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Dog owners are responsible for what their animals do. Wisconsin law makes that clear, but insurance companies spend considerable resources making victims feel otherwise. At PKSD Accident and Injury Lawyers, our Green Bay dog bite lawyer team knows how that game is played. Since 1999, we have recovered more than $500 million for injured clients across Wisconsin, and we have seen every tactic insurers use to minimize a claim.
One dedicated attorney handles your case from start to finish. Green Bay dog bite victims deserve someone who will fight for the full value of what they lost. Contact PKSD Accident and Injury Lawyers today for a free, no-obligation case review.
Yes, and the sooner you have one, the better. While you focus on recovering, a lawyer handles the insurance company, protects you from saying something that could hurt your claim, and makes sure your settlement reflects the full value of your injuries.
Dog attacks produce injuries far more serious than a surface-level wound. Deep bite wounds, nerve damage, and infection risk can extend a recovery for months. Meanwhile, the dog owner’s insurance company moves fast, contacting victims before they have a full picture of their medical needs and pushing early settlements that close a claim for good. A Green Bay dog bite lawyer keeps that from happening. PKSD Accident and Injury Lawyers reviews the full scope of your losses, handles every conversation with the insurer, and does not settle until the number reflects what your injuries actually cost.
Wisconsin follows a strict liability rule under Wis. Stat. § 174.02. Dog owners bear financial responsibility for bite injuries even when their animal had no prior history of aggression, and victims do not need to prove the owner had any reason to believe the dog was dangerous. The bite happening is enough.
The law goes further in more serious cases. When a bite breaks the skin and causes permanent physical scarring or disfigurement, and the owner already knew the dog had done the same thing before, the owner may owe twice the full amount of compensation. Our attorneys dig into the dog’s history on every case because that prior knowledge can make a significant difference in what you recover.
While Wisconsin law imposes strict liability on dog owners, others can be held responsible through negligence. Liable parties may include landlords who permit dangerous animals, property managers who ignore complaints, or temporary caretakers.
Most victims focus on the dog owner and stop there. A Green Bay dog bite lawyer looks further, pulling ownership records, lease agreements, and incident reports to find every party whose actions contributed to the attack. More responsible parties can mean more compensation available to you.
Dog bites produce a wide range of injuries, some visible right away and others that surface over days or weeks. Common physical injuries include:
Children face the greatest risk of serious injury. Their smaller frames put the face, head, and neck directly in range of an attacking dog, and wounds in those areas often require multiple surgeries and leave lasting marks. When a child sustains a dog bite in Green Bay, our attorneys approach the case with special attention to long-term care needs and future damages.
Psychological harm follows adult and child victims long after physical healing. Post-traumatic stress disorder, chronic anxiety, and a persistent fear of dogs can disrupt daily routines and make returning to work genuinely difficult. These losses are harder to put a dollar figure on, but Wisconsin law recognizes them as real damages, and so do we.
Taking the right steps after an attack protects both your health and your legal claim. According to the CDC, nearly 1 in 5 people bitten by a dog requires medical attention, and wounds can spread serious germs even when they do not appear deep.
Prompt wound care, medical evaluation, and a report to local animal control all reduce health risks and help document the incident from the start.
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Wisconsin dog bite victims may pursue two categories of compensation: financial losses with a clear dollar value, and personal losses that go beyond the bills.
Financial losses include:
Personal losses cover:
When a prior bite caused permanent scarring or disfigurement, and the owner had notice of it, Wisconsin’s double-damages provision can substantially increase the final award.
Insurance companies aim to minimize payouts on dog bite claims. Adjusters often push early settlements covering only immediate costs before the full extent of medical needs becomes clear. Accepting these initial offers permanently closes the claim, regardless of future requirements for surgery, therapy, or lost income.
Homeowners’ and renters’ insurance policies typically cover dog bite liability in Wisconsin, though some carriers exclude certain breeds or set coverage limits too low to fully compensate for serious injuries. Our attorneys identify every applicable policy and review the fine print. PKSD Accident and Injury Lawyers prepares every case for trial, and that preparation is exactly why insurers take our demands seriously.
Victims who negotiate without legal representation consistently recover less than those with experienced counsel. Insurance adjusters use recorded statements, prior medical history, and vague or misleading language to justify lower offers. Working with a Green Bay dog bite lawyer means having someone who reviews every document and makes sure nothing gets missed or signed away.
Wisconsin’s comparative negligence law means a victim’s own conduct can affect their recovery. A victim found 51 percent or more responsible for a bite loses the right to recover entirely. Insurance companies often argue that the victim provoked the dog to reduce or eliminate the owner’s responsibility. Our attorneys anticipate these tactics and prepare counterarguments before the insurer ever raises them.
PKSD Accident and Injury Lawyers manages every aspect of your claim, from the initial filing through negotiation and, when necessary, trial. You focus on getting better. We handle the rest.
PKSD Accident and Injury Lawyers offers every dog bite victim a free consultation with no obligation. If you cannot travel, our attorney comes to you. You pay nothing unless we recover compensation on your behalf. Call 414-333-3333 to speak with a Green Bay dog bite lawyer today.
This page has been written, edited, and reviewed by a team of legal writers following our comprehensive editorial guidelines. This page was approved by attorney Jeffery A. Pitman, who has more than 28 years of legal experience and handled thousands of personal injury cases while obtaining millions of dollars in verdicts and settlements in Wisconsin, Illinois, Iowa and New Mexico.