Dog Bite Lawyer in Pittston & Wilkes-Barre, PA

Most dogs in Greater Pittston and Wilkes-Barre are family members who never hurt anyone. But when a dog does attack, the injuries can be serious, especially for children: deep punctures, torn skin, nerve damage, infections and scars that last for years. Joyce, Carmody & Moran is a Pittston law firm that helps people hurt by dogs throughout Luzerne and Lackawanna counties understand their rights and deal with the insurance company.

How Pennsylvania dog bite law works

Medical bills are covered first. Under Pennsylvania's Dog Law, a dog's owner is generally responsible for a bite victim's medical expenses, even if the dog never bit anyone before.

Other losses usually require more. To recover for pain and suffering, scarring or lost income, you generally need to show the owner was careless, for example by ignoring signs the dog was dangerous or by breaking leash and confinement rules.

Insurance usually pays, not the neighbor. Most dog bite claims are paid by the owner's homeowner's or renter's insurance. That matters, because many people hesitate to make a claim against a friend, relative or landlord.

Shared fault can reduce a claim. Owners sometimes argue the dog was provoked or the person was trespassing. See comparative negligence.

For a deeper explanation, see dog bite laws in Pennsylvania and animal attacks.

Dog bite injuries we help with

• Bites to the face, hands, arms and legs

• Children bitten at a neighbor's or relative's home

• Attacks on sidewalks, in parks and in apartment complexes

• Falls and broken bones caused by a dog that knocked someone down

• Delivery drivers and mail carriers hurt on the job. See workers' comp vs. a third-party claim.

What a claim can include

• Emergency care, surgery, plastic surgery and future treatment

• Scarring and disfigurement. See scarring and disfigurement claims.

• Counseling for fear and anxiety after an attack, especially for children

• Lost wages

• Pain and suffering, when the facts support it

Children and dog bites

Children are bitten more often than adults, and their injuries are more often to the face. Claims for injured children follow special rules, including court approval of most settlements. See child injury claims.

What to do after a dog bite

• Get medical care right away. Bites become infected easily.

• Get the owner's name, address and, if possible, their insurance information.

• Photograph the injuries as they heal, and the place where the attack happened.

• Report the bite to local police or animal control so there is an official record.

• Be careful about recorded statements to the owner's insurance company. See talking to the adjuster.

Pennsylvania's two-year filing deadline generally applies to dog bite claims, with different timing for injured children.

What it costs to talk to us

Dog bite cases are typically handled on a contingent-fee basis: the attorney's fee comes from a recovery, and if there is no recovery there is no attorney's fee. Clients may still be responsible for certain case costs depending on the outcome and the written fee agreement, which we explain before you sign.

Where we help

We help people injured by dogs in Pittston, Wilkes-Barre, Kingston, Plains Township, Scranton and throughout Luzerne and Lackawanna counties. See all areas we serve.

Talk it through with someone local. If you or your child was hurt by a dog, call our Pittston office at 570-602-3560 or request a free consultation. We'll review what happened and explain your options, with no cost for the first conversation and no obligation.