Our dog bite injury lawyers in Allentown at Grungo Law represent adults, children, and families harmed by dog bites and other animal attacks. Founded in 2015, our team has more than 100 years of combined legal experience and has served thousands of injured clients.
We investigate the dog’s history, identify the owner or keeper, locate applicable insurance coverage, and document how the attack has affected your health and daily life. Contact us today for a free consultation with an Allentown personal injury lawyer.
What Should You Do After a Dog Bite?
Prompt treatment protects your health and creates a medical record of the injury. Dog bites can damage tissue, nerves, tendons, and muscles. They can also cause infection even when the wound initially appears minor.
After an attack, take these steps when you are able:
- Call 911 when you need emergency assistance.
- Wash the wound and obtain medical treatment promptly.
- Report the attack to the proper local authority or dog-law enforcement officer.
- Photograph your wounds, damaged clothing, and the location.
- Obtain the owner’s or keeper’s name and contact information.
- Ask witnesses for their names and phone numbers.
- Keep medical bills, prescriptions, work notes, and treatment instructions.
- Decline recorded insurance statements until you have legal guidance.
Do not approach or photograph the dog when doing so could place you in further danger. An Allentown dog bite injury attorney can seek records and other evidence without exposing you to another encounter.
For a free legal consultation with a dog bite injury lawyer serving Allentown, call (856) 528-4494
Claims Our Allentown Dog Bite Injury Lawyers Handle
At Grungo Law, we represent clients in dog attack cases involving serious physical injuries, permanent scarring, psychological harm, and fatal consequences. Our lawyers handle claims arising from:
- Deep puncture wounds and significant soft-tissue damage.
- Facial injuries, disfigurement, and permanent scarring.
- Nerve damage and injuries to muscles, tendons, and ligaments.
- Fractures and orthopedic injuries caused by knockdowns or falls.
- Infections, surgical complications, and delayed healing.
- Anxiety, post-traumatic stress symptoms, and lasting fear of animals.
- Fatal dog attacks and resulting wrongful death claims.
We assess the entire medical and legal impact of the attack, including future treatment, reconstructive procedures, reduced mobility, emotional harm, and any lasting effect on the client’s work and daily life.
A claim should reflect the full extent of the injuries, not only the cost of the initial emergency care.
Allentown Dog Bite Injury Lawyer Near Me (856) 528-4494
Who Can Be Held Responsible for a Dog Attack?
The dog’s owner or keeper is often the first person whose conduct and insurance coverage must be examined. Pennsylvania’s Dog Law states that the owner or keeper must pay the victim’s medical-treatment costs resulting from an attacking or biting dog.
A claim for additional losses may require proof that someone failed to use reasonable care under the circumstances. Relevant facts may include prior aggressive behavior, earlier complaints, inadequate restraint, a broken fence, a violated leash requirement, or knowledge that the dog posed a danger.
Depending on the evidence, responsibility may extend to:
- The dog’s owner or keeper.
- A person who had custody or control of the dog.
- A landlord who knew of a dangerous condition and had legal authority to address it.
- A property owner or business responsible for unsafe conditions.
- Another person whose conduct contributed to the attack.
We examine ownership records, witness statements, veterinary information, prior incidents, property conditions, and insurance policies before determining who should be included in the claim.
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Does Pennsylvania Have a One-Bite Rule?
People often use the phrase “one-bite rule,” but it can give the wrong impression. A dog does not necessarily receive one consequence-free attack before an injured person can bring a claim.
Prior biting is one way to show that an owner knew a dog could be dangerous, but it is not the only evidence. Growling, lunging, chasing, snapping, escape attempts, prior warnings, or other aggressive conduct may also show that greater precautions were needed.
Our Allentown dog bite lawyers look for evidence of what the owner knew or reasonably should have known before the attack.
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Can the Dog Owner Blame the Injured Person?
An insurer may argue that the injured person provoked the dog, entered private property without permission, ignored a warning, or contributed to the incident in another way. These allegations do not resolve the claim by themselves.
We compare the accusation with witness accounts, photographs, video, property records, and the dog’s known history. When a child is involved, the child’s age and ability to understand the risk may also affect the legal analysis.
Do not assume an insurance company’s version is correct. Speak with an Allentown dog attack lawyer before accepting blame or signing a release.
Compensation for Dog Bite Injuries
Available compensation depends on the legal basis for the claim and the harm the attack caused. Beyond qualifying medical costs under Pennsylvania’s Dog Law, a negligence claim may seek payment for losses such as:
- Past and future medical treatment.
- Plastic or reconstructive surgery.
- Counseling and psychological care.
- Lost wages.
- Reduced earning ability.
- Physical pain.
- Emotional distress.
- Scarring and disfigurement.
- Loss of normal activities.
A settlement should account for injuries that may continue or require treatment later. We do not value a scar claim based only on the expense of closing the wound.
How Grungo Law Handles Dog Bite Cases
We begin by listening to your account of the attack and reviewing the medical care you have received. We then identify the dog, investigate its history, seek relevant reports, locate witnesses, and determine which insurance policies may provide coverage.
Our attorneys communicate with insurers, assess claimed defenses, and prepare the claim for litigation when the insurer refuses to offer fair compensation. Richard Grungo Jr., Esq. and Jose Hernandez are certified by the Supreme Court of New Jersey as Civil Trial Attorneys. That trial experience shapes how we preserve proof and present disputed injury claims.
You can reach a live person when you contact our team. Spanish-speaking attorneys and staff are also available to assist clients and families who prefer to communicate in Spanish.
How Long Do You Have to File a Dog Bite Lawsuit?
Pennsylvania generally requires personal injury lawsuits to be filed within two years of the injury. A lawsuit for a death caused by another person’s wrongful conduct is also generally subject to a two-year period.
The deadline may be affected by the facts, the injured person’s age, and the identity of the responsible party. Waiting can also weaken the evidence even when time remains to file.
Contact an attorney promptly so the attack can be investigated while records, photographs, and witness memories remain available.
Speak With a Dog Bite Injury Attorney in Allentown
Grungo Law provides direct communication, local service, and a trial-focused approach to dog bite claims. We investigate the attack, identify available insurance coverage, and pursue compensation for your medical expenses, lost income, pain, scarring, and other losses.
Contact us today for a free consultation with a dog bite injury attorney in Allentown.
Call or text (856) 528-4494 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form