Dog bites are more common than most people realize — and more serious. What might look like a minor bite can cause deep tissue damage, nerve injuries, severe scarring, and lasting emotional trauma. For children especially, dog attacks can be life-altering.
If you or your child was bitten by someone’s dog in Jackson or anywhere in Mississippi, you have rights. And the dog owner may owe you far more than you think.
Mississippi’s approach to dog bite liability. Mississippi follows what’s known as a “one bite rule” in some contexts, but that doesn’t mean a dog owner gets a free pass for the first attack. If the owner knew or had reason to know the dog was dangerous — because of prior aggressive behavior, for example — they can be held liable even for a first attack. And in many situations, an owner’s negligence in controlling or securing their dog creates liability regardless of the animal’s history.
The injuries can be serious. Dog bites frequently cause puncture wounds and lacerations that require surgery, infections including serious bacterial conditions, permanent scarring and disfigurement, nerve and tendon damage, and significant emotional trauma and PTSD — especially in children who may develop a lasting fear of animals or strangers.
What to do if you’ve been bitten. Seek medical attention right away, even if the wound seems manageable. Dog bites get infected quickly. Report the attack to animal control and get a copy of the report. Take photographs of the wound, your injuries, and the location where it happened. Get the owner’s name and contact information, and find out whether the dog’s vaccinations are current. Then call an attorney.
Don’t let them minimize what happened. Dog owners — and their homeowner’s insurance companies — often try to frame an attack as a minor incident or suggest you provoked the animal. I’ve seen families left with thousands of dollars in medical bills, a traumatized child, and an insurance company that doesn’t want to pay what the case is worth.
When I take on a dog bite case, I look at all the damages: every medical bill, every therapy session, every day of pain and fear. I fight for compensation that reflects what you’ve actually been through — not a quick, cheap settlement.
Mississippi’s statute of limitations means you have a limited window to act. The sooner you reach out, the stronger your case can be.
Call Timbs Injury Law at (601) 775-5553 for a free consultation.