If a dog has bitten you or a loved one in Boston, you have legal rights. Massachusetts law holds dog owners responsible for injuries their animals cause, even if the dog has never bitten anyone before. The path to recovery involves understanding your rights, gathering evidence, and working with a dog bite lawyer who can help you pursue compensation.
Peck Trial Attorneys represents dog bite victims throughout Boston and Massachusetts. We handle every aspect of your case, from investigating what happened to negotiating with insurance companies and pursuing litigation when necessary. Our team works on a contingency fee basis, which means you pay nothing unless we recover compensation for you.
Why Choose Peck Trial Attorneys for Your Dog Bite Case
When you suffer a dog bite injury, you need an attorney who understands the law and the physical and emotional toll these attacks take on victims. Peck Trial Attorneys handles dog bite claims in Massachusetts. We have helped numerous clients recover compensation for their medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and scarring.
We believe in a client-first approach. You will work directly with our legal team, not with paralegals or assistants. We take the time to understand your injury, your medical treatment, and your future needs. We handle the investigation, gather medical records, communicate with insurance companies, and make strategic decisions about whether to settle or take your case to trial.
Our contingency fee model means we only succeed when you succeed. We advance the costs of your case and recover our fees from the settlement or judgment we obtain. You never pay upfront costs or hourly fees. This approach aligns our interests with yours. We are motivated to recover the maximum compensation possible. When evaluating medical experts and treatment options, we ensure your case is built on solid evidence.
Understanding Massachusetts Dog Bite Law
Strict Liability Rule in Massachusetts
Massachusetts follows a strict liability rule for dog bites. This means the dog owner is responsible for your injuries regardless of whether the dog has a history of biting or aggressive behavior. The owner cannot claim they did not know the dog was dangerous or that the dog had never bitten anyone before.
Under Massachusetts General Law Chapter 140, Section 155, a dog owner is liable for damages if their dog injures someone. The only exceptions are if the injured person was trespassing on the owner's property or if the injured person was committing a crime at the time of the bite. In most cases, if you were lawfully in a place where you had a right to be, the dog owner is liable for your injuries.
This strict liability standard makes it easier for victims to recover compensation. You do not need to prove the owner was negligent or careless. You simply need to show that the dog bit you and caused your injuries. Understanding Massachusetts law and how it applies to your specific situation is critical to your case. Unlike negligence-based claims, strict liability removes the burden of proving fault.
Statute of Limitations
You have three years from the date of the dog bite to file a lawsuit in Massachusetts. This deadline is important. If you wait longer than three years, you lose your right to pursue a claim, regardless of how serious your injuries are.
Acting quickly protects your legal rights. It also helps preserve evidence. Witness memories fade, photographs may be lost, and medical records can become harder to obtain as time passes. Contacting Peck Trial Attorneys soon after your injury ensures we can gather the strongest possible evidence for your case. The Massachusetts courts enforce these deadlines strictly, so timely action is essential. Many personal injury cases are lost simply because victims wait too long to seek legal representation.
Common Dog Bite Injuries
Dog bites cause a wide range of injuries, from minor puncture wounds to severe lacerations and life-altering scarring. The severity depends on the dog's size and breed, the location of the bite, how long the attack lasted, and how quickly the victim received medical attention.
Children under four years old are most likely to suffer bites to the head, face, and neck. These injuries are particularly serious because they can affect appearance, breathing, and eating. Adults typically suffer bites to the arms, legs, and torso as they try to protect themselves or escape. Facial scarring from dog bites can have lasting psychological impacts beyond the physical injury.
Common dog bite injuries include abrasions, lacerations, puncture wounds, tissue loss, crush injuries, broken bones, sprains, and permanent scarring. Dog bites also carry infection risks. Bacteria in a dog's mouth can cause serious infections, including rabies and Capnocytophaga canimorsus, a bacterium that can lead to sepsis and organ failure.
Beyond physical injuries, dog bite victims often experience emotional trauma. Many develop anxiety around dogs, fear of being outdoors, or post-traumatic stress disorder. These psychological effects are real and compensable under Massachusetts law. In cases involving premises liability or negligent property maintenance, additional claims may apply. Emotional distress damages can be substantial when properly documented.
What Compensation Can You Recover
Massachusetts law allows dog bite victims to recover several types of damages. Understanding what you can claim helps you evaluate settlement offers and work with your attorney to pursue fair compensation.
Medical expenses form the foundation of most dog bite claims. This includes emergency room treatment, surgery, wound care, plastic surgery for scarring, infection treatment, and ongoing medical appointments. If your injury requires long-term care or future surgeries, you can recover the cost of that future treatment as well. Reconstructive surgery costs can be substantial and are fully recoverable.
Lost wages compensate you for the income you lost while recovering from your injury. If your bite injury prevents you from working for weeks or months, you can recover those lost earnings. If the injury causes permanent disability that reduces your earning capacity, you can recover compensation for that lost income over your lifetime. Permanent disability claims require careful documentation of your earning capacity.
Pain and suffering damages compensate you for the physical pain and emotional distress caused by the attack. These damages recognize that dog bite injuries cause real suffering beyond just medical bills. Scarring and disfigurement damages specifically address permanent changes to your appearance. If the bite leaves visible scars, you can recover additional compensation for the impact on your appearance and quality of life.
Emotional distress and psychological counseling costs are also recoverable. If you develop anxiety, PTSD, or depression following the attack, you can claim compensation for therapy and treatment. In cases where a dog bite causes death, the victim's family can pursue a wrongful death claim to recover funeral expenses, lost financial support, and damages for the loss of companionship.
What to Do After a Dog Bite in Boston
The steps you take immediately after a dog bite significantly impact your legal case. Your actions preserve evidence and protect your health.
First, seek medical attention. Even if the bite seems minor, get evaluated by a healthcare provider. Dog bites carry serious infection risks. A medical professional can clean the wound properly, prescribe antibiotics if needed, and document your injury. This medical documentation becomes crucial evidence in your case. Infection prevention is critical in the first 24 hours after a bite.
Second, document the incident. Take photographs of your injury from multiple angles. If possible, photograph the location where the bite occurred. Write down everything you remember about the attack while it is fresh in your mind. This included the time, the dog's appearance, what happened, and how you were injured. Photographic evidence is one of the most powerful tools in building your case.
Third, gather information about the dog and its owner. Get the owner's name, address, phone number, and insurance information. Ask for the dog's name, breed, and vaccination records. If there were witnesses, get their names and contact information. Witness testimony can be critical to establishing liability.
Fourth, report the bite to animal control. This creates an official record of the incident. Animal control will investigate and may quarantine the dog to check for rabies. Similar documentation procedures apply in slip and fall injuries and other premises-related incidents.
Fifth, preserve your medical records. Keep all bills, receipts, and documentation related to your treatment. Take photographs of your injury as it heals to document scarring. Medical documentation is essential for calculating your damages.
Finally, contact Peck Trial Attorneys as soon as possible. The sooner we become involved, the sooner we can begin our investigation, gather evidence, and protect your rights. Boston dog bite attorneys who specialize in these cases understand the nuances of Massachusetts law.
How Peck Trial Attorneys Can Help Your Dog Bite Claim
From the moment you contact us, Peck Trial Attorneys takes control of your case. We handle the investigation, allowing you to focus on healing.
Our lawyers investigate what happened by visiting the scene, interviewing witnesses, and gathering evidence about the dog and its owner. We obtain medical records from all providers who treated you and review them carefully to understand the full extent of your injury. We work with medical experts to evaluate your treatment and determine what future care you may need.
Our firm also handles all communications with the dog owner's insurance company. Insurance adjusters often try to minimize claims or deny liability. An attorney helps level the playing field. We negotiate on your behalf to recover fair compensation. We gather documentation of your lost wages, calculate your pain and suffering damages, and build a case for the maximum recovery.
If the insurance company refuses to offer fair compensation, we prepare your case for trial. We file the lawsuit, conduct discovery, depose witnesses, and prepare evidence for court. We represent you throughout the litigation process, advocating for your rights before a judge and jury. Our experience with serious injuries and severe injuries ensures we understand the full scope of your damages.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a lawyer for a dog bite claim?
While you can file a claim without an attorney, having legal representation can improve your outcome. Insurance companies have teams of adjusters and lawyers working to minimize what they pay. An attorney helps level the playing field. We know how to value your claim, negotiate effectively, and pursue litigation if necessary. Most dog bite victims recover more money with an attorney than they would on their own, even after paying the contingency fee. Personal injury representation is an investment in your recovery.
How much is my dog bite case worth?
The value of your case depends on several factors: the severity of your injury, the cost of your medical treatment, how much income you lost, the extent of scarring or disfigurement, the impact on your quality of life, and the dog owner's insurance coverage. Minor bites with minimal scarring might be worth a few thousand dollars. Severe injuries with permanent scarring, significant medical expenses, and lost wages can be worth tens of thousands of dollars or more. We evaluate all these factors to determine a fair value for your claim.
How long does a dog bite case take?
The timeline varies depending on the complexity of your case and whether it settles or goes to trial. Many cases settle within six to twelve months. Cases that require litigation may take one to three years or longer. We work to resolve your case as quickly as possible while ensuring you receive fair compensation. We keep you informed throughout the process and explain the timeline for your specific situation.
What if the dog owner doesn't have insurance?
Many homeowners' and renters' insurance policies cover dog bite liability. We investigate what insurance coverage is available. If the owner has no insurance, we may pursue a claim directly against the owner's personal assets. We can also explore whether any other insurance policies might apply. Even without insurance, we work to recover compensation for you through available legal remedies.
Can I sue if the dog has never bitten anyone before?
Yes. Massachusetts strict liability law means the owner is responsible for your injuries regardless of the dog's history. The owner cannot defend themselves by claiming the dog had never bitten anyone before or that they did not know the dog was dangerous. This is one of the strongest aspects of the Massachusetts dog bite law for victims. Strict liability protection is a significant advantage in these cases.
What if I were partially at fault for the dog bite?
Massachusetts follows a comparative negligence standard. If you were partially at fault for the bite, for example, if you were trespassing or if you provoked the dog, your recovery may be reduced by your percentage of fault. However, you can still recover compensation for the portion of the injury caused by the dog owner's liability. We evaluate the circumstances of your case to determine whether comparative negligence applies and how it might affect your recovery.
Is there a time limit to file a dog bite lawsuit in Massachusetts?
Yes. You have three years from the date of the dog bite to file a lawsuit. This deadline is strict. If you miss it, you lose your right to pursue a claim. We recommend contacting us as soon as possible after your injury to ensure your rights are protected and your case is filed within the deadline. Massachusetts statute of limitations rules are strictly enforced.
Contact Peck Trial Attorneys for Your Free Consultation
If you have been bitten by a dog in Boston or anywhere in Massachusetts, Peck Trial Attorneys is ready to help. We offer a free consultation to discuss your injury, explain your legal rights, and answer your questions. You will speak directly with an attorney, not a receptionist or paralegal.
Call 857-557-7325 today to schedule your free consultation. We represent dog bite victims on a contingency fee basis, which means you pay nothing unless we recover compensation for you. We are available to discuss your case and begin working toward the recovery you deserve.