In 2025, 56.3 million households in the United States owned at least one dog. Dogs are known as man’s best friend, but unfortunately, they can be dangerous. Every year, there are nearly 4.5 million dog bites in the country, with one in five resulting in infection.
If you have experienced a dog bite incident in Montana and sustained injuries, you may be able to begin a dog bite claim. To do so, you will need an experienced injury lawyer by your side. It’s not always clear, however, what kind of dog bite legal representation you will need. Is it better to go for a personal injury lawyer or one who works mainly on dog bite cases?
To make this choice, it helps to know how dog-bite lawyers compare with personal injury attorneys. Learn about the focus of each type of attorney and which option may be more suitable for your needs.
Quick Overview: Dog Bite Lawyer vs. Personal Injury Attorney
What is the difference between a dog bite lawyer and a personal injury lawyer? That is a common question people have after suffering dog bite injuries.
A dog bite lawyer is a type of personal injury lawyer who focuses on cases involving injuries caused by dogs. They understand the nuances of dog-bite cases, personal-injury law, and pet-owner liability. Most of the time, these cases will require negotiating with homeowners’ insurance companies, which can be highly complex. A typical personal injury lawyer may not be fully prepared to do this.
How do dog bite lawyers compare to personal injury attorneys? Personal injury attorneys provide representation to people who have sustained harm in a wide range of incidents. They can handle everything from car accidents to workplace accident claims. This gives them an overview of personal injury law. However, that may not be enough for more complex claims that require insight into the details of specific laws.
Key Differences in Legal Focus and Case Handling
When filing personal injury dog-bite claims, knowing the attorney’s legal focus is essential. A dog bite lawyer will understand the variability of the laws regarding these incidents. They will have knowledge of local leash laws and will know the types of physical injuries and emotional distress that these attacks can cause.
All of this is essential to consider when deciding whether a dog bite lawyer is the right one for your needs.
Conducting Investigations on a Dog’s Temperament and History
Case handling will also be unique in cases involving dog attacks. An attorney who focuses on these claims will begin by conducting a thorough investigation into the dog’s history.
Montana has strict laws for these claims, so whether a dog attacked someone before or not, the owner may still be strictly liable for the injuries caused by their pet.
Still, it can help establish whether the animal had been vicious before. That can be essential if you are accused of having provoked the animal, since you will need to demonstrate that the owner knew the dog was dangerous and did nothing about it.
Gathering Relevant Evidence
A dog bite attorney will know how to gather evidence, such as animal control reports. They will get corroborating testimonies from neighbors who may have witnessed the animal’s behavior. Witness statements are especially important if there were prior complaints.
Although most people are protected by strict liability laws, having as much relevant evidence as possible makes a significant difference in negotiations with insurance companies.
Locating the Animal Quickly
If you’re still asking, “How do dog bite lawyers compare to personal injury attorneys?” it’s also important to know that dog bite lawyers act quickly to locate the animal and verify its rabies vaccination status. It may be necessary to quarantine the dog, too, which is something these lawyers know how to request. This allows evidence to be gathered before it disappears, which is often a concern in these types of incidents.
Addressing Specific Medical Challenges
Dog bites pose potentially challenging injuries. A dog bite injury can leave the victim with scarring, organ damage, infections, and emotional trauma.
An attorney who focuses on these cases will know the complications that they can cause. This can assist them in more accurately calculating the losses you suffered, especially when it comes to pain and suffering and other intangible injuries.
For example, some people may be unable to return to work because of their injuries. If that is the case, the attorney will need to calculate your loss of earning potential so that you will be covered for what you would have made throughout your working life. Having experienced representation is essential for these complex calculations.
Countering Defenses
The dog owners will do everything they can to defend themselves so that their insurance company does not have to foot the bill. An attorney who focuses on dog bite lawsuits will know how to counter common defenses, including that the bite happened because you provoked the animal or that you were not legally on the property.
When a Dog Bite Lawyer May Be the Better Choice
In a significant number of dog bite injury claims, it can be better to have an attorney who focuses on these kinds of cases. If the injuries are severe, you need to have an attorney who understands what that will mean for the rest of your life.
Scarring is common with dog bites, for example, so understanding what fair compensation can amount to in those cases is vital.
When dealing with Montana’s strict liability laws, you need to have experienced attorneys by your side. There are some exceptions to this type of dog bite liability, and you can be certain the owner will try to turn to these.
If you’re accused of trespassing or provoking the animal, you need to have an attorney who will know how to prove otherwise. It is also a good idea to have a dog bite lawyer if you have to deal with premises liability claims.
If the bite occurred on rental property, public parks, or even a business, the claim can be even more complicated than if it happened in someone’s home because there may be numerous liable parties. You should have an attorney who knows how to address these exact challenges.
When a General Personal Injury Attorney May Be Enough
A general personal injury lawyer may be enough in simple cases. If there were many eyewitnesses and there are no disputes about what occurred, you might not need to have an attorney with a focus on these types of claims. Most of the time, however, this is not the case. Dog bite claims tend to be complicated, requiring focused assistance.
How Montana Law Impacts Dog Bite Cases
MCA 27-1-715 dog bite laws dictate who may be liable in a dog attack. This law imposes strict liability on dog owners when their pet bites another person. This is the case even if the animal had never shown signs of aggression.
The law requires that the bite was unprovoked and occurred on public property or while the victim was lawfully on private property. The law allows victims to recover damages for medical bills, lost wages, and other losses.
It’s also important to know the exceptions to Montana’s one-bite rule. If the victim was trespassing or teasing the animal, or if the bite occurred in a rural area, there might be an exception to the one-bite rule. The law states that strict liability specifically applies to attacks that occur in an incorporated city or town. Outside of this, you may need to demonstrate that the owner knew the dog was dangerous.
Another consideration is that Montana’s dog-bite statute of limitations is 3 years from the date of the attack. You should never wait that long to begin a claim, however, since you may not be able to access all of the evidence you need to file a claim. If you miss the deadline, you will be barred from recovering any losses.
Beginning a Dog Bite Claim With Help From Montana Attorneys
If you have suffered an injury as a result of a dog bite in Montana, you may be entitled to file a claim and recover your losses. This is not something you should pursue on your own, however, because of the complexities of Montana dog bite laws.
At Brann Law Firm, our team of personal injury attorneys can assist you in fighting for fair compensation. You should not have to worry about beginning these claims alone while dealing with the type of serious injuries that dog bites cause.
We have years of experience assisting people throughout Montana with these types of cases and provide the comprehensive legal guidance you deserve to cover your losses.
With a personal injury lawyer consultation, dog bite claims can be much easier. We can assist you in managing these legal actions so that you can focus on healing from the physical and emotional wounds you sustained. Contact us at Brann Law Firm to begin your claim.
