Milwaukee & Wisconsin Dog Bite Lawyers
A sudden dog bite can leave you dealing with painful injuries, scarring, medical bills, and questions about what to do next. In Milwaukee and across Wisconsin, the law provides strong protections for victims. Murphy & Prachthauser’s Dog Bite Lawyers in Milwaukee has decades of experience pursuing dog bite claims, guiding clients through medical documentation, insurance negotiations, and when needed, litigation to secure full and fair compensation
Key Takeaways
- Wisconsin holds dog owners strictly liable for injuries and may award double damages when a prior unprovoked bite that broke the skin put the owner on notice, with recovery potentially reduced by comparative negligence and subject to a three-year deadline.
- Seek prompt medical care, document injuries, identify the dog and owner, report the incident and confirm quarantine, preserve evidence, avoid recorded insurer statements, and contact an attorney quickly.
- Murphy & Prachthauser investigates thoroughly, evaluates insurance and double damages, uses appropriate medical and psychological experts, manages insurers, and prepares for trial to secure a fair settlement.
Understanding Dog Bite Injury Claims in Milwaukee and Wisconsin
Dog bite injury claims in Wisconsin cover more than bites alone. If a dog causes harm through a bite, knockdown, or other aggressive behavior that leads to injury, you may have a claim. These cases typically seek compensation for medical bills, scarring and disfigurement, lost wages, and pain and suffering. Because evidence fades quickly and insurers act fast, early action helps preserve your legal rights and the quality of your proof.
Wisconsin’s strict liability framework strongly favors injured people. In plain terms, if a dog injures you, the owner is generally responsible for resulting damages regardless of whether the dog previously showed dangerous behavior. This shifts the burden from the victim to the owner and their insurer, making documentation and clear causation especially important.
Most dog bite claims are resolved through homeowners or renters insurance, not personal assets. A Milwaukee dog bite attorney’s role includes identifying coverage, coordinating medical documentation, evaluating any double damages potential, and handling all communications with insurers. In Milwaukee, and statewide, timely reporting and consistent medical treatment set the stage for settlement discussions and, if needed, a lawsuit to protect your recovery window.
Wisconsin Dog Bite Laws: Strict Liability, Double Damages, and Deadlines
Under Wisconsin’s strict liability rule, a dog’s owner is responsible when the dog injures someone, whether or not the owner had prior knowledge of dangerous tendencies. This rule applies to bites and other injuries caused by a dog, such as a forceful jump or knockdown that leads to fractures, concussions, or other harm. Strict liability is designed to ensure injured people can recover without having to prove the owner did something wrong beforehand.
Wisconsin also allows for double damages in certain repeat-bite situations. If a dog previously bit someone without provocation and broke the skin—putting the owner on notice—then a later bite that injures someone can trigger a doubling of the compensatory damages for the personal injuries in the subsequent incident. Double damages don’t apply automatically; they depend on proof of the prior unprovoked bite and are focused on personal injuries, not property loss.
Liability isn’t limited strictly to the person whose name is on the dog’s license. Wisconsin recognizes responsibility for owners, keepers, and harborers—those who own the dog, those who are in control or custody of the dog, and those who provide shelter or care in a way that functionally treats the dog as their own. This can be important when an incident happens at a friend’s home, a rental property, or while someone else is watching the dog.
Two timing rules are critical. First, Wisconsin’s general deadline to file a personal injury lawsuit for a dog bite is three years from the date of injury. Second, comparative negligence can reduce your recovery if you were partially at fault—for example, by provoking the dog or ignoring posted warnings. Your compensation is reduced by your percentage of fault, and if you are more at fault than the owner, you may be barred from recovery. Prompt legal guidance helps protect evidence, confirm quarantine steps, and avoid missteps that insurers may try to frame as comparative negligence.
What To Do After a Dog Bite in Milwaukee
Your first priority is your health. Get emergency or urgent care right away, follow wound-cleaning and antibiotic instructions, and document all injuries with clear photos over time. Keep copies of vaccine records (your own and the dog’s, if available) and ask providers to note any scarring or infection risks.
Identify the dog and the owner as soon as possible, and gather witness names, phone numbers, and photos of the scene. Report the incident to local authorities and confirm rabies quarantine steps have been initiated; in the City of Milwaukee and surrounding communities, animal control or the local health department coordinates quarantine and follow-up. If the owner’s homeowners or renters insurance information is available, note the insurer and policy number.
Preserve all physical evidence (damaged clothing, bloodied items) in clean bags, and keep communications with insurers limited. Do not give a recorded statement without legal advice. Contact our Milwaukee dog bite lawyers promptly to manage notices, confirm quarantine compliance, and protect deadlines.
- Get immediate medical care for wound cleaning, tetanus status, and antibiotics as indicated.
- Photograph injuries at the scene (if possible) and through each stage of healing, including any scarring.
- Obtain the dog owner’s name, address, and contact details; note the dog’s breed, color, and license tag if visible.
- Collect witness names and phone numbers; ask nearby residents or businesses if surveillance cameras captured the event.
- Report the bite to local authorities and confirm rabies quarantine procedures; ask how quarantine will be documented.
- Save clothing and any damaged items in sealed bags; do not wash them.
- Keep a simple log of symptoms, appointments, and missed work.
- Avoid recorded statements or signing medical authorizations for insurers without legal counsel.
- Contact Murphy & Prachthauser’s Dog Bite Lawyers in Milwaukee and Wisconsin early to coordinate insurance notice, evidence preservation, and medical documentation.
Compensation You Can Recover After a Dog Bite
Dog bite claims include both economic and non-economic losses. Economic damages commonly include emergency care, hospitalization, surgeries, wound care supplies, antibiotics, plastic surgery, therapy, and lost wages or diminished earning capacity. Future medical needs such as scar revision or counseling for anxiety are part of a complete claim.
Non-economic damages cover the human impact: pain, suffering, scarring, disfigurement, emotional distress, and post-traumatic stress symptoms. Visible scarring, infections, nerve damage, and lasting functional limitations can significantly affect settlement value because they change how a person lives and works.
In qualifying repeat-bite cases, Wisconsin allows double damages for the personal injuries in the subsequent incident. In rare cases involving egregious or reckless conduct by an owner, punitive damages may be available to punish and deter such behavior. Every case is fact-specific; a careful evaluation of medical evidence, the incident history, and the owner’s knowledge is essential to fully value a claim.
Insurance and Liability: Homeowners and Renters Coverage
Most Milwaukee dog bite claims are pursued through liability coverage on a homeowners or renters insurance policy. These policies typically fund settlements or judgments and also provide a separate “medical payments” benefit for initial medical bills regardless of fault.
Coverage isn’t automatic or unlimited. Some policies have breed restrictions, prior-bite exclusions, or lower sublimits for animal-related injuries. Umbrella policies may provide additional limits. Thorough policy review helps identify all available coverage and any hurdles an insurer may raise.
Insurers often seek recorded statements early and may assert comparative negligence to reduce payment. Have an experienced Milwaukee dog bite lawyer handle communications, gather medical proof, and push back on unfair fault arguments. Subrogation and liens from health insurers also need to be managed so that more of the recovery stays with you.
| Coverage type |
What it may cover |
Common limits/exclusions |
Practical tips |
| Homeowners liability |
Bodily injury damages from a bite or dog-caused injury; defense costs for the insured |
Breed restrictions; prior-bite exclusions; animal liability sublimits |
Get the policy and declarations page; identify all named insureds and any exclusions early. |
| Renters liability |
Similar to homeowners liability when the dog’s owner is a tenant |
May exclude certain breeds or any dog with a known prior bite |
Confirm the tenant’s policy; consider landlord/harborer responsibility depending on facts. |
| Umbrella policy |
Additional liability limits above primary homeowners/renters coverage |
Requires an underlying policy; exclusions can mirror the primary policy |
Ask specifically about umbrella coverage and obtain a copy of the policy. |
| Medical payments (med pay) |
Immediate medical bills regardless of fault, usually up to a small limit |
Low limits; does not cover pain and suffering, and only covers injuries sustained at the property. |
Use med pay for early bills, but continue building the full injury claim. |
| Subrogation considerations |
Health insurer reimbursement claims from your settlement |
Statutory or contractual lien rights may apply |
Coordinate lien resolution to maximize your net recovery. |
How Murphy & Prachthauser’s Milwaukee Dog Bite Attorneys Build Strong Dog Bite Cases
We start with a detailed investigation: obtaining medical records, photographs, and witness statements; securing scene evidence; and documenting the full extent of injuries and scarring. Early, consistent medical care and thorough photographic documentation often drive better outcomes.
Our team reviews animal control and health department records, including rabies quarantine compliance and any prior incidents. When there is evidence of a prior unprovoked bite that broke the skin, we evaluate whether double damages can apply in the current case and gather the proof necessary to establish notice.
Insurance coverage analysis is central. We identify all potentially responsible parties such as owners, keepers, and harborers, and all applicable policies, including homeowners, renters, and umbrella coverage. We manage communications with insurance adjusters to prevent misstatements and to counter comparative negligence arguments.
Where appropriate, we retain experts to explain scarring and disfigurement, plastic surgery needs and costs, vocational impacts, and psychological effects such as anxiety or PTSD. Every case is prepared as if it will go to trial; that readiness often helps secure fair settlements without the need for a courtroom.
Client-Centered Representation, Local to Milwaukee and Wisconsin
Murphy & Prachthauser offers a free initial consultation and case evaluation. We don’t make settlement decisions for you. No lawsuit is filed and no settlement is accepted without your permission. You receive regular updates and clear explanations about your options at each stage.
We serve clients across Wisconsin with convenient offices in Milwaukee, Waukesha, and Mequon, and we meet with clients from nearby communities such as Greenfield and West Bend. Wherever you are recovering, our team is focused on accessibility, clear communication, and results.
Timeline and Process: From Claim to Resolution
Every case moves at the pace of medical recovery. The process often begins with treatment and a liability investigation while you heal; we notify insurers, secure evidence, and coordinate medical records and bills.
When treatment stabilizes or a clear long-term picture emerges, we assemble a demand package: medical records, bills, photos, expert opinions if needed, and a detailed damages evaluation. Insurers then review and negotiate. We push for a timely, fair resolution while preparing for the possibility of litigation.
If negotiations stall or the insurer undervalues your claim, we file suit within Wisconsin’s three-year statute of limitations. Litigation may include discovery, depositions, and mediation; if a fair settlement remains out of reach, we proceed to trial. The typical process for Milwaukee dog bite claims is:
- Immediate medical treatment and incident reporting
- Evidence preservation and insurer notice
- Ongoing documentation of injuries, scarring, and lost wages
- Demand package submission and negotiation with insurance adjusters
- Filing suit before the statute of limitations expires
- Mediation or trial if a fair settlement is not offered
Frequently Asked Legal Questions About Wisconsin Dog Bites
Liability can extend beyond the registered owner to anyone who keeps or harbors the dog, such as someone who has custody or provides shelter and treats the dog as their own. Where the incident occurs matters less than who had responsibility and control at the time.
Bites on private property are still covered by Wisconsin’s strict liability rule, subject to defenses such as trespassing or provocation. Children’s claims receive special attention to future care and scarring; in many cases, settlements are structured to protect a child’s funds until adulthood.
After a reported bite, authorities coordinate rabies quarantine and follow-up. Many claims resolve through homeowners or renters insurance, which means you may not need to personally pursue a friend or neighbor in a contentious way as insurance is typically the source of payment.
Speak With a Milwaukee Dog Bite Attorney at Murphy & Prachthauser
If you were bitten or injured by a dog in Milwaukee or anywhere in Wisconsin, contact Murphy & Prachthauser for a free, no-obligation case review. We can meet by phone or in-office across Milwaukee and nearby communities, explain your rights, and start preserving evidence immediately. We handle dog bite cases on a contingency fee so you pay no attorney’s fees unless we recover compensation for you.