If a dog bit you in Atlanta, get medical care first, then identify the dog and its owner and report the bite to local animal control. Those steps protect your health and create the records a claim will depend on.
Your legal rights depend on Georgia’s dog bite statute, O.C.G.A. § 51-2-7. Georgia is not a pure strict liability state for dog bites. In general, you must show the dog was vicious or dangerous and that the owner or keeper carelessly managed it or let it go at liberty. A local leash law can make that proof much easier.
Key Takeaways
- Treat every bite that breaks the skin seriously. Puncture wounds can hide deeper damage and infection, and rabies exposure must be evaluated.
- Under O.C.G.A. § 51-2-7, an owner or keeper of a vicious or dangerous animal may be liable if careless management or letting the animal go at liberty caused your injury and you did not provoke it.
- If a local ordinance required the dog to be on a leash or at heel and it was not, that is enough to prove vicious propensity.
- The owner’s homeowner’s or renter’s insurance often pays dog bite claims, up to its limits.
- You generally have two years to file a lawsuit (O.C.G.A. § 9-3-33).
Get Medical Care Right Away
Rinse the wound with soap and water and get medical care promptly, even for a small bite. Puncture wounds can conceal damage to tendons and nerves and can become infected. A doctor can clean and close the wound, decide whether you need a tetanus shot, and evaluate whether rabies treatment is needed based on what is known about the dog. The CDC’s rabies guidance explains why bite exposures are taken seriously.
Save every record: emergency room notes, imaging, prescriptions and follow-up care. Photograph the wound on the day of the bite and as it heals, including any scarring.
Identify the Dog and Report the Bite
- Get the owner’s information: name, address and phone number, and whether someone else was keeping the dog at the time.
- Ask about vaccination records: rabies tags, certificates or the veterinarian’s name.
- Report the bite to local animal control or the health department for the city or county where it happened. Officials may confine and observe the dog for signs of rabies, and their report documents when and where the bite occurred and whether the dog was restrained.
- Collect witness names and phone numbers. Neighbors, passersby and companions can describe what the dog did and whether it was loose.
- Photograph the scene: open gates, broken fences, the absence of a leash, or where the dog came from.
How Georgia’s Dog Bite Law Works
Georgia’s dog bite statute, O.C.G.A. § 51-2-7, says a person who owns or keeps a vicious or dangerous animal and who, by careless management or by allowing the animal to go at liberty, causes injury to someone who did not provoke it may be liable for damages. That breaks down into several points:
- Owner or keeper. The claim can be against the dog’s owner or someone who was keeping the dog.
- Vicious or dangerous animal. Traditionally this meant showing the owner knew the dog had a tendency to bite or attack, such as a prior bite or aggressive behavior.
- The leash law shortcut. The statute says vicious propensity is proven if a city, county or consolidated government ordinance required the dog to be on a leash or at heel and the dog was not at the time. Many local governments have leash or restraint ordinances, so this can be important.
- Careless management or allowing the dog to go at liberty. A loose dog, an open gate or a handler who could not control the dog can meet this element.
- No provocation. The owner may argue you provoked the dog. What counts as provocation depends on the facts.
Georgia also follows modified comparative fault (O.C.G.A. § 51-12-33). If you are found partly at fault, your recovery is reduced by your share, and you recover nothing at 50% or more.
In some cases, a claim may also be based on premises liability, for example when a business or property owner knew about a dangerous dog on its property. Our premises liability page explains those claims.
Insurance and Other Sources of Payment
- Homeowner’s or renter’s insurance. Many policies include personal liability coverage that may pay dog bite claims up to the policy limits, although some policies exclude certain dogs or have lower limits for animal claims. Report the claim promptly.
- Your health insurance. Your health plan may pay for treatment and may seek reimbursement from a later recovery, subject to the plan and Georgia law.
- Other responsible parties. Someone other than the owner, such as a person keeping the dog, may share responsibility depending on the facts.
Damages You May Recover
- Medical expenses: emergency care, surgery, wound care, medication, therapy and future scar revision. For claims arising on or after April 21, 2025, Georgia’s tort reform law (SB 68) may change how medical expenses are proven (O.C.G.A. § 51-12-1.1).
- Lost wages and earning capacity: time off work and, for lasting injuries such as nerve damage in a hand, reduced ability to earn.
- Pain and suffering: physical pain, emotional distress, fear of dogs, scarring and disfigurement. Our guide to pain and suffering damages explains how these are evaluated.
- Property damage and other costs: torn clothing, damaged belongings and travel to appointments.
How a Lawyer Can Help with a Dog Bite Claim
A lawyer can obtain the animal control report, check whether a local leash ordinance applied, look for prior complaints about the dog, identify the owner’s insurance, and handle communications with the adjuster. Dog bite cases often turn on the details of where the bite happened and what the owner knew, so early investigation matters. Learn more on our dog bite and Atlanta pages.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Georgia a Strict Liability State for Dog Bites?
Not in the pure sense. Under O.C.G.A. § 51-2-7, you generally must show the dog was vicious or dangerous and that the owner’s careless management or letting it run loose caused the bite. If a local leash ordinance applied and the dog was not leashed or at heel, that is enough to prove the dog’s vicious propensity.
Do I Have to Prove the Dog Bit Someone Before?
Not always. A prior bite or aggressive behavior is one way to prove the dog was dangerous. A violation of a local leash or at-heel ordinance is another way, and it can take the place of proof of prior behavior.
What If I Was Bitten While on the Owner’s Property?
You may still have a claim, depending on why you were there, what the owner knew about the dog, and how it was controlled. The owner may argue provocation or that you were somewhere you were not allowed to be, so the facts matter.
How Long Do I Have to File a Dog Bite Claim in Georgia?
Generally two years from the date of the bite under O.C.G.A. § 9-3-33. See our guide to Georgia personal injury deadlines for exceptions.
If you or your child was bitten by a dog in Atlanta or elsewhere in Georgia, talk with The Gunn Law Group about your options. The consultation is free and there is no obligation, and there is no attorney fee unless we recover for you. Call 888-BIG-GUNN (888-244-4866). Hablamos español.
