While dogs enrich our lives in so many ways, as much as they are friendly buddies, they can also be harmful if they bite. As a matter of fact, according to the Centers for Disease Control and the Humane Society, there are more than 4.5 million dog bites every year in the U.S., and it’s believed that this estimate is low because not all dog bites get reported to the local authorities.
In Arizona, dog owners and caretakers are held responsible for dog bites as Arizona’s dog bite law is a “strict liability” one. This implies that the law applies even if the dog owner or caretaker didn’t know the dog would bite or have never bitten anyone else before.
This could be quite comforting if you’re the one who was bitten by a dog or pretty distressing if it was your dog that bit another person. Nonetheless, it’s essential to be prepared in advance and know what to do if you ever find yourself in such a situation and how you can prevent dog bites in the first place. Therefore, here’s everything you should know about dog bite laws in Arizona and how to get protected.
What To Do If You Are Bitten By A Dog In Arizona?
If you or your child get bitten by a dog in Arizona, taking care of the immediate wound or wounds tops the list of things to do. After you take care of the wound, the next step is to identify the dog and its owner. This will allow you to discern if any hidden dangers may be included with the bite. First and foremost, you will need to determine if the dog is current on its rabies vaccination. However, there are also other ailments that you may find yourself afflicted with after a dog bite, including:
- Capnocytophaga bacteria, which is responsible for causing infections in people with weak immune systems
- Staph infections
- Pasteurella bacteria, which are common in dog bite wounds and can cause joint problems and swollen glands for those with weaker immune systems
- Tetanus A-type, a toxin that may cause paralysis, particularly with deeper bites
As you can see, dog bites are no joke. And even if they don’t seem serious, it’s imperative to get immediate medical attention as soon as possible.
Furthermore, you will not only need to protect yourself from the immediate wound caused by the bite, but you will also need to protect yourself legally. That means that you should treat this incident like any other type of accident and gather information from any witnesses, take photos of your wound, and contact distinguished personal injury lawyers from Phoenix like wattelandyork.com/phoenix/ who specialize in dog bite injuries so that you’ll receive total compensation for your pain and suffering.
Taking Legal Action After A Dog Bite
If you want to take legal action after being bitten by a dog in Arizona, you should know that there’s a limited amount of time to do so. In fact, the statute of limitations in Arizona is only two years, or in the case of a dog biting a minor, two years after that child turns 18. In addition, in Arizona, there’s a strict liability rule, which means the dog owner is held liable for the bite, whether they had reason to presume if the dog could be potentially aggressive or not. On the other hand, if you’re defending your pet as an owner, you will need to prove that your pet was provoked or that the bitten person was trespassing when the bite happened.
For many dog lovers out there, it can sometimes be tempting not to report a dog bite. However, these incidents must all be registered for the community’s safety. As soon as a dog is reported to have bitten someone, it will need to be quarantined for ten days. If the dog is current on all required vaccination, they can stay home. If not, they must remain at a veterinary hospital at the owner’s expense.
Preventing Steps To Avoid Getting Bitten By A Dog
Finally, the best way to deal with dog bites is to actually not get bitten in the first place. For that reason, you should never approach dogs that you don’t know. Or, if you do plan on approaching a dog outside, let the dog smell your hand before you try to pet it. If the dog approaches you, stand still, and if they knock you over, curl into a ball to discourage possible aggressive behavior. Also, keep in mind that looking at an unknown dog directly in the eye may be interpreted as aggressive.
It’s essential that dogs are comfortable and don’t feel threatened to reduce their chance of biting. For that reason, any aggressive behavior, even while playing, should never be encouraged. Dogs are also on high alert if they are sleeping or eating, or taking care of their puppies, so make sure to stay away and wait for them to finish their activities before trying to pet them.
Final Thoughts
In the end, according to dog bite laws in Arizona, dog bites are much similar to other more convenient personal injuries. However, just like any other personal injuries, they result in immediate medical costs and may mean that the wounded person has to take time off from work, has extra expenses while they recover, and have an extended period of pain and suffering.
So, if you ever find yourself bitten by a dog, consult with an experienced personal injury attorney from your area, and pursue legal action against the dog’s owner to get fairly compensated for your damages.
