Georgia Dog Bite Law: Understanding Your Rights
Dog bites cause serious injuries every year in Georgia — and children are disproportionately the victims. Under Georgia's Animal Protection Act and common law, dog owners can be held liable when their animals attack and injure people. The key legal questions are whether the owner knew the dog was dangerous, and whether they took reasonable precautions to prevent the attack.
Homeowner's insurance policies routinely cover dog bite liability — but insurers still fight these claims aggressively. Kenneth S. Nugent, P.C. knows how to build dog bite cases that overcome these defenses and secure the compensation our clients deserve.
Injuries Caused by Dog Attacks
Dog attacks can cause severe and permanent injuries:
- Puncture wounds and lacerations: Deep wounds that may require surgery and carry serious infection risk
- Facial injuries: Particularly devastating in children — bites to the face, lips, nose, and eyes may require multiple plastic surgeries and leave permanent scarring
- Nerve damage: Bites to the hands, arms, and legs can sever nerves, causing permanent loss of sensation or motor function
- Broken bones: Large dogs can fracture bones with their bite force, particularly in children and elderly victims
- Infection and disease: Dog bites carry bacterial infection risk; rabies, while rare, is also a concern
- Psychological trauma: Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) following a dog attack is well-documented and compensable
- Wrongful death: Severe attacks — particularly involving children or vulnerable adults — can be fatal
What to Do After a Dog Bite in Georgia
Your actions in the hours and days after a dog attack matter significantly to your legal claim:
- Seek medical attention immediately — even puncture wounds that appear minor can cause serious infections
- Photograph your injuries before treatment if possible, and continue photographing your healing process
- Get the dog owner's name, address, and insurance information
- Report the attack to local animal control — this creates an official record and triggers investigation
- Identify and collect contact information from any witnesses
- Do not give a recorded statement to the dog owner's insurance company before consulting our attorneys
Dog Bites and Homeowner's Insurance
Most dog bite claims are paid through the dog owner's homeowner's or renter's insurance policy. However, some insurers specifically exclude certain dog breeds from coverage, and others will dispute the value of your claim or argue that the victim provoked the dog.
At Kenneth S. Nugent, P.C., we deal with insurance companies every day. We know their tactics and how to overcome them. We also investigate whether additional parties — landlords who permitted a known dangerous dog on their property, property managers, or others — may share liability for your injuries.
Frequently Asked Questions
Georgia follows a modified 'one bite rule.' A dog owner is liable if they knew the dog had a vicious propensity (prior bites or aggressive behavior) or if the owner was negligent in handling the dog — for example, keeping a dangerous dog unsecured in violation of a local ordinance. Georgia also has strict leash laws that can support liability without a prior bite history.
Even under the one bite rule, you may still have a claim if the owner knew the dog was dangerous — from prior lunging, growling, or aggressive behavior — even without a prior bite. Additionally, if the owner violated a leash law or other animal control ordinance, liability may attach regardless of prior behavior.
Recoverable damages include medical bills (emergency treatment, surgery, plastic surgery for scarring), future medical care, lost wages, pain and suffering, emotional distress (PTSD is common after serious dog attacks), and permanent disfigurement. Children are particularly vulnerable to facial scarring and long-term psychological trauma.
Yes. File a report with local animal control immediately. This creates an official record of the attack, triggers an investigation into the dog's history, and may initiate quarantine procedures. This report can be powerful evidence in your legal claim.