Dog Laws In Arizona

A person injured from a dog bite can recover from the dog owner, provided the injured person was not provoking the dog or trespassing. This is referred to as “strict liability” And means the dog owner is liable irrespective of knowledge of the dog’s viciousness.

This standard does not apply to injuries caused by dogs in a manner other than a bite, such as a knockdown. A dog owner may be liable for injuries caused by a knockdown, upon a showing of negligence.

A landlord is generally not liable for injuries caused by a tenant’s dog. If, however,  landlord becomes aware of the presence of a dangerous dog in a tenant’s home, and does nothing to remove the dog, the landlord may be liable to the injured person.

Arizona law does not permit lawsuits for damages against any governmental agency using a dog in military or police work, if the bite occurred while the dog was defending itself from a provoking act or assisting an employee of the agency in certain official actions, such as executing a search warrant.

Damages that can be recovered depend upon the nature and extent of injury, medical expenses, future medical expenses, lost wages, loss of earnings capacity, periods of total and/or partial disability, physical pain and mental suffering, disfiguring scarring, permanency of injury, and loss of consortium.

STATUTE OF LIMITATION:

In Arizona, the statute of limitations is one (1) year from the date of injury for a dog bite. This means you must file a lawsuit against the owner/keeper of the dog within that time, or you will be forever time barred from pursuing a case.

Under another Arizona statute of limitation, a lawsuit for injuries caused by a dog in a manner other than a bite [such as a knockdown or while fleeing from a dog] a claim must be filed within two (2) years of the date that the injury happened, or or you will be forever time barred from pursuing a case.

LAW REFERENCE:

Ariz. Rev. Statutes, §11-1025