What You Need to Know About Georgia’s Dog Bite Law

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Every year in the U.S., over 4.7 million people are bitten by a dog. Dog bite injuries can be extremely painful and expensive to treat. If you have been bitten by someone else’s dog in Georgia, keep reading to learn more about what you must do to seek compensation.

According to the Georgia Dog Bite Statute (O.C.G.A. 51-2-7), a dog bite victim must be able to prove the following three elements:

  • The animal is vicious or dangerous
  • The owner carelessly managed the animal, leading to the victim’s injury
  • The injured person did nothing to provoke the animal to attack

This statute applies not only to dog bites, but other types of injury caused by dogs as well. For example, if you are knocked over by a dog, hit your head on the ground, and suffer a head injury, you may be able to seek compensation under this law.

Georgia is a “negligence” dog bite state, which means that an owner must generally be aware of their dog’s propensity to bite in order for them to be held liable for any injuries. If an owner claims no prior knowledge of vicious behavior, it may be extremely difficult to prove liability. However, if the owner allowed their dog to roam freely off-leash in an area where an ordinance requires one, this may be enough to prove negligence.

Note that if the victim was bitten after teasing or hurting the animal, they will not be able to claim any compensation from the owner.

If you or someone you love has been bitten by a dog, you should consult with an attorney who can help determine if you have a case. Amanda Hall Injury Law, LLP has decades of combined experience handling these types of cases, making us well equipped to pursue maximum results. Since there is a statute of limitations in Georgia for personal injury cases, you must act quickly in order to avoid losing your right to legal recourse. Schedule a free case evaluation with a Woodstock dog bite lawyer when you call .