New Orleans Dog Bite Lawyer
Louisiana does not give a dog owner a free first bite, and that single fact shapes almost every dog attack claim filed in Orleans Parish. The owner is answerable for what the animal does when the owner could have prevented it and failed to, and a New Orleans dog bite lawyer builds the case around that failure: the loose gate, the missing leash, the dog that had already shown it was dangerous. Lunsford, Baskin & Priebe PLLC represents injured people in Louisiana and Mississippi, and our New Orleans dog bite lawyer team handles personal injury claims for victims across New Orleans and South Louisiana.
Dog attacks here happen in ordinary places: a shotgun-house yard along a shared fence line, a courtyard in the French Quarter, a neighborhood sidewalk, a rental property where the landlord knew about an aggressive tenant dog. The injuries are rarely minor. Bites to the face, hands, and legs often need surgical repair, and children are hurt more severely than adults because of their height. The insurance carrier behind a homeowner’s or renter’s policy will move fast to shape the story, so the decisions you make in the first days matter more than most people expect.
What Louisiana Law Asks of a Dog Owner
Louisiana handles dog bites through its general negligence and responsibility articles of the Civil Code rather than a standalone strict-liability bite statute. In practice, that means your claim turns on what the owner knew and what the owner did about it. Evidence that the dog had bitten or lunged at someone before, that neighbors complained, that the owner ignored leash rules, or that a fence was left in disrepair all point toward fault.
Fault can also land on someone other than the owner. A landlord who allowed a known dangerous dog to remain on the property, a business that let a customer’s dog roam, or a dog sitter who lost control of the animal may share responsibility. Naming every responsible party matters, because each one may carry a separate insurance policy.
Your own conduct gets examined too. For causes of action arising on or after the start of the current year, Louisiana bars recovery entirely if a jury finds you 51 percent or more at fault, and anything below that threshold reduces your award by your share. Insurers use this rule aggressively in dog cases, arguing the victim provoked the animal, entered a fenced area, or ignored a warning sign. Answering that argument early, with photographs and witness statements, is part of building the claim.
Why Choose Lunsford, Baskin & Priebe for a Dog Bite Claim
Lunsford, Baskin & Priebe PLLC is a Louisiana and Mississippi injury firm built around the needs of injured people, with attorneys who bring over 75 years of combined experience and have recovered more than $100 million in settlements for clients. Our work is centered on workers’ compensation, and we also represent people hurt in car and truck accidents, premises liability cases, and wrongful death matters. We serve clients throughout New Orleans and Orleans Parish, across South Louisiana, and in communities across Mississippi.
The team includes Rob Lunsford, Founding Partner, who has spent his entire legal career representing injured workers; Brad Baskin and Jennifer Priebe, Partners, both recognized by Best Lawyers, Super Lawyers, and The National Trial Lawyers; and attorneys Andrew Rueff, Keaton Belk, Erin Heimlicher, and Jared Martin. Andrew Rueff has successfully tried dozens of jury and bench trials to verdict, which matters when an insurer refuses a fair offer and the case has to be put in front of a jury. The firm was also ranked by Best Law Firms for Workers’ Compensation Law, Claimants.
Our results show how we handle serious injuries: a $685,000 settlement for a surgical tech with a lower back injury, $600,000 for a construction worker with a complex back injury, and $385,000 for a project manager injured after being struck in his work vehicle. Clients describe a team that listens, stays in contact, and pushes back against insurers. Consultations are free, we advance the costs of the case, and you owe no fee unless we recover for you. Our phones are answered 24 hours a day, and Hablamos español.
Injury Situations That Lead to Dog Bite Claims in New Orleans
- Bites on a Neighbor’s Property or Shared Fence Line: Dense housing in Orleans Parish puts yards, alleys, and fences within feet of each other. Claims often turn on whether the fence was secure and whether the owner knew the dog would charge or jump.
- Attacks on Children: Kids are often bitten in the face and neck. These injuries can require reconstructive surgery and follow-up care for years, which drives the value of the claim well beyond the first emergency room bill.
- Delivery Workers and Mail Carriers: Drivers and couriers who enter yards or porches are common victims. If you were bitten while working, you may have a workers’ compensation claim and a separate claim against the dog’s owner, and the two must be coordinated.
- Rental Property and Landlord Liability: When a landlord knew a tenant’s dog was dangerous and allowed it to stay, the landlord’s insurance may be reachable, and that policy is often larger than a tenant’s renter’s coverage.
- Dogs Running Loose on Streets and Sidewalks: Unleashed dogs on neighborhood streets and in parks cause both direct bites and falls when people try to escape. Both can support a claim.
- Attacks at Businesses and Short-Term Rentals: Hotels, bars, shops, and rental properties that allow dogs on site may owe visitors a safe environment, and premises liability principles can apply.
- Repeat Offenders with a Bite History: A prior bite, a complaint to animal control, or a warning from a neighbor is powerful proof that the owner knew the risk and did nothing.
What to Do After a Dog Bite in Orleans Parish
Get medical care first, even if the wound looks small. Dog bites carry real infection risk, and a delay in treatment gives an insurer room to argue the injury was not serious or came from something else. Tell the doctor exactly how it happened so the record reflects it. Hospitals in the New Orleans area will document the wound, and those records become the backbone of your claim.
Report the attack to New Orleans animal control and the police so an official record exists. The report can establish the dog’s identity, the owner’s name, and whether the animal has been reported before. Ask whether the dog’s rabies vaccination is current; that information also affects your treatment.
Photograph everything while it is fresh: the wound, torn clothing, the location, the fence or gate, and the dog if it is safe to do so. Get the owner’s name and contact information and the name of their insurer if they will share it. Collect names and numbers from witnesses before they scatter. Keep your bloody or torn clothing as it is.
Be careful with the insurance adjuster. The owner’s carrier may call within days, sound friendly, and ask for a recorded statement. You are not required to give one, and anything you say about your own behavior can be turned toward the 51 percent bar. Do not sign a medical release that opens your whole history, and do not accept a quick payment that closes the claim before you know the full cost of treatment.
Watch the clock. Louisiana now gives two years from the day of injury to file most injury lawsuits, for injuries occurring on or after July 1, 2024. Earlier injuries remain under the older one-year period. If the bite happened while you were on the job, separate workers’ compensation deadlines apply: report to your employer within 30 days, and a formal claim generally must be filed within one year. Calling a lawyer soon protects both claims.
How Dog Bite Claims Are Valued
Damages in a dog bite case start with medical costs: emergency care, surgery, antibiotics, rabies treatment, scar revision, and any follow-up the doctors expect. They extend to lost income while you recover, and to the loss of earning ability if the injury leaves lasting limits. Hand injuries, for example, can end a career in the trades.
Non-economic losses are real and recoverable: pain, scarring and disfigurement, fear of dogs, and the way a visible injury changes daily life. For children, the emotional effects can outlast the physical wounds. Our attorneys document these harms through medical providers, family accounts, and photographs over time so the full picture reaches the insurer or jury, not just the first-week hospital bill.
Dog Bite Questions Answered
Is the owner always liable when their dog bites someone in Louisiana?
Not automatically. Louisiana looks at whether the owner knew or should have known the dog was dangerous and failed to take reasonable steps to prevent harm. A prior bite, past complaints, or a poorly secured yard strengthens the claim considerably.
How long do I have to file a dog bite lawsuit?
For injuries on or after July 1, 2024, Louisiana allows two years from the day you were hurt. Earlier injuries fall under the former one-year period. Do not wait; evidence disappears and witnesses move.
What does it cost to hire your firm for a dog bite case?
Nothing up front. Consultations are free, we advance the costs of the case, and we are paid only if we recover money for you.
What if the dog’s owner says I provoked the animal?
Provocation is a common defense. Louisiana’s comparative fault rules mean your share of blame reduces your recovery, and at 51 percent or more for claims arising on or after the start of the current year, it can bar recovery altogether. Witness accounts, the location of the bite, and the dog’s history help rebut it.
Does homeowner’s or renter’s insurance pay for dog bites?
Often, yes. Many policies cover bite liability, though some carriers exclude certain breeds or dogs with a bite history. We identify every policy that may apply, including a landlord’s.
What if I was bitten by a dog while working, such as on a delivery route?
You may have two claims: workers’ compensation through your employer’s coverage, and a personal injury claim against the dog’s owner. Workers’ comp requires notice to your employer within 30 days. The two claims interact, so they should be handled together.
Can I recover if the dog bit my child?
Yes. Parents can pursue claims for a child’s medical costs and the child’s own pain and scarring. Because a child’s injuries may change as they grow, the value of the claim should account for future surgery and treatment, not just current bills.
Should I give the other side’s insurance company a recorded statement?
You are not required to, and it is usually wise to speak with a lawyer first. Adjusters ask questions designed to find fault on your part, and a casual answer can reduce or defeat the claim.
Will my health insurance cover treatment while the claim is pending?
In most cases, yes, and using it keeps your care from stalling. Your health insurer may seek reimbursement from any settlement, so those liens need to be handled so they do not swallow your recovery.
What if the owner has no insurance or cannot pay?
That limits the practical value of the claim against the owner, but other sources may exist: a landlord, a property owner, a business, or a different policy. Checking every possible responsible party is part of how we evaluate a case.
Do I need a lawyer for a smaller bite with a short recovery?
Not every bite warrants a lawsuit, but even minor-looking wounds can scar or become infected. A free consultation lets you learn what the claim is worth before you accept anything from an insurer.
Serving Dog Bite Victims Across Orleans Parish and South Louisiana
We represent people injured by dogs throughout New Orleans, from the French Quarter, the Marigny, and Bywater to the Garden District, Uptown, and the Irish Channel. Our clients come from Mid-City, Gentilly, Lakeview, Algiers, and the neighborhoods of New Orleans East, as well as Carrollton, Broadmoor, and the Treme. We also serve families in neighboring communities, including Metairie, Kenner, Gretna, Harvey, and Chalmette.
Our reach extends across South Louisiana to Baton Rouge, Lafayette, and Lake Charles, and north to Shreveport, along with communities across the state. In Mississippi, we represent injured people in Jackson, Madison, Hattiesburg, Southaven, the Gulf Coast, the Delta, and north Mississippi. Wherever the bite happened, we can review what occurred and explain your options.
Talk With a New Orleans Dog Bite Attorney Today
If a dog has injured you or your child, a New Orleans dog bite attorney at Lunsford, Baskin & Priebe can review what happened, identify every party who may be responsible, and deal with the insurance companies for you. Consultations are free, our phones are answered 24 hours a day, and you pay no fee unless we recover for you. Call us today to talk through your case.
