In Arizona, a dog bite can have major legal ramifications. When a dog bites a human, Arizona law immediately attacks the owner or handler of the dog—both in civil law and criminal law.

2022 Arizona Strict Liability Laws for Dog Bites

First, you may wonder what the term “strict liability” means as it relates to the law. Strict liability is a legal rule that means a person is legally responsible (liable) for injury, damage, and/or loss regardless of whether the person was negligent or reckless. For example, because Arizona has a strict liability law for dog bites, if your neighbor’s dog bites you, your neighbor is liable for your medical bills and damages even if your neighbor was not negligent. Arizona's strict liability for dog bites

This means, even if the dog was on a leash, and the dog never bit anyone before, and the dog is non-violent and not a “vicious” dog, your neighbor is still liable because of one simple fact: your neighbor’s dog bit you.

Second, you may wonder why strict liability applies to an Arizona dog bite but not a car accident. The easy answer is: because the legislature says so.

In Arizona, there are statutes that specifically address dog bites. Here’s what the law actually says:

A. The owner of a dog which bites a person when the person is in or on a public place or lawfully in or on a private place, including the property of the owner of the dog, is liable for damages suffered by the person bitten, regardless of the former viciousness of the dog or the owner’s knowledge of its viciousness. Arizona Revised Statutes section 11-1025(A).

Of course, the legislature remembered to protect government workers. So, if a police dog or military dog bites a person while a crime is being investigated, the government is not held to the strict liability standard for a personal injury claim or lawsuit.

Dog Bites and Neighbors

One of the most common questions we get asked about regarding Arizona dog bite laws is, “If my neighbor’s dog bit me, do I have to sue my neighbor in order to recover my damages?”

The biggest concern is that most people do not want to sue their neighbors! Well, we have good news. You do not need to sue your neighbor in order to recover money after your neighbor’s dog bites you.

We handle personal injury dog bite claims with professionalism and respect. We can get the dog bite victim the money they deserve without antagonizing the owner of the dog.

Damages for Dog Bites in Arizona

We have seen some very serious injuries involving dog bites, including significant trauma and lacerations to the face or other area of the body. These wounds often create lifetime scarring and emotional trauma, in addition to physical pain and suffering. Our personal injury attorneys make insurance companies pay you for your pain, suffering, and scars!

In many cases, the dog owner’s homeowners insurance has coverage for these types of damages, and it is possible to obtain a full recovery without causing any meaningful personal financial harm to the actual owner of the dog. After all, the insurance company has very few defenses to a strict liability law!

Criminal Defense for Flagstaff Dog Laws

Flagstaff, and all Northern Arizona jurisdictions, have laws pertaining specifically to dogs. For example, any dog off the premises of its owner must have a collar with a securely fastened government-issued dog tag which costs $10 to $20, depending on if your dog is neutered or spayed.

Flagstaff’s laws even require collars! Here’s what the law says:

At all times when a dog is off the premises of its owner, said dog shall have a collar around its neck with the metal tag aforesaid securely fastened thereto. Flagstaff City Code section 6-02-1-8.

Barking or “howling” dogs also create criminal liability, as follows:

It is unlawful for any person owning or having the care, custody, or control of any dog to permit said dog to bark, bay, howl, or make any other noise, day or night, in such an unreasonable manner as to disturb the peace and quiet of any person or persons. Flagstaff City Code section 6-02-1-11(C).

The most serious criminal (and personal injury) infractions pertain to “vicious” dogs. For example, in Flagstaff, a “vicious dog” is defined in four ways:

  1. A dog that bites a human being without provocation
  2. A dog with a known propensity, tendency, or disposition to bite human beings
  3. A dog that while at large kills or causes injury to domestic animals
  4. A dog declared to be a vicious dog by a City Magistrate after a determination at a hearing of a pattern of aggressive behavior that has caused injury, apprehension, or intimidation of a person

Basically, if a dog bites someone without provocation, you’ve got yourself a “vicious dog” that Flagstaff city law requires to be muzzled when off the premises of its owner.

Flagstaff law requires it!

No person owning or having charge, care, custody, or control of a vicious dog shall permit such dog off his premises unless such dog is under the control of a competent person and is securely leashed and muzzled. Flagstaff City Code section 6-02-1-1(B)(1).

Violating Flagstaff city dog laws is criminal in nature and involves court hearings, pre-trial conferences, plea negotiations, plea agreements, and criminal restitution. Worst of all: the City of Flagstaff may kill your dog.

That’s right, if your dog is found to be “vicious” by the government, they can order the humane destruction of your dog. They can kill your dog.

Griffen & Stevens Law Firm, PLLC Can Help You

If you have been injured by a dog bite, contact us right away. We preserve evidence, investigate the scene, obtain police reports and witness statements, purchase medical records, and most importantly, we maximize your recovery. We also offer criminal defense for anyone accused of a crime in Flagstaff or Northern Arizona.

Ryan J. Stevens, Esq.
Ryan Stevens is an award-winning Arizona trial attorney with success in major felony and civil jury trials.