Brockton Dog Bite Attorney

Brockton residents enjoy parks, sidewalks, and backyards daily with their dogs and neighbors. However, when a dog turns aggressive, the consequences can be physically, financially, and emotionally devastating. At Jeffrey Glassman Injury Lawyers, our Brockton dog bite attorneys have the knowledge and experience necessary to represent clients in the wake of a serious or fatal dog attack. The good news for victims is that Massachusetts' dog bite law is one of the toughest in the country, particularly when protecting children. Our Brockton personal injury legal team is ready to help you navigate the legal system so you receive the compensation you deserve.

Massachusetts is one of the country’s most victim-friendly states regarding dog attacks. Under M.G.L. c. 140 § 155, often called the strict-liability dog-bite statute, the owner (and, in some situations, the “keeper” or person in control) is automatically responsible for injuries their dog causes as long as the victim was not:

• trespassing on private property
• committing another civil or criminal wrong (such as burglary)
• teasing, tormenting, or abusing the dog

In practice, you do not have to prove the owner knew the dog was dangerous or that they acted negligently. If a child under seven is bitten, the law presumes the child did not provoke the dog, shifting the burden to the owner to prove otherwise. Brockton courts apply this statute in conjunction with traditional negligence theories, so you may also pursue a claim if poor fencing, broken leashes, or ignored local leash ordinances played a role.

Because strict liability is consequential, insurance carriers often focus on reducing payments rather than denying fault outright. Working with a knowledgeable attorney helps ensure that quick offers do not undervalue injuries that take months or years to manifest fully.

Dog ownership brings specific duties under both state and local regulations:

• Local leash ordinances: Brockton requires dogs to be leashed in public spaces. A violation can support an additional negligence claim, boosting your potential recovery.
• Homeowners’ and renters’ insurance: Most Massachusetts policies cover dog bites, but coverage can be excluded for certain breeds or after a prior incident. Early identification of every applicable policy preserves all sources of compensation.
• Landlord's responsibility: If a landlord knew (or reasonably should have known) that a tenant’s dog was dangerous and failed to act, the landlord can be held liable alongside the owner.
• “Keeper” liability: A dog walker, pet sitter, or friend temporarily caring for the dog may be treated as the keeper and share responsibility.

In multi-defendant cases, Massachusetts follows “joint and several liability.” You may recover the full value of your judgment from any defendant, leaving them to apportion payment later, which is crucial if one party is uninsured or underinsured.

Dog bite injuries go far beyond puncture wounds:

• Lacerations and scarring: Facial bites often require plastic surgery; scars can impact self-esteem, especially for children.
• Crush injuries and fractures: Large breeds generate immense jaw pressure that can break bones, particularly in the hands and arms raised in self-defense.
• Nerve damage: Bites near nerves may cause chronic pain or permanent loss of sensation and mobility.
• Infections: Rabies is rare in Massachusetts, but cellulitis, MRSA, and Capnocytophaga can be life-threatening if untreated.
• Emotional trauma: Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety, and cynophobia (fear of dogs) frequently require counseling or therapy.

Long-term health care costs often eclipse initial emergency-room bills. An experienced lawyer works with medical experts to project future surgeries, therapy sessions, and psychological care so that your settlement reflects the actual recovery cost.

Taking the proper steps in the first minutes and days after an attack strengthens both your medical and legal position:

• Seek medical attention even for seemingly minor wounds; bites drive bacteria deep under the skin.
• Call 911 or Brockton Animal Control (508-580-7835) to officially record the incident and verify the dog’s rabies vaccination.
• Document the scene: Snap photos of injuries, torn clothing, blood on the ground, and any broken fences or leashes.
• Get witness information: Names, phone numbers, and quick statements help combat later changes in memory or story.
• Report to your local Board of Health: Massachusetts law requires physicians to file a bite report; follow up to request a copy for your records.
• Avoid negotiations with the owner or insurer before speaking to counsel; innocent remarks can be twisted into admissions that reduce your claim value.

Saving receipts for prescriptions, bandages, rideshares to appointments, and even missed work hours creates a paper trail your attorney can convert into dollar figures during settlement talks.

Although strict liability removes the need to prove negligence, well-organized evidence maximizes the compensation an insurer is willing to pay:

• Medical records chart the progression from the emergency department to final discharge or ongoing therapy.
• Photographic timeline: Periodic pictures of the healing process show scarring and disfigurement in vivid detail.
• Animal control and police reports confirm the dog’s ownership, vaccination status, and any prior complaints.
• Veterinary records may demonstrate a history of aggression that undercuts owner claims of a “gentle pet.”
• Employment documentation, pay stubs, W-2s, and freelance invoices substantiate wage loss.
• Expert testimony: Plastic surgeons, orthopedic specialists, and mental health professionals translate trauma into future dollar needs.

When you hire Jeffrey Glassman Injury Lawyers, our investigative team handles these tasks, letting you focus on healing.

A successful Brockton dog bite claim can recover:

• Economic damages: medical bills, rehabilitation costs, prescription expenses, lost wages, diminished earning capacity, future surgeries, and home-health care.
• Non-economic damages: pain and suffering, emotional distress, loss of enjoyment of life, disfigurement, and loss of consortium for spouses.
• Punitive damages: Though rare in Massachusetts and not typically available under the dog-bite statute, they may arise if an owner’s conduct was willful, wanton, or reckless, such as ordering a dog to attack.
• Property damage: torn clothing, broken eyeglasses, or destroyed personal items can be included.
• Out-of-pocket costs: transportation to medical appointments, child-care expenses during hospitalization, and over-the-counter supplies.

An early, comprehensive damages assessment prevents insurers from exploiting victims’ lack of familiarity with long-term costs.

Massachusetts imposes a three-year statute of limitations for personal injury actions, including dog bites. The clock typically starts on the attack date, though minors have until three years after their 18th birthday. Missing the deadline almost always bars recovery.

Additional time-sensitive considerations include:

• Insurance notice provisions: Homeowner policies sometimes require prompt notice, occasionally as little as 30 days.
• Municipal liability: If the dog is owned by a city agency (for example, a police K-9), a formal presentment letter must be served within two years under the Massachusetts Tort Claims Act.
• Evidence preservation: Surveillance footage from local businesses may be overwritten within days, so rapid legal intervention is critical.

Consulting counsel quickly ensures every procedural hurdle is cleared.

Jeffrey Glassman Injury Lawyers has represented injured Brockton residents for more than 30 years, and we approach dog-bite litigation with the same meticulous strategy we bring to catastrophic auto and construction cases:

• We offer no-cost, no-obligation consultations and evaluate liability, damages, and insurance coverage before you spend a dime.
• Rapid scene investigation using professional photographers and, when necessary, animal-behavior experts.
• Medical care coordination: We connect clients with top surgeons and therapists and issue letters of protection so treatment continues even before settlement.
• Aggressive negotiation backed by detailed settlement brochures that weave medical evidence, expert reports, and compelling narratives.
• In trial-ready posture, insurers know we will take a case to a Plymouth County jury if an offer does not match the injury’s value.
• Contingency-fee representation: You pay nothing unless we recover money for you.

Our Brockton office’s proximity to the District Court and Superior Court allows us to file and serve lawsuits swiftly when deadlines loom.

Dog attacks can derail your life in seconds, but the path to physical and financial recovery does not have to be confusing or overwhelming. The Jeffrey Glassman Injury Lawyers team stands ready to answer your questions, gather evidence, and pursue full compensation while you heal.

Call (617) 777-7777 or use our online form for a free consultation. Our Brockton personal injury attorneys make home and hospital visits, and we never collect a fee unless we win. Let us shoulder the legal burden so you can focus on improving.