Get to Safety
Move away from the animal and avoid further contact. Do not attempt to capture an aggressive animal yourself.
Dog Bites & Animal Attacks
Injured in a Dog Attack or Other Animal-Related Incident?
Onx Law represents people injured by dogs and other animals. An attack can cause serious injuries, permanent scarring, nerve damage, and emotional trauma.
(01) — Overview
Onx Law represents people injured by dogs and other animals. An attack can cause serious injuries, permanent scarring, nerve damage, and emotional trauma.
Some victims need emergency treatment, reconstructive procedures, counseling, or long-term care.
We’ll evaluate your case, investigate what happened, identify who may be responsible, and put the right strategy, legal team, and resources behind a claim for the full impact of your injuries.
(02) — What makes it different
What Makes Animal Injury Cases Different
An animal-related injury doesn’t always involve a bite. A person may be knocked to the ground, chased into traffic, injured while escaping an attack, or hurt in a crash caused by a loose animal. And each state has its own rules for when an owner is responsible.
Children may be especially vulnerable to facial, scalp, neck, hand, and arm injuries — and to fear, nightmares, and anxiety that last long after the wounds heal.
Common causes
- 01Dog Bites and Attacks
- 02Dogs Knocking People Down
- 03Loose or Escaped Dogs
- 04Off-Leash Dogs in Public
- 05Dogs With Known Aggression
- 06Attacks Involving Children
- 07Attacks on Service Workers
- 08Crashes Caused by Animals
- 09Other Animal Attacks
(03) — Evidence that matters
Document the Injury, and the Animal
Medical records and photographs document the injury — and the scarring and recovery that follow it. Take photos over time, not only on the first day.
Records about the animal matter too. Its vaccination history, any prior bites or complaints, and animal control reports can help show what the owner knew.
Evidence worth saving:
- Photos of the injuries, taken over time
- Medical records, bills, and receipts
- The animal control or police report
- The dog’s vaccination records
- Records of prior bites or complaints
- Names and contact details of witnesses
- The owner’s name, address, and insurance details
(04) — Who may be responsible
Who may be responsible for an animal attack.
Homeowners and renters insurance often covers dog bites, so identifying the right person matters.
- 01
The dog’s owner
Depending on the state, an owner may be responsible because of a strict-liability law, what they knew about the dog, or ordinary negligence.
- 02
Someone caring for the animal
A person walking, keeping, or watching the dog at the time may share responsibility.
- 03
A landlord or property owner
In some situations, an owner who knew of a dangerous dog on the property may share responsibility.
- 04
A business
A business that keeps animals or allows them on its premises may be responsible for how it handled them.
(05) — What compensation may include
What an Animal Injury Claim May Cover
Depending on the facts and the state’s law, compensation may include:
- Medical bills, past and future
- Lost income and reduced ability to earn
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress and loss of enjoyment of life
- Scarring, disfigurement, and reconstructive care
- Counseling for fear and trauma
What’s available depends on the facts and the state’s law. For example, Maryland caps noneconomic damages such as pain and suffering. No particular result can be promised.
(06) — What to do next
What Should You Do After a Dog Bite or Animal Attack?
Seek Medical Attention
Have the injury evaluated promptly. Medical professionals can clean the wound, assess infection risks, and determine whether additional treatment is needed.
Identify the Animal and Owner
When possible, obtain the owner’s name, contact information, and insurance information. Record the animal’s appearance and where the incident occurred.
Save Evidence & Report
Save photographs, medical records, messages, witness information, and any reports related to the incident. Notify animal control, law enforcement, property management, or another appropriate agency.
Talk to an Attorney
An attorney can help determine which laws apply and what claims may be available.
(07) — State-specific considerations
When an owner is responsible depends on the state.
General information, not legal advice. Laws change, exceptions apply, and how a rule affects you depends on the facts of your case.
Florida
FL
Owners are generally liable for bites even if the dog never showed aggression before. The victim’s own negligence — or, in some cases, a posted “Bad Dog” sign — can reduce or limit that liability.
Source: Fla. Stat. § 767.04Maryland
MD
Once a dog injures someone, Maryland presumes the owner knew or should have known it was dangerous, though the owner can try to rebut that. Owners are strictly liable if the dog was running at large.
Source: Md. Code, Cts. & Jud. Proc. § 3-1901Washington, D.C.
DC
Most injury lawsuits, including dog bite claims, must be filed within 3 years, and contributory negligence can bar recovery if the injured person is found even slightly at fault.
Source: D.C. Code § 12-301New York
NY
Owners are strictly liable if they knew or should have known their dog was dangerous. Since the 2025 decision in Flanders v. Goodfellow, a bite victim may also bring an ordinary negligence claim.
Source: Flanders v. Goodfellow (N.Y. 2025)
(08) — The Onx approach
Injured by an Animal?
Every case is evaluated individually. Depending on what yours needs, Onx Law may handle the matter directly, work with co-counsel, or connect you with trusted counsel when doing so better serves your case.
01/ 05
- 01
Listen
Tell us what happened, in your own words — online or by phone, in English or Spanish. Every case starts with understanding the people involved.
- 02
Evaluate
An attorney reviews the facts, the injuries, the insurance, and the law that applies, to determine what your case actually needs.
- 03
Build the Right Team
We put the right legal team and resources around your case. Onx may handle it directly, work with co-counsel, or connect you with carefully vetted counsel whose location, experience, or resources better serve it.
- 04
Move the Case Forward
Disciplined case management, data, and technology keep the work organized and moving, while legal judgment sets the strategy — and you’re kept informed along the way.
- 05
Pursue the Outcome
We pursue the resolution your case supports — through negotiation or, when it’s needed, in court — so you can focus on your recovery.
(09) — Questions
Frequently asked questions.
General information only, not legal advice. Every situation is different, so the best answer starts with a conversation.
Ask us directlyNot always, and the rules differ by state. Some states hold owners responsible for most bites regardless of the dog’s history, while others look at whether the owner knew or should have known the dog was dangerous. Where it happened matters.
Get medical care first, then photograph the injuries as they heal and keep every record. Children’s injuries are often to the face and hands, and a claim may account for scarring, future treatment and emotional effects.
Often, yes. Many dog bite claims are paid through the owner’s homeowner’s or renter’s liability coverage, though policies vary and some exclude certain breeds or prior incidents.
Yes. Reporting to animal control or the local health department creates an official record and helps confirm the animal’s vaccination status, which matters for your treatment.
(10) — More practice areas
Other ways we can help.
- 01Slip & FallSlippery Floors · Uneven Sidewalks · Broken Pavement · Potholes in Surfaces · Loose Rugs or Carpeting
- 02Bicycle AccidentsDooring · Right Hooks · Unsafe Passing · Road Defects · Hit-and-Run
- 03Wrongful DeathCar Accidents · Pedestrian Accidents · Poor Property Conditions · Animal-Related Incidents · Defective Products
(11) — Next step
You focus on recovery. We’ll help with the rest.
An animal attack can leave physical and emotional effects that continue long after the incident. Onx Law can help you understand the laws that may apply, preserve important evidence, and evaluate your legal options.