Dog Bites in Pennsylvania: Your Rights and the Owner's Responsibilities

A dog bite is frightening, often involves a neighbor or someone you know, and tends to leave people unsure whether to make a fuss. Pennsylvania law is fairly protective of bite victims — here's what to do and what you may be owed.

First, take care of the wound

•     Wash the wound and get medical attention — dog bites carry real infection risk, and deeper injuries to hands and faces especially need prompt care.

•     Find out the dog's vaccination status, particularly rabies. Your doctor will want to know.

•     Report the bite to the local authorities or animal control. In Pennsylvania, certain bites are required to be reported, and an official record helps both public health and any claim.

Then document it

•     Photograph the injuries (and again as they heal) and the location where it happened.

•     Get the owner's name and contact information, and the dog's history if you can learn it.

•     Get names and numbers of any witnesses.

Is the owner automatically responsible?

For your medical bills, often yes. Pennsylvania's dog law generally makes a dog's owner responsible for the medical costs of a bite, regardless of whether the owner did anything wrong. That's a meaningful baseline protection.

For fuller compensation — including pain and suffering — the analysis usually goes further. Recovering beyond medical costs generally depends on showing the owner was negligent or knew (or had reason to know) the dog was dangerous. Pennsylvania doesn't give every dog "one free bite," but a known history of aggression, a violation of leash or confinement rules, or other carelessness can open the door to a broader claim.

What if I knew the dog, or it was a friend's pet?

That's the most common and most uncomfortable situation, and it stops many people from acting. Two things are worth knowing: a claim is typically paid by the owner's homeowner's or renter's insurance, not out of their pocket, and pursuing the medical costs your family is facing is reasonable and routine. You can take care of yourself without it becoming personal.

Is there a deadline?

Yes — the general two-year injury deadline applies in Pennsylvania, and bites involving a public agency's animal or a government setting can involve shorter notice rules. If a child was bitten, the timing rules for minors may apply. As always, earlier is safer.

Talk it through with someone local. If you have questions about your own situation, the attorneys at Joyce, Carmody & Moran can review what happened and explain your options — no cost for the first conversation, and no obligation. We are based in Pittston and handle injury matters throughout Luzerne County.