Georgia Dog Bite & Animal Attack Attorneys

Statute of Limitations

2 years

2 years from the date of the bite/attack (O.C.G.A. § 9-3-33)

Dog-Bite Statute

O.C.G.A. § 51-2-7

O.C.G.A. § 51-2-7 — liability requires either (a) owner knowledge of vicious propensity, or (b) at-large violation of leash law plus careless management

Comparative Fault Rule

50%

Modified comparative fault, 50% bar (O.C.G.A. § 51-12-33) — recovery barred at 50% or more

Dangerous Dog Law

O.C.G.A. § 4-8-20

O.C.G.A. § 4-8-20 et seq. — “dangerous” and “vicious” dog classifications, registration, insurance, and enhanced liability

Leash Law

Local ordinance

Set by county/municipal ordinance (Fulton, DeKalb, Cobb, Chatham); violation is a critical element under § 51-2-7(b)

Typical attorney fee

33%

33%–40% contingency — no fee unless you win

Georgia’s vicious-animal statute (O.C.G.A. § 51-2-7) imposes liability on dog owners in two scenarios: (1) the owner knew or should have known the dog had vicious propensities, or (2) the dog was at large in violation of a local leash law or animal-control ordinance and the owner managed it carelessly. Georgia applies modified-50% comparative fault (O.C.G.A. § 51-12-33) — recovery barred at 50% or more. Most claims are paid through the dog owner’s homeowner’s or renter’s insurance. Georgia’s Dangerous Dog Control Law (O.C.G.A. § 4-8-20 et seq.) supplements with civil and criminal penalties. The state has an equine-activity statute (O.C.G.A. § 4-12-1 et seq.) shielding equine operators from inherent-risk claims. An attorney builds the prior-incident record or proves the leash-law violation to unlock liability.