If a dog bit or attacked you or your child in Bloomsburg, the dog’s owner can be responsible for your injuries, and their homeowner’s or renter’s insurance usually pays. Ostroff Godshall Injury and Accident Lawyers represents dog bite victims throughout Columbia County, and our lawyers come to you in Bloomsburg at home or by video.
Our nearest office is in Lewisburg, about 30 miles west of Bloomsburg. A free case review costs you nothing.
How Pennsylvania Dog Bite Law Works
Pennsylvania uses two levels of liability:
- Medical bills. Under Pennsylvania’s Dog Law (3 P.S. 459-502), a dog’s owner must pay the medical costs from a bite, even if the dog never bit anyone before.
- Full compensation. To recover more, such as lost wages, scarring and pain and suffering, you generally need to show the owner was negligent. That can include knowing the dog was dangerous, or letting it run loose in violation of leash and confinement laws.
Your compensation can be reduced if you were partly at fault, for example if you provoked the dog. You cannot recover if you were more than 50% at fault.
Common Dog Bite Injuries
- Deep puncture wounds and tears
- Infections
- Scarring and disfigurement, especially on the face and hands
- Nerve and tendon damage
- Fractures from being knocked down
- Emotional trauma, especially in children
What to Do After a Dog Bite in Bloomsburg
- Get medical care right away. Dog bites infect easily, and records connect your injuries to the attack.
- Get the owner’s name, address and insurance information, and ask whether the dog’s rabies shots are current.
- Report the bite to local police or the state dog warden for Columbia County.
- Take photos of your injuries over time, and of the place where it happened.
- Get names and phone numbers of anyone who saw the attack or knows the dog.
Bloomsburg Dog Bite FAQs
Who pays for a dog bite in Pennsylvania?
Usually the owner’s homeowner’s or renter’s insurance. The owner must pay your medical costs, and you may recover more if the owner was negligent.
The dog belongs to a friend or relative. Do I still have a claim?
Often, yes. The claim is usually paid by their insurance company, not out of their pocket.
How long do I have to file a dog bite claim?
Generally two years from the bite (42 Pa.C.S. 5524). For children, the deadline usually does not begin until they turn 18, but it is best to act early.
Do you have an office in Bloomsburg?
Our nearest office is in Lewisburg. Our lawyers come to you in Bloomsburg or meet by video.
How much does it cost to hire your firm?
Nothing up front. You pay no attorney fee unless we recover money for you.
Talk to a Bloomsburg Dog Bite Lawyer
Schedule a free case review with Ostroff Godshall Injury and Accident Lawyers, and we will come to you. Learn more about Pennsylvania dog bite claims or see all the injury cases we handle in Bloomsburg.
