Newburyport Dog Bite and Injury Attorney

Newburyport, Massachusetts is a coastal tourist destination 45 minutes north of Boston. People love Newburyport for its shops, restaurants, and overall old-time charm. If you’ve been, you also know Newburyport is an incredibly dog-friendly city. The city offers off-leash dog parks, and downtown streets are littered with water bowls for those walking their dogs downtown.

While there is a lot to love about the hustle and bustle of Newburyport, furry friends included, the risk of having more dogs around downtown also means there may be more opportunity for people to be injured by a dog.

If you were bit or injured by a dog in Newburyport, Massachusetts, you might be owed compensation for your injuries.

Dog injuries are traumatic and can require extensive medical treatment. Spada Law Group’s experienced team can help you recover money for your medical bills, lost wages, pain, suffering, and other costs from this traumatic injury.

If you have questions about how a dog bite or injury claim works in Massachusetts or whether you have a case, call our Newburyport office to set up a free consultation with one of our lawyers. Our dog bite and injury attorneys can let you know whether you have a case and how we can help you.

Call for a free consultation today: (978) 765-2112.

What to Do if You Were Bit or Injured by a Dog in Newburyport, Massachusetts

If you or your child were injured, scratched, or bit by a dog, seek medical attention immediately. Getting medical care the same day as the injury will help reduce the risk of infection. It is imperative to get medical treatment so you can be treated for any possible rabies exposure from a dog, as rabies is deadly if not treated immediately. You can get rabies from a bite or even a scratch by a rabid animal. There is a vaccine for rabies that can stop the disease from developing, but only if you are treated immediately. Once the disease develops, there is no treatment.

The Boston Children’s Hospital reports most dog bite injuries happen to children. One reason is that children may approach an unfamiliar dog, play aggressively with a dog, or disturb a sleeping or eating dog. One way to prevent this is to teach your kids how to interact with familiar and unfamiliar dogs.

What to Do if You or Your Child is Bit or Injured by a Dog

First, separate your child from the dog and put the dog in another area where they are confined and can calm down. Then, assess the injury. If the injury is more than a simple scrape, seek medical attention at the nearest urgent care or hospital. If the injury is severe, call 911 to get medical treatment immediately.

How to Report a Dog Bite in Newburyport

After getting the necessary medical care, you should also report the incident to the Newburyport Animal Control Officer. You can report injuries by domestic or wild dogs.

An emergency animal complaint is one that requires immediate assistance from the Animal Control Officer. Emergency incidents include any immediate threat to human life or an injury to a domestic animal.

Ways to report the incident:

Call the Newburyport Animal Control Officer: (978) 465-4410
- If the animal-related emergency is on a night or weekend, call the Newburyport Police Department for assistance.
Call Newburyport Police: (978) 462-4411
To report a non-emergency complaint, call the Newburyport Health Department: (978) 465-4410

Emergency Complaints include:

Dog bite, dog attack, or dog mauling in progress
A large dog acting vicious or posing a threat to a human or another animal
A potentially rabid animal in contact with a human or domestic animal
A domestic animal was hit by a car and injured
A large dead animal disrupting the traffic flow

All other complaints are non-emergency complaints that do not threaten life, public safety, or danger of serious injury.

Who is Responsible for Your Dog Bite Injuries in Newburyport?

The dog’s owner is responsible for any harm a dog causes. The owner is liable if a dog bites or otherwise injures you.

Massachusetts has one of the country's strictest dog bite and injury laws, especially if a child is bit or injured. The law clearly states if a dog harms a person or even a person’s property, the dog’s owner is responsible for the harm and damage the dog caused. Dog injuries can range from being knocked over by a dog and getting injured from a hard fall to aggressive bite wounds.

Even if it is the first time the dog has ever hurt anyone, the dog’s owner is still liable for any harm the dog causes. Massachusetts’ dog bite statute is a strict liability law, meaning the dog owner is responsible even if the owner acted responsibly.

The only real exceptions to the dog owner’s liability for your injury are if you were trespassing on someone else’s property or teasing, tormenting, or abusing the dog at the time of the injury. If this exception applies, then the injured person may be partially at fault for their injury. However, an injured person might still have an injury case if the dog was more than 50% responsible for the accident.

This exception does NOT apply to children under seven years old. Young children are never held responsible for their behavior toward a dog, and it’s always the owner’s responsibility to protect their dog around children.

If I Sue The Dog’s Owner, Will I Hurt Them Financially?

Usually, suing a dog owner does NOT harm their personal finances. Many people are worried about pursuing an injury claim if a dog injures them at a friend’s, family member’s, or neighbor’s home because they are concerned about the cost they’ll impose on someone else. But the truth is that the insurance company, not the individual, will be paying for the injuries. We’ve even helped bring a claim against a victim’s sibling for injuries caused by a dog.

Homeowners liability or renter’s insurance typically covers the costs of your dog-related injuries. The insurance policy will compensate you for your medical care. If you are hurt by a neighbor, friend, or family member’s dog, a lawsuit for injuries usually will not require the dog owner to pay out of pocket. Their insurance company will provide coverage for your damages.

Our job at Spada Law is negotiating with the insurance companies on your behalf to get a fair settlement to compensate you for your dog-related injuries. Most of the time, the cases settle, and we don’t need to file a lawsuit. However, if the insurance company does not offer a reasonable settlement, we can take the claim to court for you.

You have three years from the date of your injury to file a personal injury lawsuit for a dog bite or dog injury case in Massachusetts.

Dog-Friendly Spots in Newburyport, Massachusetts

Most dogs will never bite or attack a human, but under certain circumstances, any dog can harm a human, according to the American Academy of Family Physicians. Nearly 50% of all dog bites involve a dog owned by the victim’s own family, friends, or neighbors, but bites can also happen in public areas with unknown dogs.

Dog Parks in Newburyport

Off-Leash Dog Parks in Newburyport:
- 1) Cashman Park: Right along the Merrimack River, at Sally Snyder Way, Newburyport.
- 2) Moseley Woods: Near Merrimac St. and Spofford St.
- 3) March’s Hill: located on High Street at Bromfield Street.
Plum Island Beach: Dogs are allowed before 8:30 am and after 5:30 pm from May 15 to September 15. The rest of the year, dogs are allowed at any time.
The North Point Beach of Plum Island: Leashed dogs are allowed from September 16 through May 14.
Parker River Wildlife Refuge and South Point of Plum Island: A beach where dogs are NEVER allowed.

The benefits of dog parks are that the city of Newburyport has a code of rules that govern the off-leash parks, including required licenses and vaccinations.

Dog-Friendly Restaurants in Newburyport

Sea Level Oyster Bar: Dogs are welcome on the front patio at one of the top downtown seafood restaurants at 1 Market Square.
Oregano: Dogs are welcome to lay down outside the patio by their owners at this Italian and Lebanese restaurant at 16 Pleasant St.
Bob Lobster: Dogs are allowed at the outdoor picnic table seating while you enjoy lobster rolls, chowder, fried seafood, and more at this Plumb Island restaurant at 49 Plum Island Turnpike.
Stone Crust Pizza: Dogs are welcome to relax with their families at the outdoor tables at this 8 Pleasant St restaurant.
Anchor Stone Deck Pizza: Dogs are welcome to relax under the table while owners enjoy a meal at this popular pizzeria docked on 44 State Street in historic Newburyport.
The Juicery: A smoothie, super juice, and acai bowl stop at 40 State Street allows dogs at its outdoor tables.

Most restaurants with outdoor patios will allow dogs to be on the outside perimeter of the patio if the dog is leashed and well-behaved.

Dog-Friendly Businesses in Newburyport

Just Dogs Newburyport: A dog bakery and supplies shop in the Market Square Historic District at 37 Pleasant St.
The Natural Dog: An independent local pet store at 155 State St.
Tannery Marketplace: The Tannery is a very dog-friendly renovated mill that is a great place to shop and walk. Dogs are not allowed in the eateries, however. The Tanner Marketplace is at 75 Water St.
Quinns Canine Cafe: Dog bakery inside the Tannery Marketplace at 50 Water St., Suite 18.

If a dog injured you at a dog park or any dog-friendly area in Newburyport, get medical attention, report the incident, and then call our office for a free consultation to learn about your rights and options: (978) 765-2112.

Types of Newburyport Dog Bite and Injury Cases

Dogs can cause different injuries in addition to dog bites. No matter the type of injury, you may be able to recover if a dog hurts you.

Large and small dogs are both capable of seriously injuring someone. Even if a dog did not bite you, you could be knocked over or otherwise injured by a dog.

Common Dog-Caused Injuries Include:

Head Injuries: A dog can knock someone over and cause them to trip, fall, and hit their head.
Infections: If you were scratched or bit by a dog, you could get an infection from their teeth or nails. Medical attention is necessary because dogs carry dangerous bacteria in their mouths and claws, which can sometimes cause life-threatening infections.
Arm & Leg Injuries: When a dog attacks someone, a person will usually use their arms and legs to protect themselves, which can lead to cuts, muscle damage, fractures, and broken bones.
Permanent Scars or Disfigurement from a Dog Bite: Dog bites can lead to tears in skin, tissue, and muscles, which can cause serious scars and disfigurement. Facial scarring is very common and typically requires plastic surgery.
Emotional Injuries: After a dog attack, people commonly experience fear, pain, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress.
Other Damages: Any dog injury can damage nerves, tendons, tissues, and bones.

Damages Available After a Newburyport Dog Bite or Injury

Dog-caused injuries can require extensive medical treatment and have lasting consequences. Every injury is unique, but there are common types of compensation you’re entitled to after a dog bite, dog attack, or other dog-related injuries.

Economic damages include medical bills, plastic surgery, physical therapy, counseling, lost wages, and more.

Noneconomic damages include pain and suffering, permanent scarring and disfigurement, development of a mental health disorder (anxiety, post-traumatic stress, severe fear of dogs), loss of quality of life, social anxiety, and more.

How Spada Law Group’s Newburyport Dog Bite and Dog Injury Attorneys Can Help

We’ve helped many people get the compensation they need to recover after a dog bite, dog attack, or other dog-related injuries. Dog injury treatments—including emergency room visits, plastic surgery, and ongoing counseling for trauma—are expensive, and you shouldn't have to pay for this care out of your own pocket. Schedule a free consultation with our attorneys if a dog injured you or your child. See some of our dog-injury case results here.

Learn how Spada Law helped a woman walking her dog recover a $100,000 settlement after being attacked by a dog in her neighborhood.
We helped a man recover $350,000 after a dog bit his ear.

Injured By A Dog in Newburyport, Massachusetts? Reach out for a FREE Consultation With A Dog Bite and Dog Injury Lawyer

Dog bite and dog injury cases can be severe. Injuries from a dog bite can be life-changing.

If you or a loved one were a victim of a dog bite or dog injury in Newburyport, Massachusetts you have rights and may be able to get compensation for your medical bills, time lost from work, pain and suffering, and more. Our Newburyport dog bite attorneys are here to guide you every step of the way.

Over the last three decades, we’ve helped thousands of people in Massachusetts get the recovery they need after a dog attack injury. Recently, Boston Magazine named Attorney Spada one of Boston’s Top Personal Injury Lawyers. As personal injury lawyers, you never pay us a penny until we win your case. We’re here and ready to help.

We have three offices but proudly serve the entire state with the ability to meet with you remotely from the comfort of your own home. Contact us for a free consultation so we can learn more about your Newburyport dog bite or dog injury case and see how we can help you get the recovery you deserve after your situation occurs.