Providence Dog Bite Lawyer

Providence is a walkable city with crowded sidewalks, historic neighborhoods, and dozens of off-leash dog parks just outside its limits. Those features make encounters between people and pets almost inevitable. When a bite happens, the rules that govern responsibility are a unique blend of statewide statutes, municipal ordinances, and long-standing Rhode Island case law. This article unpacks those rules, explains your rights, and shows how our personal injury attorneys at Jeffrey Glassman Injury Lawyers can help you recover full compensation after a dog attack.

Rhode Island General Laws § 4-13-16 imposes strict liability on the “owner or keeper” of any dog that “assaults, bites, or otherwise injures any person while traveling the highway or out of the enclosure of the owner.” In plain English, if the dog is off the owner’s property, whether it slipped a leash or was lawfully on a public street, the victim does not have to prove negligence or a prior history of aggression. The statute also doubles the damages if the same dog attacks again and authorizes the destruction of the animal after a second judgment.

Because the statute refers to “all damage sustained,” victims may pursue medical bills, future treatment, lost wages, plastic-surgery costs for scarring, psychological counseling, and diminished quality of life under the same umbrella. The owner is liable even if a friend or relative was walking the dog at the time; the statute covers any “keeper.”

Strict liability ends once the victim crosses into the owner’s “enclosure” (typically a house, fenced yard, or other private space). If the bite occurs on the owner’s property, Rhode Island falls back on the traditional one-bite rule: the plaintiff must show that the owner knew, or should have known, the dog had dangerous tendencies—often established through prior complaints, control measures such as muzzling, or statements bragging about the dog’s “protective” nature.

In practice, many Providence claims still settle because insurers rarely want to test a one-bite case before a jury. But the extra evidentiary burden makes fast investigation crucial; witness statements, veterinary records, and Animal Control files can disappear quickly.

Rhode Island has no statewide leash law, leaving the issue to individual municipalities. Providence’s ordinance states that every dog must be on a leash or lead whenever it is on a city street, sidewalk, or other public right-of-way and must also wear a city pet license. The city also bars dogs, leashed or not, from playgrounds and certain recreational areas.

If a dog bites a person or another animal, Providence Animal Control must be notified immediately. The dog is placed in a mandatory 10-day rabies quarantine, usually at the owner’s hom,e but subject to inspection. Victims should insist that the investigating officer provide the quarantine report number; insurers often request it as proof that the incident occurred.

Rhode Island is a pure comparative negligence state. Under § 9-20-4, any damages you receive are reduced only by your percentage of fault, no matter how high. A pedestrian who is found 90 percent responsible for provoking a dog could still collect 10 percent of her losses.

Defense lawyers sometimes argue that the victim “assumed the risk” by petting, teasing, or attempting to break up a dog fight. While such arguments can trim the award, strict liability still applies outside the enclosure, and courts seldom assign more than token fault to a person who was merely walking down Benefit Street when they were attacked.

Rhode Island’s general personal-injury statute gives victims three years from the date of the bite to file suit. Missing that window almost always bars recovery. If the defendant is a city employee (e.g., a Providence police K-9 handler), shorter notice rules can apply, so contacting counsel early is critical.

Parents should know that the clock for children under 18 is tolled until the child’s 18th birthday, but evidence collection cannot wait; witnesses relocate, and surveillance footage is routinely overwritten.

• Economic losses. Emergency care, hospitalizations, plastic surgery, rabies prophylaxis, physical therapy, prescription drugs, and lost income or earning capacity.
• Non-economic losses. Pain and suffering, visible scarring, disfigurement, and emotional trauma such as cynophobia (fear of dogs).
• Double damages. If the same dog has a prior judgment for a bite or attack, the statute doubles the award.
• Punitive damages. Although rare, the Superior Court may award them in egregious cases of reckless handling or violation of a court-ordered confinement.

Rhode Island does not cap personal-injury damages, so catastrophic cases can—and have, produced seven-figure verdicts.

• Provocation. Owners may claim the victim hit, kicked, or startled the animal. We subpoena eyewitnesses and look for inconsistencies between 911 audio, police reports, and later statements.
• Trespassing. Applies only if the victim entered the property without permission. Delivery drivers, mail carriers, and guests are protected.
• Comparative negligence. See above; it reduces but rarely eliminates recovery.
• Assumption of risk at dog parks. State strict liability law still applies because most municipal dog parks are public property, not the dog owner’s enclosure.

Our firm employs investigators familiar with Providence neighborhoods who can canvass for video doorbell footage or speak with nearby homeowners, often within hours of signing a new case.

• Seek medical care even for minor punctures; infection and rabies exposure are time-sensitive.
• Call 911 or Providence Animal Control (401-243-6040) to create an official record.
• Get the owner’s information: name, address, and homeowner’s or renter’s insurance carrier.
• Photograph injuries and the scene, including torn clothing or bloodied pavement.
• Preserve evidence such as shoes with bite marks or medical packaging from tetanus boosters.
• Avoid lengthy conversations with the owner’s insurer; they can record calls and use statements out of context.
• Contact Jeffrey Glassman Injury Lawyers before the first bill arrives. We open injury protection claims, handle quarantine document requests, and coordinate specialized care for scarring.

• Proven Track Record. Decades of six- and seven-figure Rhode Island premises-liability recoveries, including dog-bite verdicts.
• Local Knowledge. Familiarity with Providence leash-law enforcement patterns, Animal Control procedures, and Superior Court mediation programs.
• Medical Partnerships. We arrange follow-up with infectious-disease specialists, plastic surgeons, and trauma psychologists who understand the nuances of animal-attack injuries.
• No-Fee Promise. We advance all costs and collect nothing unless we win your case.

Jeffrey Glassman Injury Lawyers can dispatch an investigator within Providence city limits the same day you call. Evening and weekend consultations are available because bite victims often need immediate guidance outside business hours.

Dog bites combine physical trauma with emotional scars that can linger for years. Rhode Island’s strict-liability statute and Providence’s leash ordinance give victims powerful tools, but the clock starts ticking the moment teeth break skin. Early medical care, prompt reporting, and experienced legal counsel are the keys to full compensation.

If you or a loved one was bitten in Providence, call Jeffrey Glassman Injury Lawyers or fill out our online contact form for a free, zero-pressure case review. We stand ready to help you heal, hold negligent owners accountable, and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone.