Dogs are a common part of everyday life in Indiana. Most dogs are friendly companions, but any dog can potentially bite or attack when it feels threatened, frightened, or provoked.
A dog bite can cause much more than a temporary injury. Victims may suffer puncture wounds, lacerations, infections, scarring, nerve damage, fractures, and emotional trauma. Children can be particularly vulnerable to serious injuries from dog attacks.
Understanding how to safely interact with dogs, and knowing what to do if a dog bites you, can help protect you and your family.
“Dog bite injuries can be traumatic, particularly when the victim is a child or when the injuries result in permanent scarring or other lasting effects,” says Attorney Caleb Fleschner of Fleschner, Stark, Tanoos & Newlin. “If someone is injured by a dog, it is important to document what happened and understand their legal options.”
Dog bites are a significant public health concern. The Indiana Department of Health requires animal bites by domestic and wild mammals to be reported to the local health department. This reporting requirement helps public health officials evaluate potential exposure to rabies and determine whether additional measures, such as quarantine or observation, are necessary.
Local data also demonstrates that dog bites occur regularly throughout Indiana. For example, Hamilton County recorded 228 animal bites in 2024, including 190 involving dogs.
Because reporting practices and available statistics can vary by jurisdiction, the number of reported bites does not necessarily represent every dog-bite incident that occurs.
Dogs may bite for a variety of reasons. Some may become aggressive when they feel threatened, while others may react when they are protecting food, toys, puppies, or their territory.
Situations that can increase the risk of a bite include:
It is important to remember that even a familiar dog can bite under certain circumstances.
Dogs communicate through body language, and some behaviors may indicate that a dog is uncomfortable or becoming defensive.
Potential warning signs can include:
These behaviors should be taken seriously. Give the dog space rather than attempting to approach or touch it.
If an unfamiliar dog approaches you, remaining calm is important.
Do not run toward or away from the dog. Running can trigger a dog’s instinct to chase. Instead, remain as still as possible and avoid direct eye contact. If the dog loses interest, slowly move away.
Children should also be taught not to approach unfamiliar dogs and to seek help from a trusted adult if they encounter a dog that appears aggressive or threatening.
If a dog bites you, take the injury seriously even if the wound initially appears minor.
Consider taking the following steps:
Prompt medical attention is particularly important when a bite is deep, bleeding heavily, shows signs of infection, or involves the face, hands, feet, or another sensitive area.
Indiana law provides specific circumstances in which a dog owner can be held strictly liable for a bite.
Under Indiana Code § 15-20-1-3, when a dog bites a person without provocation, while the person is acting peaceably and is in a location where the person may be required to be while performing a duty imposed by Indiana or federal law or postal regulations, the dog’s owner is liable for the damages suffered by the person. The statute also provides that liability can apply even if the dog had never previously behaved viciously or the owner had no knowledge of prior vicious behavior.
However, Indiana’s statutory strict-liability provision does not automatically apply to every dog-bite situation. The circumstances surrounding the incident, including where the bite occurred, what the victim was doing, whether the dog was provoked, and other facts, can affect the legal analysis.
For that reason, someone who has suffered a serious dog bite may benefit from discussing the circumstances with an Indiana personal injury attorney.
“Every dog-bite case is different, and the circumstances surrounding the incident matter,” Fleschner says. “An attorney can help an injured person understand how Indiana law applies to their particular situation and what options may be available to them.”
A dog bite can leave physical and emotional scars long after the initial injury has healed.
Depending on the severity of the attack, a victim may require emergency treatment, surgery, stitches, medication, rehabilitation, or follow-up care. Serious bites can also result in permanent scarring or nerve damage.
For children, facial injuries can be particularly devastating because scars may remain visible for years and may require additional medical or cosmetic treatment.
Victims may also experience fear, anxiety, or other emotional consequences following an attack.
If you or your child has been injured in a dog attack, you may have questions about who is responsible for the injuries and whether you may be entitled to compensation.
An experienced Indiana personal injury attorney can review the circumstances of the attack, help preserve evidence, communicate with insurance companies, and explain your legal options.
Contact Fleschner, Stark, Tanoos & Newlin to discuss your dog bite injury and learn more about how the firm’s personal injury attorneys may be able to help.
Fleschner, Stark, Tanoos & Newlin
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The financial burden that often comes with a serious injury can be too much for many people to bear. Unexpected medical debt, damaged personal property, and the sudden loss of income can impact the budgets of most families. The good news is that a successful injury claim could help reduce that financial strain after a serious accident. Get in touch with a Terre Haute personal injury lawyer with Fleschner, Stark, Tanoos & Newlin to learn more.
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