The Attorney You Need if You’ve Been Injured by a Dog Bite

There’s only one attorney in town specializing in dog bites, and that’s David Zagoria. David handles 100 dog bite cases a year, including taking dog bite cases to trial. He teaches other attorneys about Georgia dog bite law and winning dog bite cases. He even wrote a book about it!

A dog bite is not just another personal injury case where all you have to do is prove that the other party was negligent and caused an injury. There is a lot to know about dog bite law in Georgia, and there are many unique aspects of the law that can win or lose your case. David knows all these ins and outs because he has taken on more of these cases than just about anyone else in the state.

What To Do After a Dog Bite in Atlanta

1. Get medical care immediately and follow your treatment plan
2. Report the attack to local animal control or police and obtain the incident number
3. Photograph injuries, the scene, torn clothing, and any visible warnings or lack thereof
4. Preserve evidence like bloody clothing and obtain names and contacts for witnesses
5. Avoid discussing fault with the owner or insurer and do not give a recorded statement
6. Contact our Atlanta dog bite attorneys to protect your rights before speaking with insurance

Georgia Dog Bite Law in Plain English

Georgia’s dog bite liability generally follows a modified “one-bite/knowledge” rule under O.C.G.A. § 51-2-7. You can recover if the owner knew or should have known the dog was vicious or if the owner violated a safety ordinance like a leash or restraint law and that violation caused the attack. Atlanta and many metro cities have leash and restraint requirements. Proving a local ordinance violation often satisfies the “vicious propensity” element even if the dog never bit before.

Proving Your Case

We move quickly to secure animal control and vaccination records, prior complaints, and citations. We obtain camera footage from homes and businesses, canvass for witnesses, and consult medical specialists to document scarring, nerve damage, infections, and PTSD. Where leash or restraint violations exist, we gather the municipal code and proof of violation to meet Georgia’s legal standard.

Children’s Dog Bite Claims

Kids face higher risks of facial injuries, infections, and long-term scarring. We coordinate pediatric care, plastic surgery consults, and child-focused trauma therapy when appropriate and structure settlements to protect funds for future needs.

The Statute of Limitations

In most Georgia personal injury cases, you have two years from the date of the attack to file suit. Shorter deadlines may apply for claims involving government entities. The sooner you contact counsel, the better our chances of preserving critical evidence.

Comparative Fault in Georgia

Georgia uses modified comparative negligence. Your recovery is reduced by your percentage of fault and barred if you are 50 percent or more responsible. Insurers sometimes argue a victim provoked the dog or ignored warnings. We push back with facts, ordinance violations, and expert testimony.

How We Work Your Atlanta Dog Bite Case

From intake through resolution, you receive a clear plan outlining investigation steps, expected timelines, and strategy milestones. We manage insurer communications, negotiate from a position of strength, and are prepared to try your case when necessary to obtain a result that reflects the full impact of your injuries.

Who Can Be Held Liable

Potentially responsible parties can include the dog’s owner, a keeper or handler in control of the animal at the time, property owners who allowed a known dangerous dog on the premises, management companies that ignored complaints, and businesses whose employees failed to follow posted animal safety protocols. We identify all available insurance policies and responsible parties to maximize recovery.

What Compensation Can Cover

A successful Atlanta dog bite claim may include economic and non-economic damages such as medical expenses and future care, lost income and diminished earning capacity, plastic surgery and scar revision costs, pain and suffering, mental anguish, and loss of enjoyment of life. In egregious cases involving reckless disregard, punitive damages may be available.

A Comprehensive Atlanta Personal Injury Law Practice

We are a full-service personal injury law practice at Zagoria Neely Injury Attorneys, ready to take on any type of personal injury or civil negligence claim. In addition to helping dog bite victims, our practice includes all of the following types of injuries and accidents:

Car Wrecks

We handle car, truck, motorcycle and pedestrian accidents caused by drunk driving or distracted drivers, along with other forms of negligence or recklessness on the road, such as speeding, following too close, failure to signal or yield, unsafe lane changes, drowsy driving and more. Because of Georgia’s complicated laws on comparative fault, it’s essential to have a knowledgeable and experienced lawyer on your side who knows how to prove the other driver’s negligence and liability to the maximum extent.

Premises Liability

Slips, trips and falls at grocery stores, restaurants, shopping malls and other establishments are some of the most common types of accidents to occur, and they can end up causing painful sprains, torn muscles, fractures, facial lacerations and worse, including fatalities. Property owners and insurance companies have a whole bag of tricks to try and avoid liability, such as saying the danger was open and obvious so the accident victim should have avoided it, or they didn’t have time to notice the defect and fix it before the accident happened. Most insulting of all, they might allege your injuries aren’t as serious as you claim they are, despite your suffering. Whether you slipped or tripped because of a foreign substance on the floor or suffered an assault due to a lack of adequate security, property owners have a duty to provide you with a safe premises, and we’ll hold them accountable when they don’t.

Workers’ Compensation

If you get sick or injured on the job in Atlanta, and your illness or injury is work-related, you are covered by Georgia workers’ compensation insurance. This means you are entitled to have your medical bills paid and also receive wage replacement while you are out of work or get payment for permanent disability. The insurance carrier might try to evade responsibility by saying the accident happened outside the scope of employment or your injury is from some pre-existing condition. If your claim is denied or unreasonably delayed, our dedicated workers’ comp attorneys will go to bat for you and help you get all the benefits you are entitled to under the law.

Wrongful Death

The Georgia Wrongful Death Act recognizes that a spouse, child or parent who loses a loved one due to somebody’s intentional or negligent act suffers greatly in many ways, both financially and emotionally. Georgia law allows you to recover compensation for the “full value of the life of the deceased,” as well as financial harm such as medical bills and funeral/burial costs and the pain and suffering the deceased had to endure. We’ll take on the burden of proving the negligent party’s fault to hold them accountable, obtain justice for your loved one, and get you much-needed financial help to deal with the hardship their negligence has imposed on your family.

Why Choose Our Firm

At Zagoria Neely Injury Injury Attorneys, we represent adults and children hurt by aggressive dogs and negligent owners throughout Atlanta and the surrounding metro. Dog bite and attack cases require fast action, careful investigation, and trial-ready strategy to secure full compensation for medical care, scarring, lost wages, and the trauma that follows. Our Atlanta dog bite lawyers combine deep knowledge of Georgia law with a client-first approach that keeps you informed and protected from day one.

We focus on serious injury litigation with a tailored strategy for every case. From securing animal control records and surveillance footage to working with medical and scar-revision experts, we build strong, evidence-driven claims that stand up in negotiations and in court.

Atlanta Dog Bite & Personal Injury FAQs

How do I prove the owner is liable for a dog bite in Georgia?

You can show the owner knew the dog was vicious from prior incidents or prove the owner violated a local leash or restraint ordinance and that violation led to the attack. Evidence from animal control, prior complaints, and citations is key.

Can I recover if the dog never bit anyone before?

Yes, if we can prove a leash or restraint violation that caused the attack or other facts showing the owner should have known the dog was dangerous.

What if the bite happened at an apartment complex or rental home?

Property owners and managers may be liable when they knew about a dangerous dog on the premises and failed to act. We investigate lease terms, prior complaints, and security policies.

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

Generally two years from the date of the attack. Contact an attorney promptly so evidence like surveillance video and witness memories are preserved.

What compensation is available for dog bite injuries?

Medical expenses and future care, lost wages, scarring and disfigurement, pain and suffering, mental anguish, and in some cases punitive damages.

Do I need to report the bite to animal control?

Yes. Reporting creates an official record, documents vaccination status, and can help establish ordinance violations.

What if the owner’s insurance company calls me?

Do not give a recorded statement before speaking with a lawyer. Insurers seek information that can reduce or deny your claim.

Can a child bring a separate claim for scarring and trauma?

Yes. Minors have claims for medical care, pain and suffering, and scarring. Settlements for children are often court-approved to protect the funds.

What if I was partially at fault?

You can still recover unless you are 50 percent or more at fault. Your award is reduced by your share of responsibility. We work to minimize any alleged fault.

How much is my Atlanta dog bite case worth?

Value depends on liability strength, medical treatment and prognosis, permanent scarring, lost income, and how the injuries affect daily life. We develop the medical and economic proof needed to support full value.

Serving Throughout Atlanta, GA

• Buckhead
• Midtown
• Downtown
• Virginia-Highland
• Inman Park
• Old Fourth Ward
• Grant Park
• West Midtown
• Atlantic Station
• Candler Park
• Druid Hills
• East Atlanta Village
• Kirkwood
• Reynoldstown
• Edgewood

Zagoria Neely Injury Attorneys Is the Right Choice for a Personal Injury Lawyer in Metro Atlanta

There’s no shortage of personal injury lawyers in Atlanta, and you have a lot of choices when finding the law firm that is right for you. Our Atlanta dog bite & injury lawyers at Zagoria Neely Injury Attorneys have been recognized by leading legal organizations such as Super Lawyers and Martindale-Hubbell and have received top ratings from both clients and peers in the legal profession. You can trust that you have found a law firm with the skills, experience, knowledge and dedication to represent you well and get results.

If you have been injured by a dog bite, car wreck, slip and fall, workplace accident or other personal injury in Atlanta, or if you have lost a beloved family member due to the negligence of another, call our office at 404-653-0023 for a free consultation. We take all cases on a contingency fee basis. We advance all costs necessary to litigate, try or settle your case, and there is no fee unless we win. Call today or contact us online to schedule a consultation with our team. Se habla espanol. We look forward to hearing from you and helping you with your needs.