?
Pennsylvania follows a modified comparative negligence law. This means you can still recover compensation if you were partially at fault for the incident, as long as you were less than 51% responsible.
For instance, if the dog was provoked, the court might assign a portion of the fault to the victim—for example, 25% of the blame. In that case, compensation would be reduced by that same percentage (25%).
Hiring a lawyer may be the best decision you can make if you’re being blamed for your injuries. Your attorney can advocate for you and work to minimize the level of fault you’re assessed.
How Long Do I Have to File a Dog Bite Lawsuit in Pennsylvania?
In Pennsylvania, the statute of limitations for dog bite lawsuits is typically two years from the date of the injury. If you don’t file your case before this deadline passes, you may lose your right to recover compensation.
However, note that there are exceptions that can adjust this time limit in some cases, such as those involving minors under 18. It’s best to contact a dog bite lawyer as soon as possible to make sure your claim is filed on time.
Contact the Harrisburg Dog Bite Lawyers at Marzzacco Niven & Associates for a Free Consultation
Pennsylvania’s dog bite laws are relatively victim-friendly in some areas, but it can still be difficult to recover everything you’re entitled to without an experienced attorney on your side.
Contact the Harrisburg dog bite attorneys at Marzzacco Niven & Associates today at 717-231-1640 for a free consultation to get started with your case.