Fayetteville Dog Bite Injury Lawyer
A dog attack can happen in seconds, but the injuries, medical bills, and fear that follow can last for months or years.
If you or your child was hurt by someone else’s dog in Fayetteville, a Fayetteville dog bite lawyer can help you understand who is responsible, what your claim may be worth, and how to hold the dog’s owner accountable. Our firm helps injured Arkansans push back against insurance companies and pursue fair compensation after an attack.
Entz Law Arkansas Family & Injury Lawyers is led by attorney Tyler Entz. As a Fayetteville dog bite attorney, Tyler brings aggressive courtroom preparation to injury claims, working to document the full impact of an attack and to push insurers toward a fair resolution instead of a quick lowball offer. Dog bite cases often turn on details that are easy to lose track of in the first few days, like whether the dog had bitten before or whether a leash law was broken, and having a lawyer involved early can help preserve that evidence.
Our office sits at 1725 S Smoke House Trl, Fayetteville, AR 72701kansas 72701, in the historic Smoke House area just beneath Kessler Mountain and a short drive from the Washington County Courthouse. If a dog attack has left you or a family member hurt, do not wait to get answers. Call 479-251-8635 or contact us online today to schedule a confidential consultation with our Fayetteville dog bite law firm.
Recent Review
“I cannot recommend Attorney Tyler highly enough! He is knowledgeable, professional, and truly dedicated to his clients. From the beginning, he took the time to explain the process clearly, answer questions thoroughly, and make sure I understood my options during a time when I felt like I was in over my head. These kind of matters can be stressful and emotional, but Tyler remained calm, steady, and focused on achieving the best possible outcome.”
- Verified Google Review from DJ
Arkansas Dog Bite Law: The One-Bite Rule
Arkansas does not have a statewide law that makes a dog owner automatically responsible every time their dog bites someone. Instead, most Arkansas dog bite claims rely on negligence and a rule courts often call the “one-bite” rule. Under this rule, an injured person generally has to show that the owner knew, or should have known, the dog had aggressive tendencies before the bite happened. An owner can also be held responsible under ordinary negligence if they let the dog run loose, ignored a broken fence or gate, or failed to control a dog they knew could be dangerous.
Arkansas also treats serious dog attacks as a criminal matter. Under Ark. Code § 5-62-125, a person commits unlawful dog attack if they own a dog they know has a tendency to attack, they negligently allow it to attack someone, and the attack causes serious injury or death. A conviction can include restitution for medical bills, but a civil claim is usually the only path to full compensation for pain, scarring, and lost income.
Who Can Be Held Responsible After a Dog Bite
Liability after a dog attack in Fayetteville can extend beyond the dog’s owner. Depending on the facts, a claim may also involve:
- The dog owner, if they knew of the dog’s aggressive history or acted carelessly
- A dog sitter, walker, or temporary keeper who had control of the animal at the time
- A property owner or landlord, in limited situations involving shared or common areas
- A business owner, if a dog was allowed on the premises without adequate precautions
Injuries Caused by Dog Attacks
Dog bites can cause puncture wounds, deep lacerations, nerve and tendon damage, infections, and permanent scarring. Facial and hand injuries are common in attacks on children, who are often bitten at or near eye level. Beyond the physical harm, many victims, especially children, develop a lasting fear of dogs or anxiety after an attack. A thorough injury claim accounts for medical treatment, scarring and disfigurement, therapy, and the emotional toll of the attack, not just the emergency room bill.
Reporting the Bite and the Rabies Observation Period
Arkansas law requires that mammalian animal bites be reported, and the Arkansas Department of Health directs that a dog involved in a bite be confined and observed for ten days to rule out rabies. Getting this report on record matters for your health and for your claim. It creates an official account of the incident, identifies the dog and its owner, and gives your attorney a starting point for investigating what happened.
Comparative Fault in Arkansas Dog Bite Cases
Arkansas follows a comparative fault system, and the insurance company may try to argue you provoked the dog, ignored a warning sign, or were on the property without permission. If you are found equally or more at fault than the dog’s owner, you may recover nothing, and if you are found partly at fault, your compensation can be reduced. A dog bite lawyer can push back against unfair blame-shifting and gather the evidence needed to show how the owner’s conduct caused the attack.
What Compensation May Be Available
A dog bite claim may seek compensation for medical bills, follow-up treatment and reconstructive surgery, scarring and disfigurement, lost wages, pain and suffering, and counseling for emotional trauma. The value of a claim depends on the severity of the injury, the strength of the evidence against the dog’s owner, and available insurance coverage, which is often the homeowner’s or renter’s insurance policy.
What to Do After a Dog Bite in Fayetteville
What you do in the days after an attack can affect both your health and your claim. Consider these steps:
- Seek medical care right away and follow through with any recommended treatment
- Report the bite to local animal control, police, or the Arkansas Department of Health
- Photograph your injuries, the location of the attack, and any visible fencing or restraint issues
- Get the dog owner’s name, address, and insurance information if it is safe to do so
- Write down what happened while the details are fresh, including witness names and contact information
- Avoid giving a recorded statement to an insurance adjuster before speaking with a lawyer
How Long Do I Have to File a Dog Bite Claim in Arkansas?
Most Arkansas personal injury claims, including dog bite cases, must be filed within three years of the date of the attack under Arkansas’s general personal injury statute of limitations. Waiting to speak with a lawyer can make it harder to track down witnesses, secure animal control records, and preserve evidence of the dog’s history, so it is best to start the process as soon as you are able.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I have to prove the dog bit someone before?
No. While a prior bite is strong evidence of a known dangerous propensity, you can also show the owner knew or should have known about aggressive behavior, such as growling, snapping, or lunging, even without a prior bite.
What if I was bitten while visiting a friend’s or neighbor’s house?
You can still pursue a claim. These cases often involve the homeowner’s insurance policy, and a lawyer can help you approach the claim without damaging your relationship with the homeowner unnecessarily.
Can I still recover damages if I was partly at fault?
Possibly. Under Arkansas’s comparative fault rules, you can recover a reduced amount if your share of fault is less than the dog owner’s, but you recover nothing if your fault is equal to or greater than theirs.
What if the dog owner does not have insurance?
A lawyer can look at other coverage that may apply, including renter’s insurance, umbrella policies, or a business’s liability coverage if the attack happened on commercial property.
Contact Our Fayetteville Dog Bite Injury Lawyers Today
If a dog attack left you or someone you love injured, reach out to Entz Law Arkansas Family & Injury Lawyers today. Call 479-251-8635 or contact us online to schedule a consultation with a Fayetteville dog bite attorney who will listen to your story and explain your options. We are ready to help you pursue the compensation you deserve.