Partner at Charbonnet Law Firm LLC
Practice Areas: Car Accident, Personal Injury
In September 2023, a severe dog attack in Ringgold, Louisiana, left a man with more than 100 bites and multiple surgeries. He was delivering shoes when the attack occurred. This tragic event is just one example of how life can change in an instant due to a dog bite.
Dog bites can lead to lasting physical injuries, emotional trauma, and expensive medical care. If you or someone you love has been injured in a dog attack, it’s essential to know your rights. Louisiana has specific laws that outline when a dog owner can be held legally responsible.
Understanding these laws—and the steps to take after a bite—can make a big difference in your recovery and your case.
Louisiana doesn’t follow the “one bite rule” used in some states. Instead, dog owners can be held liable if they knew—or should have known—that their dog was dangerous and failed to prevent an attack.
Under Louisiana Civil Code Article 2321, a dog owner is liable if they knew or should have knew their dog could cause harm, and failed to prevent it.
What you do right after a dog bite can affect both your health and legal case. Get medical care right away to treat injuries and document them. Take photos of the wounds and the scene.
Report the incident to animal control or police to create an official record. Collect contact details from witnesses and the dog’s owner. Keep all medical records and bills organized.
The statute of limitations for personal injury claims in Louisiana is one year from the date of injury, including dog bite cases.
Act quickly—waiting too long could cost you the right to file a claim.
|
Step |
What to Do |
Why It Matters |
| 1 | Seek medical attention immediately | Documents injuries and protects health |
| 2 | Take photos of injuries and the location | Preserves evidence for your claim |
| 3 | Report to animal control or police | Creates an official incident record |
| 4 | Gather witness information | Supports your version of events |
| 5 | Retain medical bills and treatment records | Helps calculate damages |
While the dog’s owner is usually responsible, others may also be liable. A pet sitter, kennel, or even a landlord could be at fault if they knew the dog was dangerous and failed to act. If the owner is a minor, their parents may be held accountable. Each case depends on specific facts.
Negligence plays a key role in Louisiana dog bite claims. It means the owner didn’t act with reasonable care, leading to the injury. You’ll need to show the owner knew the dog was dangerous and failed to prevent the attack—such as not using a leash or ignoring past aggression.
In comparative fault cases, an injured person’s compensation can be reduced if their behavior contributed to the incident.
If you were teasing the dog or trespassing, your compensation may be reduced.
Dog bite injuries often go beyond cuts and bruises. Many victims deal with long-term effects—physically, emotionally, and financially. That’s why damages in a dog bite claim can cover more than just hospital bills.
You may be able to recover:
According to the CDC, nearly 1 in 5 people bitten by a dog require medical attention. Dog bites account for hundreds of hospitalizations annually in Louisiana.
The exact amount of compensation depends on your specific injuries and how the bite has affected your life.
If your case can’t be resolved through insurance, you may need to file a lawsuit. It starts with a complaint outlining your claim. Then comes discovery, where both sides exchange evidence like medical records and witness statements. Pre-trial motions may follow.
If the case goes to court, both sides present their arguments. A judge or jury then decides if the owner is liable and what compensation is owed.
Louisiana does not adhere to the common ‘one bite rule.’ Instead, responsibility focuses on the owner’s knowledge and preventive actions.
Yes. In Louisiana, owners can still be held responsible even if their dog had no prior attacks. The focus is on whether the owner acted responsibly based on what they knew.
You generally have one year from the date of the incident to file a claim. This is known as the statute of limitations, and it’s strictly enforced in Louisiana.
Victims may recover medical expenses, lost income, pain and suffering, and compensation for permanent scarring or trauma. Each case is different depending on the injuries.
In some cases, caretakers, landlords, or property owners who knew about the dog’s behavior may share responsibility for the attack.
You’ll need evidence that the owner knew the dog posed a risk and failed to act. Witnesses, photos, prior complaints, and animal control records can all help.
Louisiana follows comparative fault rules. If you’re partly responsible, your compensation may be reduced based on your share of the blame.
Dog bites can lead to more than just physical pain—they often bring medical bills, emotional stress, and confusion about what to do next. Louisiana’s laws provide a way to hold dog owners accountable, but navigating the legal system takes time and knowledge.
If you or someone you know has been injured in a dog attack, it’s essential to act quickly, gather the proper evidence, and understand your rights.
The attorneys at Charbonnet Law Firm, LLC have years of experience helping injury victims in Louisiana. They understand how to build strong cases and help clients move forward with confidence.
With over 50 years of legal experience serving families in the New Orleans area and surrounding Louisiana communities, our firm takes pride in providing clients with personalized legal services tailored to individual needs.
