Arizona Dog Bite Law — Why Strict Liability Makes Your Case Stronger

Arizona has one of the strongest dog bite laws in the country. Under A.R.S. § 11-1025, the dog’s owner is strictly liable for bite injuries — meaning you don’t have to prove the owner was negligent or knew the dog was dangerous.

What Strict Liability Means

In most personal injury cases, you have to prove negligence — that the defendant breached a duty of care. Dog bite cases in Arizona skip that requirement. If a dog bites you, the owner is liable. Period. It doesn’t matter if the dog has never bitten anyone before, the owner had no reason to think the dog was aggressive, the dog was normally friendly, or the owner took reasonable precautions.

The Exceptions

Strict liability applies when you were bitten in a public place OR lawfully on private property (including as an invited guest). If you were trespassing, strict liability may not apply — though you might still have a negligence claim.

Provocation is the main defense. If you provoked the dog — teasing, hitting, cornering — the owner may avoid liability. But the provocation defense is narrow, especially when the victim is a child.

Beyond the Bite

Some dog injuries don’t involve bites — knockdowns, chases that cause falls, or attacks that cause emotional trauma without breaking skin. These may still be actionable under general negligence principles, even if the strict liability statute doesn’t apply.

Damages in Dog Bite Cases

Dog bite damages include medical bills (emergency treatment, stitches, surgery, rabies prophylaxis), plastic surgery for scarring, pain and suffering, emotional distress (especially in children), and lost wages.

The Law Badgers handle dog bite cases across Maricopa County. Arizona’s strict liability law means these cases are strong — but the insurance company will still fight on damages. Call (833) DTF-IGHT.