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A dog bite is one of those injuries that can catch people completely off guard. You may have walked past that dog a hundred times, or it may have belonged to a neighbor you trusted, and in a single moment, everything changed. If you suffered a dog bite injury in Sun Prairie, a dog bite lawyer can help you understand your rights and seek compensation for your losses.
Pemberton Personal Injury Law Firm helps dog bite victims in Sun Prairie seek the compensation they deserve. Our attorneys bring 80+ years of combined experience to every case, and we work on a contingency fee basis, which means you pay nothing unless we win. When an attack occurs on another person’s property, your case may also involve Sun Prairie premises liability law.
Yes. Wisconsin has a strict liability dog bite law. This means the dog’s owner can be held responsible for injuries even if the dog has never bitten anyone before.
Under Wisconsin Statute § 174.02, a dog owner may be liable for damages if their dog bites someone who was not trespassing and did not provoke the dog. You do not need to prove the owner knew the dog was dangerous, nor do you need to prove that the dog’s owner could have foreseen the attack. Wisconsin’s dog bite law is one of the strongest in the country, and it is designed to protect victims.
A key point under Wisconsin’s dog bite statute is that liability is not limited to the dog’s legal owner. The law treats anyone who “keeps” or “harbors” a dog as an owner, meaning a non-owner can still be held responsible if they exercised meaningful custody, care, or control over the animal. Courts look at the full relationship between the person and the dog, such as whether they regularly cared for or supervised it, rather than just who technically owns it.
However, simply allowing a dog on your property, like a landlord permitting a tenant’s pet, is not enough by itself to create liability. In short, when a person takes on a real role in managing or caring for a dog, they may also take on the legal risks that come with it.
If the dog has a history of biting or aggressive behavior, the owner may face even greater liability. Wisconsin law may allow double damages when an owner knew the dog had bitten someone in the past. Our personal injury lawyers can review the facts of your case and explain what compensation may be available.
Dog bites are more serious than many people expect. According to the CDC, nearly 1 in 5 people bitten by a dog needs medical attention, and injuries can range from infected wounds to permanent nerve damage. The financial and emotional toll can add up quickly, but Wisconsin law may give victims a clear path to compensation.
The effects of a dog bite go beyond the physical wound. Victims can pursue compensation for a range of losses, including:
Every case is different, and the value of your claim depends on the specifics of your injury. Our team will take the time to understand exactly what you have been through before moving forward.
The steps you take after a dog bite can make a real difference in your case. Acting quickly protects both your health and your legal rights. Here is what we recommend:
Time is an important factor in any personal injury case. Typically, a lawsuit must be filed within three years of the bite. However, certain exceptions and details of your case could affect the deadline.
It is always better to speak with an attorney sooner rather than later. Evidence can disappear, witnesses can forget details, and delays can make it harder to build a strong case.
The days and weeks after a dog bite can feel overwhelming. Medical appointments, insurance calls, and financial stress all pile up at once. Our team has spent decades on both sides of personal injury cases, including time working in insurance defense. We understand how insurers evaluate claims and what it takes to push back effectively.
We handle every case on a contingency-fee basis, so there is no financial risk in getting started. Our attorneys have earned recognition across Wisconsin for their dedication to clients, including Super Lawyers honors and years of community-focused advocacy. We are committed to honest communication, personalized attention, and fighting hard for every client from the initial case evaluation through resolution. That commitment is what we call the Pemberton Promise.
After a dog bite, you deserve clear answers and someone in your corner. You should not have to deal with insurance companies, legal deadlines, and medical bills on your own while you are still healing.
Pemberton Personal Injury Law Firm is ready to help. We will listen to your story, evaluate your case at no cost, and explain how we may be able to help. There is no pressure and no fee unless we recover compensation for you. To schedule your free case evaluation, contact our office today and take the first step toward moving forward.
Insurance companies profit when you lose. Every claim they deny, every settlement they lowball, every injured person they convince to accept less—that’s money in their pocket. And they’re very good at what they do.
At Pemberton Personal Injury Law Firm, we’ve made it our mission to take on the insurance companies that put profits over people. We know every underhanded tactic they’ll use to cheat you out of fair compensation, and we’re prepared to fight fire with fire. When insurance adjusters see us coming, they know they’re in for a real battle. You didn’t ask to be injured.
You didn’t ask to fight a billion-dollar corporation. But now that you’re here, you deserve lawyers who will go to war for you. We don’t settle for less than full compensation, we don’t back down from tough fights, and we don’t let insurance companies bully our clients. PERIOD.
Life following a serious injury can bring intense emotions and pain. Accident victims often hope to get their lives back on track, only to be held back by the demands involved with personal injury claims. This is especially the case for individuals who become hospitalized. Wherever you are in the process, we’d be glad to help.
Our injury lawyers in Wisconsin step up to represent you. At Pemberton, we provide this advocacy at every step in the injury claims process so you can be on your way to feeling like yourself again.
Contact our Wisconsin personal injury attorneys at (608) 448-6242 to speak with one of our experienced attorneys. We will create a plan together to help you protect your rights and get you back to your life.
$40M+ Won For Our Clients
The client suffered multiple facial lacerations—including scratches to the right eyelid and below the eyes—a red mark on the nose, and swelling and bruising to the eyelids. After incurring $21,663.78 in medical treatment, our firm secured a $400,000 settlement to compensate the client for medical expenses, pain and suffering, and the potential for lasting cosmetic and emotional harm.
The client suffered nine puncture wounds to the right arm, requiring surgery to remove bone fragments and clean out the injuries. After accumulating over $30,000 in medical bills, we secured a $150,000 settlement and reduced medical liens by one-third, helping maximize the client’s recovery.
The client sustained a puncture wound and multiple bite marks to the forearm, with only one date of medical treatment and $598.95 in bills. Despite the minimal treatment record, we negotiated a $40,000 settlement — a phenomenal result that compensated the client for injury, scarring, and trauma.
“If you ever need an attorney, he would be the first one I recommend”
“Focus on healing and we will take care of everything on the legal side”
“If you ever need an attorney, he would be the first one I recommend”
