Georgia Dog Bite Laws

Georgia has a dog bite statute, but it only covers certain situations; other cases follow traditional common-law rules.

Georgia dog bite law at a glance

What Georgia law says

• O.C.G.A. 51-2-7 imposes liability for a vicious or dangerous animal that is carelessly managed or allowed at liberty.
• A dog off leash in violation of a local leash ordinance can show the required dangerous propensity.
• Provocation by the injured person is a defense.
• Owners are liable for damage to livestock, pets and property off the owner's land (4-8-4).

Strict liability vs. the one-bite rule

The statute imposes liability only in the situations it lists. Outside those situations, injured people rely on the common law: showing the owner knew or should have known the dog was dangerous (the "one-bite" rule) or that the owner was negligent.

Dangerous dog rules in Georgia

• Under the Responsible Dog Ownership Law, a dangerous dog has caused a substantial puncture without serious injury or attacked in a way that caused a reasonable fear of serious injury; a vicious dog has caused serious injury (O.C.G.A. 4-8-20 et seq.).
• Owners get notice within 72 hours and can request a hearing within 7 days (4-8-23).
• Vicious dogs need an enclosure, warning signs, a microchip and $50,000 of liability insurance (4-8-27); no one may own more than one vicious dog.
• A vicious dog with a prior conviction that causes serious injury can bring 1 to 10 years in prison and fines of $5,000 to $10,000 (4-8-29(d)).

Deadline to file a claim

Justia's 50-state survey lists 2 years as the general personal injury deadline (statute of limitations) in Georgia. The clock usually starts on the day of the bite. Different deadlines can apply to claims against a government agency or on behalf of a child, so confirm the deadline for your situation with a licensed attorney.

What to do after a dog bite

1. Get medical care, even for a small puncture; bites can become infected.
2. Get the owner's name, contact details and the dog's rabies vaccination status.
3. Report the bite to local animal control or the health department; many places require it so the dog can be observed for rabies.
4. Photograph the injuries and the location, and write down witness names.
5. Keep medical bills and records of missed work, and talk to an attorney before signing anything from an insurer.

If you own a dog that has bitten someone, follow any confinement order from animal control, keep the dog's rabies vaccination current, and consider working with a trainer or behaviorist. Leash rules are covered in Georgia leash laws.

Sources

1. Michigan State University Animal Legal & Historical Center: Georgia dog laws
2. Justia: Dog bite laws, 50-state survey
3. Michigan State University Animal Legal & Historical Center: Dog bite strict liability statutes