Indianapolis Dog Bite Attorney

If You’re Injured by a Dog Bite in Indianapolis, Speak to an Experienced Indy Dog Bite Lawyer Today

In 2024, the United States Postal Service (USPS) ranked Indianapolis 12th among United States cities for dangerous dog bites.

While the USPS study focused on bites to postal workers, it emphasizes the importance of dog bite safety in Indianapolis. Dog bites cause approximately 4.7 million injuries in the United States each year, according to the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Approximately 800,000 people need medical attention for dog bites each year, which can include hospitalization and surgery. About 38 dog bites each year prove fatal.

If you’ve been injured by a dog in Indianapolis, don’t wait. Talk to an experienced Indianapolis dog bite attorney. The team at Briskman Briskman & Greenberg can help. 

Indiana Dog Bite Injury Statistics

In 2022, State Farm Insurance ranked Indiana ninth in the US for dog bite injury claims. That year, State Farm reported that 110 dog bite lawsuits were filed in Indiana, resulting in a total payout of $7.4 million in compensation to injured people. 

The claims State Farm analyzed included both dog bites and other types of dog-related injuries. They included claims in which dogs knocked people over or, in one case, knocked a person down a flight of stairs. 

A State Farm survey, also conducted in 2022, asked 1,330 people about their experiences with dogs. The survey found that:

• 23 percent of respondents had been scratched by a dog,
• 19 percent said they’d been bitten at least once,
• 17 percent said their dog had bitten them or bitten another dog,
• 11 percent had filed an insurance claim in the past due to a dog-related injury, and
• 6 percent had either filed a lawsuit or been sued over a dog-related injury. 

In some parts of Indiana, these numbers may be even higher. The Harrison County, Indiana health department found in a 2018 survey that 33 percent of respondents had been bitten by their own pet. Another 43 percent had been bitten by a pet belonging to someone they knew. 

Who Is At Fault For An Indianapolis Dog Bite?

About 48 percent of US households own at least one dog. Owning a dog comes with many joys, but it also imposes responsibilities upon dog owners. 

Indiana is a “strict liability” state for dog bite claims. This means a dog’s owner is responsible when their dog injures someone else, even if the dog has never injured anyone before. 

A dog’s owner might argue, however, that the injured person was trespassing or provoked the dog to attack. If true, these facts might reduce the injured person’s compensation or prevent them from receiving compensation for their injuries. 

In some cases, Indiana dog owners can face criminal charges as well as a civil lawsuit. If you’ve been injured by a dog and the owner is now facing criminal charges, talk to an experienced dog bite injury lawyer. Your lawyer can help navigate the unique legal questions that arise when a case provokes both criminal and civil actions. 

Common Injuries Caused by Dog Bites and Dog Attacks

A 2019 study of dog bite statistics in the United States found that about 340,000 emergency room visits occur each year for dog-related injuries. While dogs could cause injuries on any part of the body, bites to certain parts were more common than others:

• 47.3 percent of bites occurred on hands and arms,
• 26.8 percent of bites occurred on the head or neck, 
• 21.5 percent of bites occurred on legs or feet, and
• 4.1 percent of bites occurred on the trunk of the body.

Children are more likely than adults to suffer injury to the face, head, or neck. Adults are more likely than children to be bitten on the hands or arms. 

A study of children who suffered dog bites found that:

• 44.7 percent of children who suffered dog bites were less than five years old.
• 60.1 percent of dog bite injuries to children occur on the face, head, or neck. 
• 44.8 percent of children’s dog bite injuries were complicated by cellulitis, a potentially dangerous bacterial infection of the skin.
• 50 percent of children who had dog bite injuries needed at least one medical procedure to treat those injuries. Of these, 31 percent had surgery, and 5.1 percent needed skin grafts. 

The 2019 study estimated that dog bites cost people in the United States at least $400 million per year in medical bills, lost wages, and other losses. 

Dog bite injuries can cause piercing, tearing wounds that damage skin, muscles, nerves, and blood vessels. Some larger dogs can even break bones. Infections are a common issue following a dog bite, as bacteria in a dog’s mouth can be injected deep into the body by the puncture wounds caused by a dog’s teeth.

Injured in Indianapolis? Here’s How A Personal Injury Lawyer Can Help

Common Guidelines for Dog Bite Claims in Indiana

An Indiana dog bite claim must follow Indiana’s rules of civil procedure. These rules apply to all civil claims filed in Indiana courts. The rules lay out several details about how cases must be filed and how they proceed. 

Navigating the rules of civil procedure can be challenging. An experienced attorney can ensure your case complies with these rules so that your right to pursue compensation remains protected. 

Two key rules are the statute of limitations and the compensation rules. 

How Long Do I Have to File My Indianapolis Dog Bite Case?

Indiana’s statute of limitations requires an injury case to be filed within two years of the date of injury. For dog bite claims, this rule typically means you must file within two years of the date of the dog bite or injury. 

An attorney can calculate exactly how the two-year deadline applies in your case. Reach out to a lawyer even if you think the deadline has passed. An attorney can confirm whether or not you can file your case. If the deadline has passed, a lawyer may be able to suggest other options for you. 

What Are The Types of Compensation in a Dog Bite Case in Indianapolis?

Dog bite cases are rarely fatal. This does not mean they are not dangerous or costly. Compensation in a dog-related injury case seeks to restore the losses you suffered because of the dog bite or injury. 

Common losses for which people seek compensation in dog bite claims include:

• Medical bills, including the costs of any future medical care for the injury,
• Lost wages, including future lost wages if your injuries prevent you from going back to your former job,
• Costs to repair or replace any damaged property. For instance, if a dog knocks you down, shattering your phone screen in the process, you can seek compensation for your broken phone.
• Compensation for your conscious pain and suffering as a result of the dog attack and your injuries.
• Compensation for the mental and emotional anguish caused by the dog attack or by any scarring or disfigurement you may have suffered. 

Other forms of compensation may be available as well. Speak to an experienced Indianapolis dog bite attorney to learn more. 

What If I’m Bitten By A Dog At Work? 

Postal workers, Amazon delivery drivers, dog groomers, and many other people may encounter dogs at work. 

If you are an employee on the job when you’re bitten, start by informing your employer. You may be able to seek workers’ compensation benefits in addition to a dog bite injury claim. The first step in obtaining workers’ compensation is to notify your employer that you were injured while doing work-related tasks. Seek prompt medical attention for your injuries. 

If you’re a contractor, speak to an experienced attorney. A lawyer can help you seek compensation for a dog bite that occurred while you were working. 

What If I’m Bitten While Visiting a Business? 

Many Indianapolis businesses advertise themselves as “pet-friendly.” All businesses are required by law to admit service dogs performing essential services for disabled individuals, such as seeing eye dogs. 

If you’re bitten by someone else’s dog while visiting a business, get prompt medical care. File an accident report with the business or notify the business’s owner or a supervisor. If you can, get contact information for the dog’s owner as well.

Then, speak to an attorney. An Indianapolis dog bite lawyer with experience handling business-based claims can help you. You may be able to seek compensation from the dog’s owner, from the business you were visiting, or from both. An attorney can explain how the law may apply in your specific situation. 

Talk To The Experienced Dog Bite Injury Lawyers at Briskman Briskman & Greenberg Today

Dog bites can be terrifying, painful, and expensive to treat. An experienced attorney can help you fight for the compensation you need after someone else’s dog causes harm. 

To learn more, contact the experienced dog bite injury attorneys at Briskman Briskman & Greenberg today. Call our office or use our online contact form to schedule a free, confidential case evaluation.