Boston Dog Bite Lawyers
Strong legal advocacy for victims of dog bites in Massachusetts
If you or your child has been injured, it is important to consult a law firm with experience handling dog bite cases in Massachusetts. Breakstone, White & Gluck is that firm. Our Boston dog bite injury attorneys understand local laws surrounding dog attacks, and how to file a claim that secures compensation for your expenses. We have over 100 years of combined experience ready to put to work for you.
Dog bites and dog attacks can cause very serious injuries. They can also cause scarring and other disfigurement, and often severe psychological trauma. The psychological injury caused by a dog bite or dog attack can often be permanent.
OVER $300 MILLION
won for our clients
Free Case Evaluation
$10,200,000
Brain Injury
Severe personal injuries, including traumatic cerebral palsy with spastic quadriparesis, gastrostomy tube; shortened life expectancy; loss of parental society
$7,500,000
Brain Injury
Severe brain damage from anoxia, spastic quadraplegia, permanent and total disability, caused by medical malpractice during anesthesia and post-anesthesia care
$7,500,000
Propane Gas Explosion
Severe explosion injuries – second and third degree burns over 80% of body, 97 minutes of conscience pain and suffering. Punitive damages.Tried before
$7,100,000
Bus Accident
Right leg amputation above-the-knee, severe phantom limb pain.
Common questions from injury clients
- Should I get a lawyer for my Boston dog bite injury?
- How can your Boston dog bite injury attorneys help?
- What are the dog bite laws in Massachusetts?
- What should I do if I get bitten by a dog in Boston?
- Does the dog have to bite me in order to file a dog bite claim?
- What if the dog’s owner doesn’t have insurance?
- What is the value of my Boston dog bite injury claim?
- How long will it take me to obtain a recovery for my dog bite case?
- Do you have a dog bite lawyer near me?
Should I get a lawyer for my Boston dog bite injury?
Sometimes people wonder if they need a lawyer if they have been injured by a dog. The answer is yes! An experienced dog bite lawyer will be able to effectively present all claims on your behalf. These include claims for bodily injury and sometimes for coverage for direct medical payments.
Your attorney will provide detailed and thorough information on your injury to the insurance companies that will be responsible for compensating you. Your lawyer will also be familiar with the insurance companies that handle these claims, and have experience negotiating a final settlement using the best available information about your injury. Or, if the case cannot be settled, your attorney will fight in court to protect your rights.
How can your Boston dog bite injury attorneys help?
You should hire a lawyer you feel comfortable with. Your dog bite attorney should be familiar with the law, and you should have confidence in your lawyer. The lawyers at Breakstone, White & Gluck have the experience, and would be pleased to consult with you when you are choosing who will represent you.
Because a three-year statute of limitations in Massachusetts applies to dog bite cases, victims have a limited time in which to file their cases. If you feel you have a dog bite or dog attack case, it is vital that you act immediately to protect your rights.
Our record of successful results
Here are a few of the dog bite cases our Boston lawyers have successfully handled:
- $525,000 - Dog Bite. Pitbull bites woman walking by on a sidewalk. She is left with a scar on her arm, a fear of dogs and post-traumatic stress disorder caused by the dog attack and her neighbor's bullying tactics on social media.
- $450,000 - Dog Bite. Severe face injury from dog bite, scarring, emotional distress.
- $300,000 - Dog Bite. Bite on ankle of elderly woman leads to infection, sepsis, wrongful death.
- $200,000 - Dog Bite. Eye injury to minor plaintiff.
- $150,000 - Bicycle Accident. Dog chases cyclist causing crash and multiple injuries.
Check out some kind words from our clients on our Testimonials page.
Katelyn Ludwig
"I knew that Ron had my best interests at heart, and that I could trust him to help me make the right decision."
What are the dog bite laws in Massachusetts?
When it comes to attacks by dogs, Massachusetts law is very strict: The owner or keeper of a dog is strictly liable for personal injuries, scarring, and wrongful death caused by a dog bite or dog attack. It is necessary to prove that the defendant was the owner or keeper of the dog. It is not necessary to prove that the dog has caused personal injury before, or that the dog is vicious. The injured person must show that he or she was not teasing or tormenting the dog, and that trespassing was not involved. If a young child is injured, there is a presumption that the child was not teasing or tormenting the dog.
Fortunately, most dog bite, dog attack, and other animal bite injuries are covered by homeowner’s insurance. In Massachusetts, homeowner’s insurance covers liability (bodily injury) and sometimes provides medical payments coverage to the person injured by the dog bite or dog attack.
When someone is injured by a dog in Boston, they can file a lawsuit in civil court to recover damages under M.G.L. c. 140, Sec. 155.
What should I do if I get bitten by a dog in Boston?
Under Massachusetts law, you may have the right to file a claim against the owner or keeper of a dog that bites or injures you. It is not required that the dog actually bite you. If the dog causes an injury such as a trip and fall, bicycle or motorcycle accident or other injury without even touching you, you may have a right to file a claim.
The first thing you should do is get medical treatment and ensure that the dog's shots are up-to-date. Therefore, it is essential that you identify the owner of the dog and find out as much information as you can about the vaccination status of the dog.
Does the dog have to bite me in order to file a dog bite claim?
Although most Boston animal attack cases involve bites, there is no requirement that you are actually bitten by the animal. For example, a bicyclist may crash because of an on-rushing dog. A visitor, such as a mail carrier or delivery person, may be chased and caused to fall down. The dog may just jump up on you, causing you to fall. In all of these cases, the owner will be strictly liable for the injury resulting from the dog’s conduct.
What if the dog’s owner doesn’t have insurance?
Ordinarily, if a dog owner owns a home, they will have homeowner's insurance coverage. However, many insurance companies recently adopted exclusions in their policies for injuries caused by a dog. If there is no insurance or if there is an exclusion for injuries caused by dogs, then the only recourse will be to pursue the owner of the dog individually. Our Boston attorneys can help.
Important consumer tip: If you are the owner or keeper of a dog, you should check with your insurance company to see that the dog is covered, and if not, consider switching insurance companies.
What is the value of my Boston dog bite injury claim?
Like any personal injury claim, the value of your dog bite or dog injury claim depends on several factors including the severity of your physical injury, the duration of your symptoms, any scarring or disfigurement that results, any impairment to any activities of daily living which you may experience, and finally any psychological injuries you have suffered.
How long will it take me to obtain a recovery for my dog bite case?
The length of time it takes to obtain a recovery depends on first and foremost how long it takes you to heal from your injury. Your lawyer should not even begin to attempt to settle your case until you have reached a medical end result. What this means is that you are either fully healed or you are as healed as you are going to be. That determination is made by your doctors who will treat your injuries. When your injuries are healed, your lawyer will attempt to settle the case with the insurance company or owner of the dog.
Do you have a dog bite lawyer near me?
Breakstone, White & Gluck has an office in Boston at 2 Center Plaza #530 in Government Center. Our offices are within walking distance of the John Adams Courthouse and Suffolk County Superior Court, and there’s a parking garage in the building. The MBTA Green Line and Blue Line are right across the street at the Government Center T station, and there’s a bus stop almost in front of our office. If you are unable to travel because of your injuries, we can arrange a phone or video conference, or a hospital visit.
Exceptional representation for dog bite victims in Boston and throughout MA
The Boston dog bite lawyers at Breakstone, White & Gluck have represented children and adults injured by dogs in Boston, Cambridge, Lowell and across Massachusetts. We have handled cases involving the most serious of injuries, those involving police dog attacks, and other types of animal bites. To schedule a free consultation, call us at 800-379-1244 or use our contact form.