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Were you or your child bitten by a dog in Augusta, GA? You may be entitled to compensation for medical bills, lost wages, scarring, and your pain and suffering. Under Georgia law, the dog's owner or keeper can be held responsible, and their homeowner's or renter's insurance often pays the claim.
Dog bite cases are won or lost on facts that fade quickly: whether the dog was off its leash, whether Augusta-Richmond County Animal Services has a record on it, and what the owner knew before the attack. Hawk Law Group builds animal liability claims around exactly those facts. Our Augusta attorneys bring 71+ combined years of injury experience to dog bite cases across the CSRA, from downtown Augusta to North Augusta, and we know how local insurers try to shrink these claims.
Dog bites can be traumatic. If you have questions, contact our law offices in Augusta, Georgia at (706) 722-3500 to schedule a free consultation today.
Millions of Americans own dogs. While those dogs bring joy to many families, they can also be unpredictable. After all, they are animals who are capable of causing serious injuries.
If a dog injured you or your loved one, you may be entitled to hold the dog owner liable. However, you shouldn’t expect the insurance company to merely hand over a check. Georgia dog bite laws are complex--and the insurance companies know the law inside and out.
An experienced Augusta personal injury attorney at Hawk Law Group can advocate to protect your rights.
Hiring us means you’ll have a lawyer who will:
Our Augusta personal injury attorneys have recovered some of the highest verdicts in the CSRA. Collectively, we have over 70 years of experience going toe-to-toe with the insurance company.
To learn more about what we can do for your family, simply call for a free consultation today.
Georgia does not hold dog owners automatically liable for every bite. Instead, a single statute, O.C.G.A. 51-2-7, decides most dog bite claims in Augusta. Under it, a person who owns or keeps a vicious or dangerous dog can be liable for injuries the dog causes when two things are true:
The statute applies to any "keeper" of the dog, not just the person who bought it. Augusta's ordinance goes further, defining an owner as anyone who possesses, harbors, keeps, or has temporary custody of an animal, and the parents of a minor who owns a dog.
The hard part is proving the dog was "vicious or dangerous." Georgia gives victims two ways to do it, explained in the next section. Knowing which path fits your facts is the first thing an experienced Augusta dog bite lawyer will assess.
To recover under O.C.G.A. 51-2-7, you generally must prove three things:
These rules apply whether you were bitten or hurt another way, such as being knocked down or chased into traffic. Georgia gives you two ways to prove the first element.
Many states follow a strict "one bite rule," where an owner is liable once a dog has bitten before. Georgia uses a modified version. You must show the owner knew the dog had a dangerous tendency, but you do not always need proof of a prior bite. Earlier attacks, an earlier attempt to bite (even one that missed), complaints about similar behavior, or an existing classification can show the owner was on notice. In Steagald v. Eason (2017), the Georgia Supreme Court sent a case to a jury because the dog had snapped at people before. Barking or general unfriendliness usually isn't enough.
Most owners will claim they had no idea. That is why we pull records early. Augusta's June 2025 animal ordinance now classifies a dog that charges a fence or breaks skin without serious injury as "potentially dangerous," and owners must register classified dogs with Animal Services. Those records can prove what the owner knew.
The second path skips the knowledge question entirely. Under the second sentence of O.C.G.A. 51-2-7, it is enough to show that a local ordinance required the dog to be on a leash or at heel, and the dog was not leashed when it attacked. The violation replaces proof of the dog's dangerous history and the owner's knowledge. It doesn't win the case by itself: you still must show the owner let the dog loose or mismanaged it, and that you didn't provoke it.
Augusta-Richmond County's ordinance makes this path available in many local cases:
If an unleashed dog bit you on an Augusta street or sidewalk, the leash violation can stand in for proof that the dog was vicious. No prior bite or owner knowledge is required. This path has limits, though. It may not apply if the dog was properly leashed or fenced when you approached it, or inside a designated off-leash dog park. Even there, Augusta's dog park rules make handlers legally responsible for injuries their dogs cause (Sec. 4-1-31).
If Animal Services has already classified the dog as potentially dangerous, dangerous, or vicious, that record is strong proof the owner knew it was a threat. Owners of classified dogs must register them, keep them securely confined, and muzzle and leash them off the property. In Augusta, owners of dangerous and vicious dogs must also carry at least $50,000 in liability insurance, which can help pay your claim.
Hurt by a dog with a history? Call Hawk Law Group at (706) 397-3355 for a free case review.
The owner isn't always the only responsible party. Depending on where the attack happened, liability may extend to:
Bitten on the job? You may have an Augusta workers' compensation claim plus a separate claim against the dog's owner, which can cover pain and suffering that workers' comp doesn't.
In most cases, payment comes from the owner's or keeper's homeowner's, renter's, or business insurance.
In most Georgia dog bite cases, the payment comes from the owner's homeowner's, renter's, or business liability insurance. Before you accept any offer, you need to know what your claim is really worth. Early offers often leave out future surgery, scarring, and counseling.
No two dog bite cases are the same. The factors that most affect value include:
Insurers will try to pay less than you deserve. Don't let them. Call Hawk Law Group at (706) 397-3355 to speak with a lawyer who can assess the fair value of your dog bite case today.
You have the right to hold a pet owner accountable for damages after a dog bite. It’s important to include the full range of available economic and non-economic damages in your settlement.
Your economic damages will include:
Non-economic damages awards often account for your:
Punitive damages may also be available in rare cases under O.C.G.A. 51-12-5.1, such as when an owner kept a dog already classified as vicious with conscious indifference to the danger.
At Hawk Law Group, we’re prepared to help you fight for every dollar you deserve. Just call our law firm to schedule a free case review today.
Dog bites can cause a surprisingly wide range of injuries. Those injuries often extend well beyond the actual puncture wound--especially if the victim is knocked to the ground. Unfortunately, many dog bite victims are children.
Some common dog bite injuries include:
Some dog attacks are serious enough to cause the wrongful death of your loved one. If you were injured or lost a family member, our lawyers are here for you. We’ll fight to recover the maximum compensation available. Just call our law offices to schedule a free case evaluation today.
In most cases, you have two years from the date of the bite to file a lawsuit. This deadline comes from O.C.G.A. 9-3-33, Georgia's statute of limitations for personal injury. If you miss it, the court will almost certainly dismiss your case, and you lose the right to compensation entirely.
Two years can pass faster than it seems, especially while you are still in treatment. Different timing rules can apply when the victim is a child, or when a claim involves a government-owned dog, such as a police K-9, where much shorter notice deadlines may apply. Don't assume you have more time. Evidence like Animal Services records, camera footage, and witness memories is easiest to secure in the first weeks.
Were you or a loved one injured by a dog bite or animal attack? Call an experienced Augusta dog bite lawyer at Hawk Law Group to schedule a free initial consultation. We’ll fight to recover the full and fair compensation your family needs.
Hawk Law Group - Augusta
338 Telfair St. Augusta, GA 30901
(706) 722-3500
Augusta, North Augusta, Downtown Augusta, Medical District, Forest Hills, Summerville, Murray Hill, Harrisburg, West End, and its surrounding areas.
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Not always. But bites that seem minor can become infected, scar, or need plastic surgery later, and an early insurance offer won't account for that. A free consultation can tell you whether your claim is worth pursuing before you sign anything.
Nothing up front. Hawk Law Group handles dog bite cases on a contingency fee, so you pay nothing unless we recover compensation for you.
Yes. Most dog bite claims are paid by the owner's homeowner's or renter's insurance, not out of the owner's pocket. Many people file claims against friends and relatives for exactly that reason.
A parent or guardian brings the claim on the child's behalf. Children's cases often involve facial scarring and future surgery, so it's important not to settle early. In Georgia, larger settlements for a minor require court approval.
Not automatically. Reporting to Augusta-Richmond County Animal Services starts an investigation and a 10-day rabies observation. Euthanasia is rare and follows a separate legal process for the most serious attacks. Reporting protects you and creates the record your claim needs.
Usually. Most homeowner's and renter's policies include liability coverage for dog bites. Some exclude certain breeds or dogs with a bite history, which is why we look for every policy that might apply.
South Carolina law applies, and it is often more favorable to victims. Under S.C. Code 47-3-110, the owner or keeper is liable if you were in a public place or lawfully on private property, unless you provoked the dog. You generally have three years to file. With offices in Georgia and South Carolina, we handle bites on both sides of the river.
Did you sustain an injury at work or develop an occupational illness? If so, hiring an experienced Augusta Dog Bite Lawyer can be essential for your fight for benefits.
(888) 771-1110The personal injury lawyers at Hawk Law Group represent accident victims throughout the Central Savannah River Area, including Augusta, Avera, Belvedere, Blythe, Crawfordville, Davisboro, Evans, Gibson, Grovetown, Harlem, Hephzibah, Jackson, Lincolnton, Louisville, Martinez, Millen, New Ellenton, North Augusta, Sandersville, Sparta, Stapleton, Thomson, Warrenton, Waynesboro, and all surrounding communities in Aiken, Edgefield, and Richmond Counties.
Hawk Law Group is a personal injury law firm serving clients in Augusta, GA, and surrounding areas. With over 71 years of combined experience, we have recovered hundreds of millions on behalf of injury victims. Contact us for help today.
