Wisconsin Dog Bite Lawyers

You’re spending a relaxing afternoon in Palmer Park, watching your kids have fun at the Camden Playground, when an off-leash dog suddenly charges at you. When you raise your arm to defend yourself, the animal sinks its teeth into your wrist with a bloodcurdling growl and refuses to let go. By the time the owner and some bystanders get the dog off you, you’re bleeding profusely. An emergency room examination confirms that you’ve suffered crush injuries and extensive nerve damage.

At Nowlan Personal Injury Law, we help Janesville residents and others across Wisconsin seek compensation after a dog attack. Wisconsin law holds dog owners responsible when their pets injure someone, and, in certain cases, you may be eligible for double compensation. If an aggressive dog has injured you or your loved one, reach out to our legal team today.

Why Hire Nowlan Personal Injury Law for Your Dog Bite Claim?

After a dog attack, you may be dealing with painful injuries, disfigurement, and unplanned medical bills. These are all highly traumatic outcomes that have the potential to change your life. When you hire our personal injury law firm, you benefit from the following:

We Know How Insurance Companies Operate: Our Wisconsin dog bite lawyers previously worked on the insurance defense side, giving us insight into how these companies evaluate injury claims. We use that experience to anticipate common tactics and prevent unnecessary delays or low settlement offers. This approach helps us stay one step ahead and keep your claim moving forward.
We Have Years of Personal Injury Experience: We’ve handled a wide range of injury cases, including those involving permanent disfigurement, nerve damage, and trauma caused by dog attacks. Our team knows how to gather medical evidence, work with healthcare providers, and present your compensation claim.
We Prepare as If Your Case Will Go to Trial: While many dog bite cases settle, we treat each one as if it may end up in court. Our personal injury lawyers begin by collecting medical documentation, preserving evidence, and securing witness statements. This allows us to negotiate more assertively and keeps us ready for trial if necessary.
We Communicate Clearly and Consistently: You should never be left wondering what’s happening with your case. Our experienced attorneys provide timely updates, respond promptly to your calls and emails, and explain your legal options clearly, so you always know what’s happening next.
We Pursue Full Compensation Under State Law: An animal attack can cause lasting damage, and Wisconsin law allows victims to recover compensation for medical treatment, lost wages, pain, and emotional trauma. We work to make sure all applicable damages are considered in your case.

You can trust us to always fight for a favorable outcome. Our track record includes over $187,000 recovered for a child who suffered foot injuries when bitten by a dog, and we’ll demand financial compensation for your damages too.

Frequently Asked Questions About Dog Bite Injuries

Can You Sue For a Dog Bite Injury in Wisconsin?

Yes, you can sue for a dog bite injury in Wisconsin. The state follows a strict liability rule, which means the dog’s owner is responsible for injuries their dog causes, regardless of the animal’s past behavior. You do not have to prove that the owner was negligent, only that the bite happened and caused harm.

Wisconsin law also allows for double damages in some cases. If the dog had previously bitten someone and the owner knew about it, you may be entitled to twice the amount of compensation. This applies when the earlier bite broke the skin and caused permanent scarring.

You can seek compensation for medical expenses, lost income, pain, emotional distress, and long-term effects. If scarring or permanent damage is involved, the financial recovery may increase. These claims often involve negotiations with insurance companies, but you also have the right to file a lawsuit.

What Is The Statute Of Limitations On Dog Bite Injury Lawsuits?

In Wisconsin, the statute of limitations for filing a suit over a dog bite injury is three years from the date of the occurrence. This may seem like a long time, but you’d be surprised how insurance companies can drag things out. They are hoping that the three years will elapse before you know it, so you can no longer recover your damages.

If the dog owner isn’t willing to offer you full restitution for your injuries, our best advice is to file a personal injury lawsuit. The sooner you do so, the better, particularly if your injuries are serious. Give us a call, and we can review your case at no charge. We’ve won many dog bite lawsuits across Wisconsin and will aggressively resist any attempts to minimize your compensation.

If the dog owner isn’t willing to offer you full restitution for your injuries, my best advice is to file a suit, and the sooner you file it, the better–particularly if your injuries are serious.

Give me a call and we can review the specifics of your case at no charge. I’ve won countless dog bite lawsuits and won’t tolerate any tactics the insurance company tries to use.

How Long Does a Dog Bite Injury Lawsuit Take To Get Resolved?

Most dog bite injuries are settled without ever going to court, but there are exceptions. These claims usually involve serious injury or death caused by an animal attack. Obviously, the higher the potential financial settlement, the more likely it is that a case will go to trial.

For comparatively minor injuries, the at-fault dog owner is usually covered by insurance. Once liability and the restitution amount is established, cases like this can usually be settled out of court within one to three months. If there’s a dispute over liability or compensation amount, the lawsuit progresses to the discovery phase, where both sides gather information and evidence to present at trial. Mediation usually follows, and if that is not successful, the last resort is trial.

Court trials can be long and complicated. Not only can you potentially wait over two years for a court date, but the legal process is longer, and a jury decides the outcome. For this reason, all but the most serious dog bite injury cases are settled without ever going to trial.

Do You Need An Attorney To File A Dog Bite Lawsuit?

You aren’t legally required to hire an attorney to file a dog bite lawsuit in Wisconsin, but it’s often in your best interest to do so. Dog bite claims can be complicated to file and pursue, and without legal guidance, it can be hard to know what a fair settlement looks like or how to respond when the insurance company tries to downplay your injuries.

A Wisconsin personal injury lawyer can help you understand what your claim may be worth and handle communication with the insurer so you don’t have to. They can also gather the right evidence, document your injuries, and make sure your lawsuit is filed before the deadline. If the dog had a history of aggression, your lawyer can push for double damages under Wisconsin law and present the evidence needed to support that claim.

While you can represent yourself, insurance companies have teams trained to limit what they pay. Having an attorney gives you someone who knows how these cases work and can push for the outcome you need to move forward.

What to Do After You’ve Been Bitten by a Dog

After an animal attack, getting prompt medical care is priority number one, but there are also steps you can take to preserve evidence, report the incident, and prepare for a possible claim. Each action you take helps build a stronger foundation if you decide to seek compensation later.

Get Medical Attention Right Away: Even a minor bite can lead to infection or nerve damage, especially if the skin is broken. A doctor will clean the wound and provide treatment such as stitches, antibiotics, or a tetanus shot. Your medical records will also help document the injury for any legal claim.
Identify the Dog and Its Owner: Try to get the name, address, and phone number of the person responsible for the dog. Ask if the dog has been vaccinated against rabies and request written proof from a veterinarian. This information will be important for both your health and any legal action.
Report the Bite to Local Authorities: Contact animal control or your local health department to file an official report. This allows them to investigate and determine if the dog poses a risk to others. A copy of the report may also support your injury claim later on.
Take Photos of Your Injuries and the Scene: Use your phone to capture clear images of your wounds, torn clothing, and where the attack happened. Keep damaged items as evidence instead of throwing them away. These details can help show the extent of your injury and how it occurred.
Speak to Any Witnesses: If anyone saw what happened, ask for their name and contact information before they leave. Witnesses can confirm how the attack occurred and describe the dog’s behavior. Their statements may be important if the owner disputes your version of events.
Don’t Talk to the Dog Owner’s Insurance Company: Insurance adjusters may call you quickly and ask for a recorded statement. They might use your words to limit what they pay or argue that you were partly at fault. Before agreeing to anything, speak with a Wisconsin attorney who handles dog bite injury claims.

How Much Can You Expect To Get For Your Dog Bite Injuries?

The size of your settlement depends on how serious the injuries are. I can help you seek compensation for all of the following:

Reimbursement for Medical Bills: This can include not only the medical treatment you’ve already received but also any ongoing procedures you may need, such as plastic surgery, physical therapy, and counseling.
Lost Income: If the injury caused you to take time off work to recover, you can request compensation for the income you would have earned if you had been able to work.
Out-of-Pocket Costs: If you’ve had to hire someone to help care for you or a family member because of your injury, or if you’ve been unable to drive and had to hire a cab or Uber, you’re entitled to compensation for your expenses.
Pain and Suffering: The trauma of being attacked by a dog, as well as the pain of the resulting wounds, can be factored into your claim. Insurance companies and attorneys have several ways of calculating awards for pain and suffering. Obviously, the greater the pain and suffering, the greater the monetary award.

If the at-fault party’s dog has a history of causing damage, they’ll likely want to avoid any involvement with the courts or the police. If the injury you suffered is serious, we don’t recommend going along with any settlement proposal that stipulates you won’t file a police report. Get the medical treatment you need, then file a report with your police department.

If the dog has a history of unprovoked attacks, and you suffered severe injuries, the dog will need to be euthanized before it injures or possibly kills someone else. It’s heartbreaking, but a necessary step to prevent someone else from getting hurt.

How Does Comparative Negligence Affect Your Compensation?

Wisconsin has a comparative negligence rule that allows the at-fault dog owner to assert that the injured party was either partly or entirely responsible for the dog attack. For instance, if they can show that the injured person provoked the dog somehow, or was burglarizing their property, then the victim bears some responsibility for their injuries.

In Wisconsin, if the injured party is found to be 50% or less responsible for the injury, the award of damages is reduced by whatever percentage of fault is attributed to the dog bite victim. In cases where the victim is more than 50% responsible, they can’t claim damages. This is where an experienced attorney can help you build your case and fight for your rights as a victim. Our Wisconsin dog bite attorneys will help you gather the evidence necessary to win the compensation you deserve.

Questions? Get a Free Consultation From a Wisconsin Dog Bite Lawyer

A dog bite can leave lasting damage like permanent scars, high medical bills, and the stress of dealing with it all. You may be unsure who’s responsible for your injuries or how to get paid for what you’ve been through. Taking action now can help protect your rights and make sure you’re not left picking up the pieces on your own.

At Nowlan Personal Injury Law, we take these cases seriously and work hard to hold dog owners accountable. If you’ve been attacked, we’ll help you understand your options and fight for the compensation you’re owed. Contact us today for a free consultation and let us step in when you need support the most.