Plymouth Dog Bite Lawyer

Were you injured in a dog bite accident in Plymouth, MA?

At Fogelman Law LLC, we are trusted dog bite lawyers serving clients across Plymouth and the surrounding area.

If a dog bit you or knocked you to the ground in Plymouth, the claim usually runs through the owner’s homeowner’s or renter’s insurance rather than the owner’s personal savings. That insurer will want proof of the injury, the circumstances, and the dog’s behavior.

Our Plymouth, MA dog bite lawyer documents the wound, the scarring, and the dog’s history, then presents the claim to that insurer in full. Fogelman Law LLC was established in 2010, and we handle dog bite cases on contingency. Contact us to schedule a free consultation.

Dog Bite Lawyer Plymouth, MA

Insurers paid out an estimated $1.86 billion on 28,450 dog-related injury claims nationwide in 2025, an average of $65,450 per claim, according to Insurance Information Institute data.

A dog bite lawyer represents people injured by someone else’s dog and pursues compensation from the owner or the owner’s insurer. The injuries are often more serious than they first appear. Puncture wounds can become infected, tendons and nerves in the hands are easily damaged, and facial bites may leave permanent scars. Children are especially vulnerable, and national dog bite statistics show that young children and older adults account for many of the people injured. Our role is to establish who was responsible for the dog, prove what happened, and value the claim based on the long-term effects of the injury rather than the first emergency room bill.

Types of Dog Bite Cases We Handle in Plymouth

Dog injuries in Plymouth happen in backyards, on beaches, along neighborhood streets, and at front doors. We represent people hurt in each of these settings, and the first question is always who owned or controlled the dog at the time.

• Bites on private property. Guests, friends, and neighbors are often bitten inside a home or yard where the owner assumed the dog was safe. We obtain the owner’s insurance information early and gather any prior complaints about the dog.
• Bites in public places. Parks, beaches, sidewalks, and trails bring people into contact with dogs that are off leash or poorly controlled. Witness accounts and photographs from the scene are often the strongest evidence in these cases.
• Knockdown injuries. A large dog that charges or jumps can knock someone to the ground without biting at all. These claims frequently involve fractured wrists, hips, and head injuries, and we have handled them alongside traditional bite cases.
• Child dog bites. Young children are bitten more often on the face and neck because of their height. We work with treating physicians to document the cost of future scar revision and the emotional effects of the attack.
• Bites at rental properties. A landlord who knew a tenant’s dog was dangerous may share responsibility for an attack. We investigate prior complaints, lease terms, and communications with management.
• Attacks on delivery and service workers. Mail carriers, delivery drivers, and contractors face dogs at the door every day. These workers may have both a workers’ compensation claim and a separate claim against the dog’s owner.
• Attacks while walking a pet. People walking their own dogs are sometimes injured when another dog attacks and they try to separate the animals. Their injuries, and often their veterinary bills, may be recoverable from the other owner.

Why Choose Fogelman Law LLC as my Dog Bite Lawyer in Plymouth, MA?

Twenty Years of Dog Injury Claims

Our attorneys have handled dog injury claims for 20 years, including cases in which a charging dog knocked someone down without ever biting. That breadth matters, because insurers sometimes argue that no bite means no claim. Matthew Fogelman founded the firm in 2010 and leads the statewide Academy of Trial Attorneys as its 2026–2027 President. Jeffrey Simons is licensed in Massachusetts and Pennsylvania and has spent 14 years representing injured clients. That range of bite, knockdown, and child injury claims is the foundation of our work as a personal injury lawyer in Plymouth, MA.

Dog Bite Results and Fees

Our firm has millions of dollars recovered for injured clients, and our dog injury work includes:

• A settlement for a college student who suffered significant arm injuries and scarring in a dog bite
• A settlement for an elderly woman bitten on Cape Cod who was left with scarring and emotional distress
• Several favorable settlements for people seriously hurt when a dog charged at them and caused a fall, even without a bite

We take every dog bite case on contingency. Nothing is owed for our time unless the claim produces a recovery.

What Is Important to Understand About a Dog Bite Case?

What Is The Dog Bite Case Timeline?

Most claims handled by a dog bite lawyer in Plymouth settle with the owner’s insurer, although some require a lawsuit. A typical claim proceeds in this order:

1. Medical treatment, followed by a report to animal control or the local health office
2. Identification of the dog’s owner, the property owner, and every applicable insurance policy
3. Collection of photographs, witness statements, and any records of the dog’s prior behavior
4. A settlement demand after the treating doctors confirm the long-term effects, including permanent scarring
5. Negotiation, then a lawsuit and discovery if the insurer will not offer a fair amount

Scars continue to change for months after a bite, so we generally wait until the outcome is clear before setting a value on the claim.

What Should You Bring to Your Dog Bite Consultation?

Bring copies of what you have collected so far:

• Photographs of the wounds taken on the day of the attack and during healing
• Medical records, bills, and any referral to a plastic surgeon or specialist
• The owner’s name and address, along with any insurance information they shared
• A copy of the animal bite report or the name of the officer who took it

During the free consultation, a Plymouth dog bite attorney reviews these materials, ask how the attack happened, and explain what the evidence does and does not support so you can decide how to proceed. Many people schedule this meeting within the first few weeks, while photographs and witness memories are still fresh.

Damages, Liability, and Compensation for Dog Bite Cases

Compensation that a dog bite lawyer pursues after an attack can include:

• Emergency care, surgery, rabies treatment, and follow-up visits
• Scar revision and other future medical procedures
• Wages lost during recovery and any loss of earning ability
• Pain, emotional distress, and anxiety around dogs
• Damaged clothing, eyeglasses, or other personal property

The value of a scarring claim often turns on where the scar is and how old the injured person is. A facial scar on a young child, for example, will be visible for decades and may need several revision procedures as the child grows.

Liability depends on the facts. An owner who lets a dog run loose, ignores a known history of aggression, or fails to control the animal in a crowded place may be negligent. When the defense argues that the injured person provoked the dog or ignored a warning, Chapter 231, Section 85 of the General Laws compares the fault of each side. Recovery is reduced by the injured person’s percentage of fault and barred only when that share is greater than the combined fault of the defendants. People who are partly at fault can still recover in many cases.

What Are Important Aspects of a Dog Bite Case?

Reporting the bite creates a record that a dog bite attorney can rely on and that an insurer will find difficult to dispute later. In Plymouth, physicians and veterinarians submit animal bite reports to the town’s public health and animal control offices, and those records can confirm the date, the dog, and the injury.

The dog’s licensing and vaccination status matters too. Plymouth requires a dog license for every dog older than six months, and the application calls for a current rabies certificate. Those records help identify the owner and show whether the dog was vaccinated.

Coverage questions come up often. Most homeowner’s and renter’s policies include liability coverage for dog injuries, though some insurers exclude certain breeds or dogs with a bite history. When the owner rents, the landlord’s policy may also be relevant. Identifying every policy early keeps a claim from stalling once the first insurer reaches its limit.

Evidence fades quickly in these cases. Photographs of fresh wounds, doorbell camera video, and the names of neighbors who saw the attack are among the evidence that matters most, and careful documentation of the healing process supports the value of the claim.

Timing is the last consideration. Most lawsuits must be filed within three years after the claim accrues under Chapter 260, Section 2A. Waiting until the final months leaves little room to locate witnesses or negotiate.

Reach Out to Fogelman Law LLC to Schedule a Consultation

Scarring and nerve damage from a dog attack can take months to reveal their full extent, and an early consultation keeps your options open while they do. The first meeting is free, and we handle dog bite claims on contingency. Our office answers calls at any hour and will follow up to arrange a time with a Plymouth dog bite attorney. Contact us to begin.