Your rights
Bitten by a dog? Who is liable in your state, and how long you have to claim
Short answer
It depends on your state. In 21 states the owner is strictly liable for a bite, even a first one; 14 states have a limited statute; in the other 16 jurisdictions you must show the owner knew the dog was dangerous or was careless. Most states allow 2 or 3 years to sue.
Lookup · 51 states
What is your state's dog bite law?
Each state from its statute on the official code site, or from the Maryland legislature's 2013 50-state survey where marked · checked Nov 1, 2026
Each rule comes from the official source linked in the result. It runs on your device: nothing you type is stored or sent. General information, not legal advice.
Key points
- Strict liability
- In 21 states the owner pays for a bite in a public place or where you were lawfully present, even if the dog never bit before (California, Florida, Illinois, Michigan, Ohio and others).
- One-bite rule
- In 16 jurisdictions (Texas, Virginia, New Mexico and others) you must show the owner knew or should have known the dog was dangerous, or was negligent. A prior bite is not required.
- Deadline
- Usually 2 years (California, Texas, Florida, Pennsylvania, Virginia) or 3 years (New York, Maryland); in Arizona a claim under the dog-bite statute can have 1 year.
- Who pays
- Often the owner's homeowners or renters insurance: liability and medical payments coverage, unless the policy excludes the breed or the dog.
A dog bite claim is a personal injury claim against the dog's owner (and sometimes a keeper or landlord), and the rule that decides it is state law. Most states have a statute that makes the owner liable for a bite regardless of the dog's past; others keep the old common-law rule, often called the one-bite rule, under which you must show the owner knew of the danger or was careless.
Below: every state's rule with its statute (23 read on the official code site, the rest from the Maryland legislature's 50-state survey and marked as such), your deadline to sue with a date calculator, what to do in the first hours, reporting and quarantine, who pays through insurance, the owner's defenses, bites to another dog, and how lawyers' fees work. Part of our Lawsuits and claims guides.
Bitten at work? Workers' compensation may be your remedy instead; see workers' comp. Injured another way on someone's property: slip and fall law.
Strict liability vs the one-bite rule
- Strict liability statute
- 21 statesThe owner pays for a bite even without a history of biting
- Limited statute
- 14 statesOnly some places, injuries, dogs or victims
- Common law
- 16 jurisdictionsShow the owner knew of the danger, or was careless
Strict liability. A typical statute says the owner of a dog that bites a person in a public place or lawfully in a private place, including the owner's property, is liable for the damages regardless of the former viciousness of the dog or the owner's knowledge of it. You do not have to prove the owner did anything wrong. Cal. Civ. Code § 3342 · Fla. Stat. § 767.04 · A.R.S. § 11-1025
The one-bite rule (common law). Without such a statute, the owner is liable if the owner knew or had reason to know of the dog's vicious tendencies (scienter), or was negligent in controlling it; breaking an animal-control law can be evidence of negligence. Despite the name, you do not have to prove the dog bit someone before; knowledge that should have put the owner on guard is enough. Maryland DLS survey, 2013
Limited statutes. Some states apply strict liability only in some cases: Indiana for people on the property because of a legal duty (such as mail carriers), Montana inside incorporated cities and towns, Oklahoma outside rural areas, Maine, Rhode Island, Tennessee and West Virginia when the dog is off the owner's premises or running at large, Pennsylvania and New York for medical costs, Colorado for economic damages from serious bodily injury, and North Carolina and New York for dogs declared dangerous.
Dog bite laws by state
Each state's rule, the law it comes from, and how we read it. Statute read means we read the current text on the state's official code site on November 1, 2026 (for some, the Internet Archive copy of that official page, because the site refused our checking location). 2013 survey means the rule comes from the Maryland Department of Legislative Services' 50-state appendix of November 2013 and the statute itself was not re-read: confirm it before you rely on it.
| State | Rule | What the law says | Law · how we read it |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | Limited statute | The owner is liable for a bite or injury without provocation on public property, lawfully on the owner's property, or when the dog chases the person off it; an owner who shows no knowledge of viciousness owes actual expenses only. | Ala. Code §§ 3-6-1 to 3-6-4 · 2013 survey |
| Alaska | Common law | No strict-liability dog-bite statute: the owner is liable if the owner knew or should have known of the dog's dangerous tendencies, or was negligent. | Common law · 2013 survey |
| Arizona | Strict liability | The owner of a dog that bites a person in a public place or lawfully in a private place is liable, regardless of the former viciousness of the dog or the owner's knowledge. The owner must give the bitten person the owner's contact information. | A.R.S. § 11-1025 · statute read |
| Arkansas | Common law | No statewide strict-liability statute; the common-law rule applies. | Common law · 2013 survey |
| California | Strict liability | The owner of any dog is liable for damages to a person bitten in a public place or lawfully in a private place, including the owner's property, regardless of former viciousness or the owner's knowledge. | Cal. Civ. Code § 3342 · statute read (archived copy) |
| Colorado | Limited statute | Economic damages only, and only for serious bodily injury or death from a bite to a person lawfully on public or private property; other claims need negligence or the common-law rule. | Colo. Rev. Stat. § 13-21-124 · 2013 survey |
| Connecticut | Strict liability | The owner or keeper is liable for any damage the dog does to the body or property of a person, unless that person was trespassing, committing another tort, or teasing, tormenting or abusing the dog. A child under seven is presumed not to have done so. | Conn. Gen. Stat. § 22-357 · statute read |
| Delaware | Strict liability | The owner is liable for any injury, death or loss caused by the dog, unless the injured person was trespassing or committing a crime, or teasing, tormenting or abusing the dog. | Del. Code (dog owner liability; the survey cites 9 Del.C. § 913) · 2013 survey |
| District of Columbia | Common law, with a negligence rule | No strict-liability statute; when a dog running at large injures a person, the owner's lack of knowledge of its vicious propensity does not by itself avoid a finding of negligence. | D.C. Code § 8-1812 · 2013 survey |
| Florida | Strict liability | The owner of a dog that bites a person in a public place or lawfully in a private place is liable, regardless of former viciousness or knowledge; the bitten person's own negligence reduces the damages by its percentage. A prominent, easily readable Bad Dog sign is a defense, except for a child under 6 or the owner's own negligence. | Fla. Stat. §§ 767.01, 767.04 · statute read |
| Georgia | Limited (knowledge or leash law) | The owner is liable if the dog was vicious or dangerous, the owner knew it and carelessly managed it or let it go at liberty, or if the owner broke a local leash law and carelessly managed the dog. | Ga. Code § 51-2-7 · 2013 survey |
| Hawaii | Negligence, without proof of knowledge | The owner or harborer is liable for damage the animal causes regardless of lack of scienter; Hawaii courts read this as a negligence rule, not strict liability. | Haw. Rev. Stat. § 663-9 · statute read (archived copy) |
| Idaho | Common law | No strict-liability statute; the common-law rule applies. | Common law · 2013 survey |
| Illinois | Strict liability | If a dog, without provocation, attacks or injures a person who is peaceably conducting himself or herself where he or she may lawfully be, the owner is liable for the full amount of the injury. | 510 ILCS 5/16 · statute read (archived copy) |
| Indiana | Limited (people on duty) | Strict liability only for a bite, without provocation, of a person on the property because of a legal duty, such as a mail carrier, police officer or firefighter; others need negligence or the common-law rule. | Ind. Code § 15-20-1-3 · 2013 survey |
| Iowa | Strict liability | The owner is liable for all damages done when the dog is attacking or attempting to bite a person, except when the injured party is doing an unlawful act directly contributing to the injury. | Iowa Code § 351.28 · statute read |
| Kansas | Common law | No dog-bite statute; the common-law rule applies. | Common law · 2013 survey |
| Kentucky | Strict liability | Any owner, keeper or harborer whose dog causes damage to a person, livestock or other property is responsible for that damage; comparative fault applies. | Ky. Rev. Stat. § 258.235 · 2013 survey |
| Louisiana | Strict liability (preventable harm) | The owner is liable for injuries the dog causes that the owner could have prevented and that did not result from provocation; comparative fault applies. | La. Civ. Code art. 2321 · 2013 survey |
| Maine | Limited (off the owner's premises) | When a dog injures a person who is not on the owner's or keeper's premises, the owner or keeper is liable for the damages; the injured person's fault reduces physical-injury damages only if it exceeded the owner's. | 7 M.R.S. § 3961 · statute read |
| Maryland | Presumption, and strict liability at large | Evidence that the dog caused the injury creates a rebuttable presumption that the owner knew or should have known of its vicious or dangerous propensities, and the owner is liable for injury caused while the dog is running at large, with exceptions for trespass, crime and provocation. | Md. Code, Cts. & Jud. Proc. § 3-1901 · statute read |
| Massachusetts | Strict liability | The owner or keeper is liable for damage to the body or property of any person, unless the person was trespassing, committing another tort, or teasing, tormenting or abusing the dog. A child under seven is presumed not to have done so. | Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 140, § 155 · statute read (archived copy) |
| Michigan | Strict liability | If a dog bites a person, without provocation, on public property or lawfully on private property, the owner is liable for any damages, regardless of former viciousness or the owner's knowledge. | Mich. Comp. Laws § 287.351 · statute read (archived copy) |
| Minnesota | Strict liability | If a dog, without provocation, attacks or injures any person acting peaceably where the person may lawfully be, the owner is liable to the full amount of the injury; owner includes anyone harboring or keeping the dog. | Minn. Stat. § 347.22 · statute read |
| Mississippi | Common law | No dog-bite statute; the common-law rule applies. | Common law · 2013 survey |
| Missouri | Strict liability | The owner or possessor of a dog that bites, without provocation, a person on public property or lawfully on private property is strictly liable; damages are reduced by the bitten person's percentage of fault, and the owner can be fined up to $1,000. | Mo. Rev. Stat. § 273.036 · statute read |
| Montana | Limited (inside cities and towns) | The owner of a dog that bites a person in a public place or lawfully in a private place within an incorporated city or town is liable, regardless of former viciousness or knowledge. | Mont. Code § 27-1-715 · statute read |
| Nebraska | Strict liability | The owner is liable for any and all damages to any person, other than a trespasser, bitten by the dog, and for damage from the dog chasing or injuring a person or domestic animals. | Neb. Rev. Stat. § 54-601 · statute read (archived copy) |
| Nevada | Common law | No dog-bite statute; the common-law rule applies. | Common law · 2013 survey |
| New Hampshire | Strict liability | The owner, keeper or possessor is strictly liable for injuries or property damage the dog causes, unless the injured person was trespassing or committing another tort. | N.H. Rev. Stat. § 466:19 · 2013 survey |
| New Jersey | Strict liability | The owner is liable for damages to a person bitten in a public place or lawfully on private property, including the owner's. | N.J. Stat. § 4:19-16 · 2013 survey |
| New Mexico | Common law | No dog-bite statute; the common-law rule applies. | Common law · 2013 survey |
| New York | Limited (dangerous dogs, medical costs) | The owner or lawful custodian of a dog found dangerous is strictly liable for the medical costs of the injury it causes; other losses, and bites by other dogs, need proof the owner knew of the dog's vicious tendencies. | N.Y. Agric. & Mkts. Law § 123(10) · statute read (archived copy) |
| North Carolina | Limited (dangerous dogs) | The owner of a dangerous dog is strictly liable in civil damages for any injuries or property damage the dog inflicts; otherwise the common-law rule applies. | N.C. Gen. Stat. § 67-4.4 · statute read (archived copy) |
| North Dakota | Common law | No dog-bite statute; the common-law rule applies. | Common law · 2013 survey |
| Ohio | Strict liability | The owner, keeper or harborer is liable for any injury, death or loss caused by the dog, unless the person was committing criminal trespass or another crime on the owner's property or against any person, or was teasing, tormenting or abusing the dog on the owner's property. | Ohio Rev. Code § 955.28(B) · statute read (archived copy) |
| Oklahoma | Limited (not in rural areas) | The owner is liable when the dog bites or injures a person who did not provoke it and was where the person had a lawful right to be; the statute does not apply in rural areas or towns without U.S. mail delivery. | 4 Okla. Stat. §§ 42.1, 42.3 · 2013 survey |
| Oregon | Common law | No dog-bite statute; the common-law rule applies. | Common law · 2013 survey |
| Pennsylvania | Limited (medical costs; all damages for severe injury) | The owner is liable for the medical costs of a bite without provocation, and for all damages when the injury is severe; other losses need negligence or the common-law rule. | 3 P.S. § 459-502 (the Dog Law) · 2013 survey |
| Rhode Island | Limited (outside the enclosure) | The owner or keeper is liable for all damage when the dog bites or injures a person on the highway or outside the owner's enclosure, without proof that the owner knew; double damages if it happens again. | R.I. Gen. Laws § 4-13-16 · statute read (archived copy) |
| South Carolina | Strict liability | If a person is bitten or otherwise attacked by a dog in a public place or lawfully in a private place, including the owner's property, the owner or keeper is liable for the damages; provocation is a defense. | S.C. Code § 47-3-110 · statute read |
| South Dakota | Common law | No dog-bite statute; the common-law rule applies. | Common law · 2013 survey |
| Tennessee | Limited (at large or out of control) | The owner is liable if the dog was running at large or not under reasonable control; on the owner's residential or noncommercial property, the victim must prove the owner knew of the dog's dangerous propensities. | Tenn. Code § 44-8-413 · 2013 survey |
| Texas | Common law | No dog-bite statute: the owner is liable if the owner knew or should have known the dog was dangerous, or was negligent. A separate dangerous-dog law sets criminal penalties. | Common law · Tex. Health & Safety Code ch. 822 · 2013 survey |
| Utah | Strict liability | The owner or keeper of a dog is liable in damages for injury the dog causes; comparative fault applies. | Utah Code § 18-1-1 · 2013 survey |
| Vermont | Common law (negligence) | No dog-bite statute; courts apply negligence when the owner knew or had reason to know of the dog's viciousness, and the victim's own fault reduces recovery. | Common law · 2013 survey |
| Virginia | Common law | No dog-bite statute; the common-law rule applies. A separate law lets courts declare a dog dangerous. | Common law · Va. Code § 3.2-6540 · 2013 survey |
| Washington | Strict liability | The owner of a dog that bites a person in a public place or lawfully in a private place, including the owner's property, is liable regardless of former viciousness or knowledge. | Rev. Code Wash. § 16.08.040 · statute read (archived copy) |
| West Virginia | Limited (running at large) | An owner or keeper who lets the dog run at large is liable for any damages it inflicts on a person or property while running at large. | W. Va. Code § 19-20-13 · statute read (archived copy) |
| Wisconsin | Strict liability | The owner is liable for the full amount of damages caused by the dog injuring a person, domestic animal or property, and for 2 times the damages if the owner knew the dog had previously bitten a person hard enough to break the skin and cause permanent scarring or disfigurement. | Wis. Stat. § 174.02(1) · statute read (archived copy) |
| Wyoming | Common law | No dog-bite statute; the common-law rule applies. | Common law · 2013 survey |
Deadline to sue after a dog bite
A dog bite claim follows the state's personal injury deadline, counted from the day of the bite. Insurers settle many claims, but the deadline to file in court does not stop while you negotiate.
| State | Deadline | Law |
|---|---|---|
| California | 2 years from the injury | Code Civ. Proc. § 335.1 |
| Texas | 2 years | Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 16.003 |
| Florida | 2 years for a claim founded on negligence (injuries after March 24, 2023) | Fla. Stat. § 95.11(5)(a) |
| New York | 3 years | CPLR 214(5) |
| Pennsylvania | 2 years | 42 Pa.C.S. § 5524(2) |
| Arizona | 1 year upon a liability created by statute, which can apply to a claim under the dog-bite statute; 2 years for negligence | A.R.S. §§ 12-541(5), 12-542(1) |
| Virginia | 2 years | Va. Code § 8.01-243(A) |
| Maryland | 3 years (the general civil deadline) | Md. Code, Cts. & Jud. Proc. § 5-101 |
Calculator
When is your deadline to sue after a dog bite?
1. Which state, and which kind of claim?
Fill in the steps to see the answer.
Uses only the numbers on this page, each from its official source. Nothing you type leaves your device. Not legal advice.
What to do right after a dog bite
- Wash the wound and get care. Wash bites or scratches immediately with soap and water, and seek medical care urgently if rabies is possible: post-exposure care must start as soon as possible. CDC: About rabies
- Get the owner's details. The owner's name, address, phone, and the dog's rabies vaccination status. In Arizona the owner must give the bitten person the owner's contact information. A.R.S. § 11-1025(B)
- Report the bite. Call local animal control or the health department. In Texas anyone who knows of a bite that could transmit rabies must report it to the local rabies control authority. Tex. Health & Safety Code § 826.041
- Keep the evidence. Photos of the wound over time and of the place, torn clothing, names of witnesses, medical bills and records, and a note of lost work. The checklist below keeps track.
- Check your deadline and the insurance. Ask the owner for their homeowners or renters insurer, and use the date calculator above.
Checklist
After a dog bite: what to do and keep
Tick each step as you do it.
Every point comes from this page and its official sources. Your ticks are not saved or sent anywhere. Not legal advice.
Reporting a bite, quarantine and dangerous dogs
- The dog may be quarantined. In Texas the local rabies control authority or a veterinarian quarantines or tests an animal that may have exposed a person to rabies, and the owner must submit it for quarantine.Tex. Health & Safety Code § 826.042
- A dangerous-dog finding raises the stakes. In New York, the owner of a dog found dangerous is strictly liable for medical costs; in North Carolina, the owner of a dangerous dog is strictly liable for any injuries it inflicts.N.Y. Agric. & Mkts. Law § 123(10) · N.C. Gen. Stat. § 67-4.4
- Criminal penalties for serious attacks. In Texas an owner who with criminal negligence fails to secure the dog, when it makes an unprovoked attack off the owner's property that causes serious bodily injury, commits a third-degree felony (second degree if the attack causes death).Tex. Health & Safety Code § 822.005
- Fines in some states. In Wisconsin the owner forfeits $50 to $2,500 when the dog injures a person, and $200 to $5,000 after notice of an earlier injury; in Missouri an owner held liable can be fined up to $1,000.Wis. Stat. § 174.02(2) · Mo. Rev. Stat. § 273.036
Who pays: homeowners and renters insurance
- Homeowners insurance might help. If a dog bites someone on the owner's property, the owner's homeowners insurance might pay. Some policies exclude certain breeds, so the owner should check the policy or call the company.Texas Department of Insurance
- Medical payments coverage. It pays the medical bills of people hurt on the property, and some injuries away from home, if the dog bites someone at the park, for instance.Texas Department of Insurance
- An umbrella policy. A personal umbrella policy can add liability coverage, usually $1 million or more, for medical bills, lost wages and lawsuits when the home policy does not cover a bite or does not pay enough.Texas Department of Insurance
Dog bites are a large share of home liability claims: the Maryland legislature's 2013 survey, citing the Insurance Information Institute, reported that they were more than one-third of homeowner's liability claims paid in 2011 and 2012, about $491 million (16,695 claims) and $490 million (16,459 claims). Maryland DLS survey, 2013
Defenses: provocation, trespass and your own fault
- Provocation: most statutes exclude a person who teased, tormented, abused or provoked the dog (for example Illinois, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, South Carolina).
- Trespass or a crime: most exclude a person who was trespassing or committing a crime, which is why statutes say lawfully in a private place.
- Your own fault: some states reduce damages by your share of fault (Florida by the percentage your negligence contributed; Missouri by your percentage of fault; Maine only if your fault exceeded the owner's). How each state's fault rule works: see comparative fault.
- Young children: in Connecticut and Massachusetts a child under seven is presumed not to have trespassed or teased the dog; in Florida a Bad Dog sign does not protect the owner against a child under 6.
When a dog bites another dog
Many statutes also cover damage to animals and property. In Florida a dog owner is liable for any damage the dog does to a person or to a domestic animal or livestock; in Connecticut the owner is liable for damage to property, which includes a companion animal, and the damage includes veterinary care and the animal's fair monetary value; Missouri and Wisconsin cover property and domestic animals too. In other states it is a property claim, often for small claims court. Fla. Stat. § 767.01 · Conn. Gen. Stat. § 22-357
Do you need a dog bite lawyer? Fees
Many bite claims are settled with the owner's insurer; a lawyer helps most when the injury is serious, the rule in your state is the common-law one, or the insurer denies the claim. Personal injury lawyers usually work for a contingency fee.
- A contingency fee is a percentage of what you recover. The State Bar of California says the written agreement should state that percentage and whether it is figured before or after other costs are deducted, and that the fee is negotiable.State Bar of California
- In writing, and signed. In Texas a contingent fee contract for legal services must be in writing and signed by the attorney and the client.Tex. Gov't Code § 82.065(a)
- Texas: no unsolicited contact for 30 days. A lawyer may not send unsolicited communications about an accident or injury to get your business before the 31st day after it.Tex. Penal Code § 38.12(d)
Free help: legal aid and bar referral services. Getting ready to write to the owner first: a demand letter.
Getting help
Common questions
What is the one-bite rule?
The common-law rule in states without a dog-bite statute: the owner is liable if the owner knew or should have known the dog was dangerous, or was careless. Despite the name, a prior bite is not required; behavior that should have put the owner on guard is enough.
Does Texas have a dog bite law?
Texas has no statute that makes owners liable for every bite. A victim shows the owner knew or should have known the dog was dangerous, or was negligent. Texas has a dangerous-dog law with criminal penalties and requires bites to be reported to the local rabies control authority.
What should I do if a dog bites me?
Wash the wound with soap and water, get medical care urgently if rabies is possible, get the owner's details and the dog's vaccination status, report the bite to animal control or the health department, and keep photos, bills and witness names. See what to do.
My dog bit someone: what should I do?
Make sure the person gets care, give them your name and contact information (Arizona requires it), report the bite to animal control or the health department and keep the dog available for quarantine if required, and notify your homeowners or renters insurer. See reporting and quarantine.
What counts as a serious dog bite under the law?
It depends on the statute. Colorado's covers serious bodily injury: a substantial risk of death, serious permanent disfigurement, loss or impairment of a body part or function, or a fracture. Pennsylvania pays medical costs for any bite and all damages for a severe injury.
What is the average payout for a dog bite claim?
There is no official average for settlements. Insurers paid about $491 million on 16,695 dog bite claims in 2011 and $490 million on 16,459 in 2012, about $29,400 and $29,800 a claim by our arithmetic, as the Maryland legislature's 2013 survey reported from the Insurance Information Institute.
What proof do you need for a dog bite claim?
Medical records and bills, photos of the wound and the place, witness names, the owner's details, and anything that shows where you were. In a common-law state, also evidence the owner knew the dog was dangerous: earlier incidents, complaints or warnings.
How long do I have to sue after a dog bite?
Usually 2 years (California, Texas, Florida, Pennsylvania, Virginia) or 3 years (New York, Maryland), from the day of the bite. In Arizona a claim under the dog-bite statute can have 1 year.
Does homeowners insurance cover dog bites?
Often. The owner's homeowners or renters liability and medical payments coverage can pay, unless the policy excludes the breed or the dog. An umbrella policy can add coverage.
What happens to a dog that bites someone?
It may be quarantined or tested for rabies, and it can be declared dangerous under state or local law, which brings restrictions and, in some states, strict liability. In Texas a serious unprovoked attack off the owner's property can be a felony for a negligent owner.
What if my dog bit another dog?
In many states the owner is liable for damage to another person's animal (Florida, Connecticut, Missouri, Wisconsin), usually the vet bills and the animal's value. Elsewhere it is a property claim, often for small claims court.
Official sources
- Maryland Department of Legislative Services, Dog Bites in Maryland and Other States: Data, Insurance Coverage, and Liability (November 2013): 50-state appendix of dog liability, common law, insurance (PDF) dls.maryland.gov
- Arizona: A.R.S. § 11-1025 azleg.gov
- California: Cal. Civ. Code § 3342 (read from the Internet Archive copy of October 17, 2026) leginfo.legislature.ca.gov
- Connecticut: Conn. Gen. Stat. § 22-357 cga.ct.gov
- Florida: Fla. Stat. §§ 767.01, 767.04 leg.state.fl.us
- Hawaii: Haw. Rev. Stat. § 663-9 (read from the Internet Archive copy of October 19, 2026) capitol.hawaii.gov
- Illinois: 510 ILCS 5/16 (read from the Internet Archive copy of April 18, 2025) ilga.gov
- Iowa: Iowa Code § 351.28 legis.iowa.gov
- Maine: 7 M.R.S. § 3961 legislature.maine.gov
- Maryland: Md. Code, Cts. & Jud. Proc. § 3-1901 mgaleg.maryland.gov
- Massachusetts: Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 140, § 155 (read from the Internet Archive copy of August 3, 2026) malegislature.gov
- Michigan: Mich. Comp. Laws § 287.351 (read from the Internet Archive copy of February 9, 2026) legislature.mi.gov
- Minnesota: Minn. Stat. § 347.22 revisor.mn.gov
- Missouri: Mo. Rev. Stat. § 273.036 revisor.mo.gov
- Montana: Mont. Code § 27-1-715 archive.legmt.gov
- Nebraska: Neb. Rev. Stat. § 54-601 (read from the Internet Archive copy of May 14, 2026) nebraskalegislature.gov
- New York: N.Y. Agric. & Mkts. Law § 123(10) (read from the Internet Archive copy of March 6, 2026) nysenate.gov
- North Carolina: N.C. Gen. Stat. § 67-4.4 (read from the Internet Archive copy of May 19, 2026) ncleg.gov
- Ohio: Ohio Rev. Code § 955.28(B) (read from the Internet Archive copy of June 12, 2026) codes.ohio.gov
- Rhode Island: R.I. Gen. Laws § 4-13-16 (read from the Internet Archive copy of February 19, 2026) webserver.rilegislature.gov
- South Carolina: S.C. Code § 47-3-110 scstatehouse.gov
- Texas: Common law · Tex. Health & Safety Code ch. 822 tcss.legis.texas.gov
- Washington: Rev. Code Wash. § 16.08.040 (read from the Internet Archive copy of April 17, 2026) app.leg.wa.gov
- West Virginia: W. Va. Code § 19-20-13 (read from the Internet Archive copy of May 13, 2026) code.wvlegislature.gov
- Wisconsin: Wis. Stat. § 174.02(1) (read from the Internet Archive copy of August 13, 2026) docs.legis.wisconsin.gov
- Arizona Revised Statutes § 12-541: one year limitation, including (5) a liability created by statute azleg.gov
- Arizona Revised Statutes § 12-542: two year limitation for injury to person azleg.gov
- California Courts Self-Help Guide: Deadlines to sue someone (Code Civ. Proc. § 335.1, personal injury 2 years) selfhelp.courts.ca.gov
- Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code, Chapter 16: Limitations (§ 16.003) tcss.legis.texas.gov
- Florida Statutes § 95.11 (2026): limitations; (5)(a) negligence, 2 years flsenate.gov
- New York CPLR 214: three years (personal injury) nysenate.gov
- 42 Pa.C.S. § 5524: two year limitation palegis.us
- Code of Virginia § 8.01-243: personal action for injury to person law.lis.virginia.gov
- Maryland Code, Courts and Judicial Proceedings § 5-101: three years mgaleg.maryland.gov
- Texas Health and Safety Code ch. 826: § 826.041 reports of bites, § 826.042 quarantine tcss.legis.texas.gov
- CDC: About rabies (wash bites with soap and water; seek medical care urgently; post-exposure prophylaxis) cdc.gov
- Texas Department of Insurance, January 8, 2026: Home insurance might cover dog bite costs (breed exclusions, medical payments, umbrella $1 million or more) tdi.texas.gov
- Texas Department of Insurance: Home insurance guide (medical payments coverage, a dog bite at the park) tdi.texas.gov
- State Bar of California: What to expect regarding fees and billing calbar.ca.gov
- Texas Government Code ch. 82: §§ 82.065 and 82.0651, contingent fee contracts and barratry tcss.legis.texas.gov
- Texas Penal Code ch. 38: § 38.12, barratry and solicitation of professional employment tcss.legis.texas.gov
Related
This page explains the law in general terms. It is not legal advice about your situation. Justice is not a law firm and is not affiliated with any court or government agency.