If you’ve been bitten by a dog in Las Vegas, you’re facing both physical and emotional trauma. The dog bite personal injury lawyers at Oronoz & Ericsson, rated by Martindale-Hubbell as having the highest professional excellence, understand the devastating impact of dog bite injuries. We’ve recovered over $5.5 million for injured victims, including a $5.5 million wrongful death settlement. We’re here to fight for the compensation you deserve.
Nevada dog bite law provides strong protections for victims. Whether the bite was the dog’s first attack or the owner had a history of incidents, we know how to hold dog owners and landlords accountable. Call (702) 710-5628 for your free consultation today.
Immediate steps after a dog bite are critical for your health and legal claim.
Step 1: Seek Medical Attention. Wash the wound thoroughly with soap and water. Dog bites carry infection risk (including rabies) and always require medical evaluation. Go to an emergency room or urgent care immediately. Even minor bites should be examined by a healthcare professional.
Step 2: Document the Scene. If possible, take photographs of your injury, the location where the bite occurred, and the dog (or owner if known). Write down the date, time, and location. Preserve your clothing if it was torn or stained.
Step 3: Report to Animal Control. Contact Clark County Animal Control at (702) 455-7710 to report the bite. Provide the dog’s owner information, breed, and vaccination status if known. Animal Control will investigate and document the incident.
Step 4: File a Police Report. Contact Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department (LVMPD) to file a report. Obtain the report number for your records. Police reports create official documentation that supports liability claims.
Step 5: Preserve Medical Records. Keep all medical bills, lab results, prescriptions, and follow-up appointments. These documents are essential for proving damages.
Step 6: Contact an Attorney. Call Oronoz & Ericsson immediately. Evidence deteriorates over time, and the sooner we investigate, the stronger your case.
Nevada law provides powerful protections for dog bite victims. Understanding your rights under Nevada law is essential to maximizing your recovery.
Nevada follows a modified “one-bite rule” under NRS 202.500. This doesn’t mean an owner gets a free pass if it’s the dog’s first bite. Instead, the rule is: if the owner KNEW or SHOULD HAVE KNOWN that the dog had dangerous propensities (from prior incidents, behavior, or complaints), they are liable for subsequent bites.
Example: If a neighbor complained that the dog lunged at them, or if the dog had previously bitten someone, the owner is on notice. Any subsequent bite is the owner’s fault.
NRS 202.500 also imposes STRICT LIABILITY if the dog is classified as “dangerous” by Clark County. A dog is designated dangerous if it has injured or killed a person without provocation, or if the owner trained it for dog fighting. Once a dog is designated dangerous, the owner is strictly liable for any bite, meaning you don’t have to prove negligence.
Clark County (where Las Vegas is located) has specific ordinances requiring leashes, vaccinations, and proper containment. Violations of these ordinances are evidence of negligence. If the dog that bit you violated local leash laws or vaccination requirements, that strengthens your case.
Dog bite liability can extend beyond the owner to property managers and landlords.
Direct Owner Liability: The dog owner is directly liable for bites caused by their dog. This is the primary target of your claim.
Landlord & Property Manager Liability: If the dog belonged to a tenant, the landlord may be liable if they knew (or should have known) about the dangerous dog and failed to enforce lease terms prohibiting dangerous animals. If the bite occurred on apartment complex grounds and management failed to enforce dangerous dog policies, the landlord is liable.
Dog bites cause serious, sometimes permanent injuries.
Puncture Wounds & Lacerations: Dog teeth create deep puncture wounds that are prone to infection (including staph and strep). Severe bites may require stitches, surgical repair, or plastic surgery to minimize scarring.
Nerve & Tendon Damage: Bites to hands, arms, or legs may damage nerves or tendons, resulting in chronic pain, weakness, or reduced function. Nerve damage may require surgery and years of rehabilitation. In severe cases, victims may also suffer brain injuries from associated trauma.
Crush Injuries: Large dogs can crush tissue, requiring debridement (removal of damaged tissue) and skin grafting.
Infection & Sepsis: Dog bites frequently become infected. Infections can escalate to sepsis, a life-threatening condition requiring hospitalization and antibiotics.
Rabies: While rare in Las Vegas (due to vaccination), rabies is fatal if untreated. Post-exposure rabies prophylaxis (vaccines) is expensive and emotionally traumatic.
Scarring & Disfigurement: Even healed bites leave visible scars. Facial scars are particularly damaging to self-esteem and earning potential (for modeling, sales, customer-facing roles).
Psychological Trauma: Many dog bite victims develop fear of dogs (cynophobia), anxiety, and PTSD. Children are especially vulnerable to lasting psychological effects.
If the owner acted recklessly (e.g., ignoring leash laws, knowing the dog was dangerous but taking no precautions), courts may award punitive damages to punish the owner and deter future negligence.
Our Results: We’ve recovered $5.5 million in a wrongful death case and $1.25 million in a scarring settlement, demonstrating the substantial compensation available to victims.
Oronoz & Ericsson has a proven track record recovering maximum compensation for dog bite victims. Our $5.5 million wrongful death settlement and $1.25 million scarring settlement demonstrate our commitment and success. View more of our case results.
Yes, potentially. Under Nevada’s one-bite rule, if the owner KNEW or SHOULD HAVE KNOWN the dog was dangerous (from prior incidents, behavior, or complaints), you have a claim even for a first bite. Additionally, if the dog is designated as “dangerous” by Clark County, strict liability applies regardless of prior incidents.
You have two years from the date of the bite to file a personal injury lawsuit in Nevada. However, don’t wait. Evidence deteriorates, and we need time to investigate thoroughly.
Yes, if the landlord knew about the dangerous dog or violated lease terms prohibiting dangerous animals, they may be liable. Negligent supervision and failure to enforce lease provisions are grounds for landlord liability.
Nevada follows comparative negligence law. Even if you were partially at fault, you can still recover damages, though your award is reduced by your percentage of fault. For example, if you were 20% at fault, you could recover 80% of damages.
Scarring damages vary based on severity, location, and permanence. Our $1.25 million scarring settlement demonstrates significant recovery potential. Visible facial scars affecting appearance and earning capacity justify substantial compensation.
If the dog’s rabies status is unknown, you may need post-exposure rabies prophylaxis (vaccines), which is expensive and emotionally traumatic. These costs are recoverable as damages. Additionally, the fear and anxiety from potential rabies exposure are compensable as emotional distress.
If you've been injured by a dog in Las Vegas, don't wait. Contact Oronoz & Ericsson for a free, confidential consultation. We handle dog bite cases as well as pedestrian accident cases for victims throughout Las Vegas, Henderson, Paradise, and Clark County.
Call (702) 710-5628 today. We're ready to fight for your recovery.