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Dog Knocked Me Down — Do I Have a Claim in Georgia?
A dog does not have to bite you for a dog attack to cause a serious injury.
A large or aggressive dog can knock someone to the ground while chasing, jumping on, charging, or attacking them. A fall can result in a broken bone, torn ligament, head injury, back injury, concussion, or other serious harm.
If a dog knocked you down and injured you in Georgia, you may have a claim even if the dog never bit you. Whether you can recover compensation depends on the circumstances of the incident, how the dog was managed, applicable Georgia law, and the nature of your injuries.
The Georgia Dog Bite Lawyer represents people injured by dogs and other animals throughout Georgia.
Quick Answers
Can I have a claim if the dog never bit me?
Potentially. A dog-related injury does not necessarily require a bite wound. The circumstances surrounding the attack and the resulting injury are important.
What if the dog knocked me down while running toward me?
The circumstances should be investigated. Evidence concerning the dog’s behavior, how it was being controlled, and what happened immediately before the fall may be important.
What if I broke a bone when a dog knocked me down?
A fracture can be a significant injury. Medical records and evidence documenting how the injury occurred may be important to a potential claim.
What if the dog was off-leash?
An off-leash dog can be an important fact, particularly if applicable leash or animal-control requirements were violated. The specific circumstances and applicable local law should be evaluated.
Do I need to be bitten for Georgia’s dog-bite law to apply?
Not necessarily. The legal analysis depends on the facts and the particular cause or causes of action that may apply.
A Dog Attack Does Not Always Leave a Bite Wound
When people hear “dog attack,” they often picture a bite.
But dogs can injure people in many other ways.
A dog may:
- Charge at someone
- Knock someone to the ground
- Jump on someone
- Chase someone
- Knock a bicyclist off a bicycle
- Cause a runner to fall
- Knock down an elderly person
- Knock down a child
- Cause someone to fall while trying to escape
- Cause a person to fall while attempting to protect another person
- Attack another dog and cause its owner to fall while intervening
The absence of a bite does not necessarily mean that the incident was harmless or that there is no potential legal claim.
The important question is what happened and whether another person or entity may be legally responsible for the resulting injury.
What Should I Do If a Dog Knocks Me Down?
If you have been injured, take steps to protect both your health and your ability to document what happened.
1. Get medical attention
A fall caused by a dog can produce injuries that are not immediately obvious.
Depending on the circumstances, a person may suffer:
- Broken bones
- Sprains
- Torn ligaments
- Shoulder injuries
- Wrist injuries
- Knee injuries
- Hip injuries
- Back injuries
- Neck injuries
- Head injuries
- Concussions
- Cuts and abrasions
Some injuries become more apparent hours or days after a fall.
Follow your medical provider’s recommendations and keep records of your treatment.
2. Document the scene
If you are physically able to do so, photograph the location where the incident occurred.
Photographs may help document:
- Where the dog was located
- Where you fell
- Fences and gates
- Sidewalks
- Leashes or restraints
- Warning signs
- Property conditions
- Visible injuries
- Damage to clothing or personal property
3. Identify the dog and its owner
Obtain the owner’s name and contact information if it is safe to do so.
Also record information that may help identify the dog, including its address or where it was being kept.
Do not approach an aggressive or unfamiliar dog to obtain this information.
4. Identify witnesses
Write down the names and contact information of anyone who saw the incident.
Witnesses may be able to describe:
- Whether the dog was running loose
- Whether the dog charged you
- Whether the dog had previously acted aggressively
- Whether the owner attempted to control the dog
- What happened immediately before you fell
- How you were injured
5. Report the incident when appropriate
Depending on the circumstances and local requirements, an animal attack may need to be reported to the appropriate authorities.
An official report can also create a contemporaneous record of the incident.
6. Preserve evidence
Keep photographs, medical records, receipts, damaged clothing, videos, text messages, and other information relating to the incident.
If a surveillance camera may have captured the incident, identify the camera and its owner as soon as possible.
Video evidence can disappear or be overwritten.
Can I Sue If a Dog Knocked Me Down but Never Bit Me?
Potentially.
Georgia law recognizes liability for certain injuries caused by animals, including under O.C.G.A. § 51-2-7. But determining whether a particular dog-related fall creates a viable claim requires examining the facts rather than applying a simple “bite or no bite” test.
Important questions may include:
- Who owned or controlled the dog?
- Where did the incident occur?
- Was the dog properly restrained?
- Was the dog running loose?
- Was there a leash or other restraint?
- Did the owner know or have reason to know about dangerous behavior?
- Were applicable local animal-control or leash requirements violated?
- What exactly did the dog do?
- What caused the fall?
- Did the person see the dog before the incident?
- Did the person take reasonable steps to avoid the dog?
- Was anyone else involved?
- What injuries resulted?
A Georgia dog-attack attorney can examine these facts and determine what legal theories may potentially apply.
What If the Dog Was Running Toward Me?
A dog charging toward a person can create a very different set of circumstances from a dog that accidentally bumps into someone.
Evidence about the dog’s behavior immediately before the incident can be important.
For example, witnesses may have seen the dog:
- Running directly toward you
- Barking or growling
- Chasing you
- Jumping toward you
- Acting aggressively
- Breaking free from a leash
- Escaping a fenced area
Video footage can also be particularly valuable.
The fact that the dog never actually bit you does not necessarily tell the entire story.
What If I Fell While Trying to Get Away From a Dog?
This is an important scenario.
Suppose a dog runs toward you and you attempt to get away. You trip over a curb, fall on a sidewalk, or otherwise injure yourself while trying to avoid the animal.
The legal analysis can become more complicated because the injury may have resulted from the effort to escape rather than from direct physical contact with the dog.
That does not mean you automatically have a claim—or automatically do not have one.
The circumstances surrounding the incident should be carefully investigated.
Important evidence can include witness statements, surveillance footage, photographs of the location, the dog’s behavior, and the sequence of events leading to the fall.
What If a Dog Knocked Me Down While I Was Riding a Bicycle?
Dog-related bicycle accidents can cause significant injuries.
A dog may:
- Run into the bicycle
- Chase the bicycle
- Run alongside the bicycle
- Cause the rider to lose control
- Cause the rider to swerve into traffic
- Cause the rider to fall while attempting to avoid the dog
A bicycle accident can result in injuries far more serious than the original contact with the animal.
If you were injured in this type of incident, preserve evidence of the bicycle, helmet, clothing, location, and circumstances of the accident.
What If a Dog Knocked Down My Child?
Children can be particularly vulnerable to being knocked down by dogs.
A large dog may knock a child to the ground even without biting.
Children may suffer:
- Head injuries
- Facial injuries
- Broken bones
- Cuts and abrasions
- Dental injuries
- Psychological trauma
- Fear of dogs
- Other injuries
If a child has been knocked down by a dog, parents should document the child’s injuries and medical treatment carefully.
Did the dog knock down your child? Learn more about dog bites and dog attacks involving children here.
What If a Dog Knocked Down an Elderly Person?
A dog that knocks down an older adult can cause particularly serious consequences.
Older adults may be more vulnerable to:
- Hip fractures
- Wrist fractures
- Shoulder injuries
- Head injuries
- Back injuries
- Complications from a fall
- Extended hospitalization or rehabilitation
A seemingly simple fall can therefore become a major medical event.
The seriousness of the injury should not be judged by whether the dog actually bit the person.
What If the Dog Was Off-Leash?
An off-leash dog may be an important fact in determining responsibility.
Georgia also has state and local rules governing dogs and animal control. The particular ordinance that applies can depend on where the incident occurred.
For that reason, an attorney evaluating a case should determine:
- Where the incident happened
- What local animal-control rules applied
- Whether the dog was required to be restrained
- Whether the owner violated a leash requirement
- Whether there were prior complaints or incidents
- Whether the dog was properly contained
An off-leash dog does not automatically establish liability in every situation, but it can be an important part of the evidence.
What If the Owner Says, “My Dog Was Just Playing”?
A dog owner may describe an incident as playful behavior.
But the description of the dog’s behavior does not determine the seriousness of the resulting injury.
A dog jumping on a person may cause a serious fall even if the owner believes the dog was being friendly.
The relevant facts may include the dog’s size, behavior, speed, the person’s age and physical condition, the location, and exactly how the fall occurred.
The resulting injury matters, too.
What If the Owner Says the Dog Has Never Hurt Anyone Before?
The absence of a prior reported attack may be relevant, but it does not necessarily resolve the legal question.
Georgia dog-injury cases can involve questions concerning the dog’s management, restraint, behavior, applicable laws, and the circumstances of the particular incident.
The owner’s statement that “the dog has never done this before” should therefore not be treated as the end of the investigation.
What Injuries Can Result From Being Knocked Down by a Dog?
The injuries from a dog-related fall can be substantial.
Broken bones
A person may fracture a wrist, arm, shoulder, hip, leg, ankle, or other bone while attempting to break a fall.
Head injuries
A fall onto concrete, pavement, a curb, or another hard surface can cause a concussion or other head injury.
Back and neck injuries
A sudden fall can produce injuries to the spine, muscles, discs, or other structures.
Shoulder injuries
Trying to catch yourself can place tremendous force on the shoulder and may result in a dislocation, fracture, or other injury.
Knee and leg injuries
A twisting or sudden fall can damage ligaments, cartilage, tendons, or bones.
Soft-tissue injuries
Sprains, strains, bruising, and other soft-tissue injuries can also occur.
Emotional trauma
A frightening dog attack can cause anxiety, fear of dogs, or other emotional consequences.
Can I Recover Compensation for a Dog-Related Fall?
Potentially.
Depending on the facts and applicable law, damages in a personal-injury claim may include compensation for legally recoverable losses such as:
- Medical expenses
- Future medical treatment
- Rehabilitation
- Lost income
- Loss of earning capacity
- Physical pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Other damages recognized by Georgia law
The potential value of a claim depends on its individual facts.
A person with a broken hip may have a substantially different claim from someone who suffers a minor bruise, even if both were knocked down by a dog.
What If I Have Medical Bills but Cannot Work?
If the dog-related fall caused an injury that prevents you from working, keep documentation of your lost time and lost income.
Potentially relevant records can include:
- Pay stubs
- Employer records
- Tax records
- Disability documentation
- Medical restrictions
- Records of missed work
- Documentation of reduced hours
If the injury affects your ability to perform your occupation in the future, that may also need to be evaluated.
What If the Dog Owner Has Homeowners Insurance?
Homeowners or renters insurance may provide coverage for certain dog-related injuries, depending on the policy and circumstances.
Insurance coverage should not be assumed, however.
Some policies contain exclusions, limitations, or other provisions that may affect coverage.
If an insurance company contacts you after the incident, consider having the situation reviewed before providing a recorded statement or accepting a settlement.
What Evidence Is Most Important in a Dog-Related Fall?
The evidence can be especially important when there is no bite wound.
Potentially useful evidence includes:
- Photographs of your injuries
- Photographs of the location
- Surveillance video
- Cellphone video
- Witness statements
- The dog’s identifying information
- Owner information
- Animal-control reports
- Medical records
- Medical bills
- Damaged clothing
- Bicycle or other damaged property
- Text messages
- Emails
- Evidence concerning prior incidents
- Applicable leash or animal-control regulations
The more clearly the evidence establishes the sequence of events, the easier it may be to understand what caused the injury.
Why Does It Matter Whether the Dog Bit Me?
It matters because the legal analysis depends on the particular facts and legal theory involved.
But a bite is not the only way a dog can cause injury.
Consider two examples:
Example 1: A dog bites a person on the leg.
Example 2: A dog charges a person, causing the person to fall onto concrete and fracture a wrist.
Both incidents involve injuries caused by a dog, but the evidence and legal issues can be different.
The second person should not assume that there is no potential claim simply because there is no bite wound.
What Should I Tell a Dog-Bite Attorney?
When speaking with an attorney, be prepared to explain:
- When the incident happened
- Where it happened
- Who owned the dog
- What the dog did
- What you did immediately before the fall
- Whether anyone witnessed the incident
- Whether the dog was leashed
- Whether the dog had previously acted aggressively
- Whether the incident was reported
- What injuries you suffered
- Where you received medical treatment
- Whether you missed work
- Whether there is surveillance video
- Whether an insurance company has contacted you
Do not worry if you do not know all of the answers.
An attorney investigating the incident can help identify what additional information may be needed.
A Dog Does Not Have to Bite You to Cause a Serious Injury
The words “dog bite” can sometimes make people overlook injuries caused by the dog in another way.
A person can suffer a serious injury because a dog charged, chased, jumped on, or knocked them down.
If you were injured, the important question is not simply whether the dog’s teeth touched you.
The important questions are what happened, why it happened, who may be legally responsible, and what injuries resulted.
Georgia Dog Attack Attorney
If a dog knocked you down and caused an injury, The Georgia Dog Bite Lawyer can evaluate the circumstances of the incident and explain your potential legal options.
Attorney Andrew Gebhardt represents people injured by dogs and other animals in Georgia.
A dog-related injury can involve complicated questions concerning animal liability, negligence, local animal-control requirements, insurance coverage, and the circumstances that caused the injury.
If you suffered a broken bone, head injury, back injury, shoulder injury, or another serious injury after being knocked down by a dog, contact The Georgia Dog Bite Lawyer to discuss your situation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I sue if a dog knocked me down but didn’t bite me?
Potentially. A dog does not necessarily have to bite a person for a dog-related injury claim to exist. The circumstances of the incident and the applicable Georgia law must be evaluated.
What if the dog knocked me down while chasing me?
The circumstances surrounding the chase, the dog’s behavior, how the dog was controlled, and the sequence of events leading to the injury may all be relevant.
What if I broke my hip after a dog knocked me down?
A hip fracture can be a serious injury, particularly for an older adult. Medical records, evidence concerning the fall, and information about the dog and its owner may be important.
What if my child was knocked down by a dog?
Children can suffer serious injuries from being knocked down even when there is no bite. Parents should obtain appropriate medical care, document the injuries, preserve evidence, and consider having the circumstances evaluated by a Georgia attorney.
Does an off-leash dog automatically make the owner liable?
Not necessarily. An off-leash dog can be important evidence, but liability depends on the circumstances and applicable law.
What if the dog owner says the dog was only playing?
The owner’s characterization of the dog’s behavior does not necessarily determine legal responsibility. The entire sequence of events and resulting injuries should be evaluated.
Can I recover for lost wages after being knocked down by a dog?
Potentially, if the injury results in legally compensable lost income or other damages. Documentation of missed work and income can be important.
Should I accept a settlement from the insurance company?
Do not assume that an early settlement reflects the full value of an injury, particularly when future medical treatment or other consequences are uncertain. Consider having the claim evaluated before accepting a settlement.
Contact The Georgia Dog Bite Lawyer
If a dog knocked you down and you were injured, you may have questions about who is responsible and whether you can recover compensation.
The Georgia Dog Bite Lawyer represents people injured by dogs throughout Georgia.
Contact The Georgia Dog Bite Lawyer at 678-DOG_BITE to discuss what happened and learn whether your circumstances may support a claim.
This page provides general information about Georgia law and is not legal advice. Every case is different, and the law can change. The potential outcome of a particular claim depends on its facts. Consult a qualified Georgia attorney about your specific situation.