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Little Rock Dog Bite Lawyer
At NST Law, we are dedicated to helping injured individuals and their families get the justice and compensation they deserve.
Expertise
Mr. Trotz has handled injury cases involving auto accidents, slip and fall, premises liability, and negligent security. Every day, Mr. Trotz represents those who have been injured and many of his clients have sustained traumatic and life-altering injuries.
A dog bite injury can occur quickly and have devastating effects. Dogs bite approximately 4.5 million people in the United States each year, with more than half of the victims being children. In 2023, dog-related injury claims in the United States totaled over $1.1 billion.
If you or your loved one experienced a dog bite and injuries due to someone else’s negligence, you have the right to file an insurance claim or a lawsuit. Contact the experienced Little Rock dog bite attorneys at NST Law by completing our contact form so we can discuss your options.
What Can NST Law Do for Your Dog Bite Claim?
Our experienced Little Rock personal injury lawyers support our clients along every step of their legal journey, but we understand that they ultimately need results. Our long history of success includes billions won in verdicts and settlements for thousands of injured clients and their loved ones.
Damages we can assist you in pursuing in a dog bite claim include:
- Past and future medical bills
- Scar revision surgery
- Physical therapy
- Nerve damage
- Past and future lost wages
- Physical and emotional pain and suffering
- Loss of enjoyment of life
What Should You Do After a Dog Bite in Little Rock?
There are several steps to take after a dog bite. Failing to take these actions could result in medical complications and also hurt your chances of recovering compensation against the owner.
Seek Immediate Medical Attention
Seek medical care immediately to prevent infections or other complications from your dog bite. If you fail to seek medical attention or put it off, it will be challenging to prove that you deserve damages for your initial injuries or that your infection wasn’t the result of delayed care.
Document the Incident
Take photos of your injuries, the scene, and the dog, but only if it is safe to do so. If there are any witnesses, collect their contact information.
Try to get information from the dog’s owner, but only if you don’t have to approach the animal again to do so. If you can’t identify the owner, ask any witnesses if they know the dog and who it belongs to.
Report the Incident
Notify local authorities or animal control if a dog bites you. Reporting keeps you in compliance with Arkansas bite-reporting requirements. You can also self-report using the Arkansas Department of Health’s Animal Encounter Intake Form.
You can report your bite to Animal Services in Little Rock, and to Animal Control in North Little Rock.
Contact a Lawyer
It can be challenging to win damages in a dog bite case. The owner may claim that you provoked the dog, that they did not know the dog was dangerous, or that they took proper steps to control it.
Reach out to an attorney after you seek medical care so they can explain your legal rights and start building your case.
Common Injuries Sustained From Dog Bites
People may assume a dog bite results in only physical injuries, but that is far from the reality. A 2025 dog bites publication in the National Library of Medicine addresses injuries, including:
- Physical Injuries: Dog bites commonly lead to lacerations, puncture wounds, and torn skin. Bites from some breeds can result in bone fractures, sprains, nerve damage, and scarring.
- Infections: Rabies, tetanus, and other bacterial infections are possible complications from dog bites. The infection rate is higher for large bites and in people who put off medical care.
- Psychological impact: People who experience dog bites may develop emotional and psychological effects such as post-traumatic stress disorder, phobias of dogs, and anxiety. Children are particularly vulnerable to developing cynophobia, a fear of dogs, after a bite.
- Long-term complications: Some dog bite victims develop long-term or permanent damage, such as scarring, limited mobility, and chronic pain.
Dogs associated with strong bites are among Arkansas’s most common breeds available for adoption. If the negligence of an owner, seller, or animal shelter led to your dog bite, you have the right to pursue compensation.
What Arkansas Laws Say About Dog Bites
Arkansas law and city ordinances regulate dog ownership and apply to dog bite cases. These statutes impact whether you have a case for negligence against a dog owner based on their actions or failure to act.
State Law
Arkansas follows the common law “one-bite rule,” meaning a dog owner may be held civilly liable if they knew or should have known their dog had a dangerous propensity to bite. Meanwhile, Arkansas Code § 5-62-125 imposes criminal penalties on owners whose dogs cause serious injury or death when the owner knew or should have known of the dog’s dangerous behavior. A prior bite can be used to establish such knowledge.
The state’s civil model jury instructions address animal owners’ duty of care. Owners or custodians of animals must use ordinary care to keep animals from running at large when they know or should know that it is likely to cause injury or damages to other people. Breaching the duty of care can be used as evidence of negligence.
Municipal Laws
Arkansas cities also have laws that impose requirements on dog owners. For instance, North Little Rock bans pit bull breeds and has a leash law. All dogs must always be confined on a leash with a responsible handler, in a fenced-in yard, or on a trolley system.
Little Rock has a potentially dangerous breeds ordinance. It requires owners to register certain breeds, microchip them, and provide the city with a picture of the dog and owner. Little Rock law also requires that dogs be fenced in or restrained on or off the owner’s property.
To pursue damages against a negligent dog owner, you must file your claim within the Arkansas personal injury statute of limitations. You have three years from the date of the incident to file a lawsuit. If you file late, a judge will likely dismiss your case.
Why Choose the Little Rock Dog Bite Lawyers at NST Law?
Our experienced attorneys understand Arkansas personal injury law and city ordinances that impact dog bite cases. We are intimately familiar with the Little Rock legal landscape. Our Little Rock law offices are conveniently located near several of the best hospitals in Little Rock, and we will travel to you when needed.
Injury victims put their trust in Corey B. Trotz and the rest of our team, and in return, we offer exceptional legal services with compassionate client care. Several respected organizations and ratings services recognize our work, including:
- Super Lawyers
- Super Lawyers Rising Stars
- The National Trial Lawyers Top 100
- 10.0 Superb Avvo rating, the highest possible
Ultimately, the honors that mean the most to us come from client testimonials praising our work.
Yes, they are the BEST EVER!! Met all my expectations!!
I love Ms. Abby and Steve. They were very nice and helpful with everything. Thank you all so much. I will recommend them to anyone. Again, thank you, Abby and Steve.
I am very happy with the service I received. Everyone was very professional and any callbacks I had were received in a timely manner, which was very important to me. I highly recommend Corey B. trotz and will use them again if I need to.
We are passionate about our clients and the communities we serve. If you or a loved one has sustained a dog bite injury in Little Rock, contact our top-rated dog bite attorneys today for a free consultation.
Call us at 800-529-4004, or complete our online contact form. There is no fee unless we win your case.
Dog Bite FAQs
Several gray areas in the law can make it difficult for victims to know how to move forward. Our dog bite attorneys in Little Rock are ready to answer your questions.
Yes, even if the dog has shown no previous aggression, you can file a lawsuit if the dog owner was negligent. Under Arkansas law, the owner is responsible for controlling their dog. Failing to do so or violating local leash and other laws can form the basis of your negligence claim.
Depending on the circumstances, you may be able to pursue compensation through your own homeowner’s or renter’s insurance policy if the dog’s owner is uninsured. If your insurance doesn’t cover you or your damages exceed your policy limits, you can file a lawsuit against the dog owner.
If the dog that bit you was a stray or unlicensed, you may still have legal options. You may have a claim if you can identify the person responsible for the dog who allowed it to roam. You can also make a claim against local animal control authorities if they are responsible for the dog or let someone adopt a known dangerous animal.
Bites from larger or more aggressive breeds, such as pit bulls, Mastiffs, Rottweilers, and Doberman Pinschers, can result in more severe injuries due to jaw size and strength. However, any dog can bite and cause serious harm depending on specific circumstances.
You must show that the dog owner failed to control their dog or violated local leash laws to establish negligence in a dog bite claim. Evidence such as witness statements, photographs, videos of the dog’s behavior, a lack of control devices, and prior bite history can bolster your claim.
Our Little Rock Dog Bite Lawyers
Founding Member – Senior Partner
Phone: 901-462-3333
Fax: 901-746-1505
Attorney
Phone: 901-259-0416
Fax: 901-746-1544
Attorney
Phone: 901-462-3331
Fax: 901-746-1567
Attorney
Phone: 901-259-0406
Fax: 901-746-1548
Attorney
Phone: 901-347-6039
Fax: 901-347-6084
Attorney
Phone: 901-347-6074
Fax: 901-347-6085
Founding Member – Senior Partner
Phone: 901-462-3333
Fax: 901-746-1505
Attorney
Phone: 901-259-0416
Fax: 901-746-1544
Attorney
Phone: 901-462-3331
Fax: 901-746-1567
Attorney
Phone: 901-259-0406
Fax: 901-746-1548
Attorney
Phone: 901-347-6039
Fax: 901-347-6084
Attorney
Phone: 901-347-6074
Fax: 901-347-6085
LITTLE ROCK OFFICE
4 Shackleford Plaza Suite 211
Little Rock, AR 72211
Phone: 501-381-3391
Fax: 501-891-5036
DOWNTOWN LITTLE ROCK OFFICE
425 W Capitol Ave, Ste. 780
Little Rock, AR 72201
Phone: 501-200-4245
Contact us for a free consultation now so that we can review your case and decide how we can best help you.
