Litchfield Dog Bite Lawyer

Were you injured in a dog bite attack in Litchfield?

At Welts, White & Fontaine, P.C., we are dog bite lawyers who pursue full recovery for injured clients and their families.

If you or a family member has been bitten by a dog, a Litchfield, NH dog bite lawyer at Welts, White & Fontaine, P.C. can evaluate your claim and work to recover compensation for the injuries you sustained. These cases raise questions about the dog owner’s liability, what insurance applies, and the true cost of the physical and emotional harm the attack caused.

Our firm has represented injured plaintiffs across southern New Hampshire for over 48 years. Reach out to schedule a free case review.

Dog Bite Lawyer Litchfield, NH

A dog bite claim is a personal injury action against the owner of a dog that has hurt someone. New Hampshire does not require the victim to prove that the owner knew the dog was dangerous. The owner is liable for the injuries their dog causes regardless of whether the animal has bitten anyone before. Dog bite law in this state puts the burden squarely on the owner rather than the person who was bitten.

Roughly 4.5 million dog bites happen in the United States every year, according to CDC reports, and about 800,000 of those bites are serious enough to require medical care. CDC mortality data also show dog bite fatalities more than doubled between 2018 and 2021. Children and postal workers account for a large share of those injuries. Litchfield, NH is a residential community where dog ownership is common, and bites happen in front yards, on sidewalks, at neighborhood parks, and inside private homes.

Types of Dog Bite Cases We Handle in Litchfield

Dog bite injuries in Litchfield range from small puncture wounds to disfiguring attacks that require reconstructive surgery. Our attorneys at Welts, White & Fontaine, P.C. represent bite victims across a wide range of personal injury cases involving animal attacks.

• Dog bites causing lacerations and scarring. Deep bites often leave permanent scars on the face, hands, and arms. Some victims need stitches. Others need skin grafts or plastic surgery. And the emotional weight of visible scarring tends to outlast the wound itself by months or even years.
• Attacks on children. Children are bitten more often than adults and tend to suffer injuries to the face and head because they are closer to the dog’s level. A bite that would leave a moderate mark on an adult can cause lasting disfigurement to a young child.
• Bites from unleashed or unrestrained dogs. A dog that is not leashed or properly confined and bites someone on a sidewalk, trail, or in a shared outdoor area creates a strong claim. The owner’s failure to restrain the animal is a central fact in these cases, and they come up frequently in residential neighborhoods.
• Dog bites causing infection or nerve damage. Puncture wounds from bites carry a real risk of bacterial infection, including Pasteurella and Capnocytophaga, as outlined in AVMA guidance on bite treatment. Some bites also sever nerves or damage tendons in the hands and forearms, which can result in permanent loss of grip strength or fine motor control.
• Attacks by dogs with known aggressive history. If a dog has previously bitten, lunged at, or threatened people or other animals, the owner’s choice to keep that dog in a setting where it can reach someone strengthens the victim’s case. Prior incidents may also support a claim for additional damages beyond standard compensation.
• Dog bites on public property. Bites in parks, on town sidewalks, or along paths like the Roland Bergeron Bike Path in Litchfield raise questions about leash law compliance. Whether the owner made any real effort to control the animal before the attack is often the deciding issue.
• Landlord liability for tenant-owned dogs. A landlord who knows a tenant’s dog is dangerous and does nothing about it may share liability when the dog injures someone. But these claims require evidence that the landlord actually knew about the risk, not just that the dog was large or belonged to a certain breed.
• Fatal or catastrophic dog attacks. These cases are uncommon, but some attacks cause traumatic brain injuries, torn arteries, or death. Dog bite liability in a fatal attack can extend to a wrongful death claim brought by surviving family members.

Why Choose Welts, White & Fontaine, P.C. as My Dog Bite Lawyer in Litchfield, NH?

Experienced Personal Injury Attorneys Serving Litchfield

Michael Fontaine has run Welts, White & Fontaine, P.C. since 1985. For nearly four decades, he has handled personal injury, workers’ compensation, and civil litigation across Hillsborough County. He earned his J.D. from St. Louis University School of Law and has spoken at continuing education seminars for attorneys and paralegals across the state.

Jack White has more than 40 years of trial work behind him, covering personal injury and civil litigation. He received the Nashua Bar Association Humanitarian Award in 2013 and has been recognized in peer-reviewed directories for plaintiff’s personal injury litigation. Israel Piedra is admitted to practice before the U.S. Supreme Court and the First Circuit Court of Appeals. Both the Nashua Telegraph and the New Hampshire Union Leader named him a “40 Under Forty” honoree.

Three generations of plaintiff-side attorneys under one roof is not something most firms in this area can point to. That focus is what sets a personal injury lawyer in Litchfield, NH apart from practices that split their time between plaintiffs and defendants. There is no upfront cost to begin your case, and you pay no attorney fees unless the firm recovers compensation for you.

Welts, White & Fontaine, P.C. has helped its clients recover millions of dollars in personal injury and dog bite cases, including:

• $500,000 in a personal injury matter
• $450,000 in a trip and fall causing a concussion
• $325,000 in a personal injury case
• $300,000 in a personal injury settlement
• $250,000 in a personal injury matter

Past results do not guarantee a similar outcome in future cases.

What Is Important to Understand About a Dog Bite Case?

Damages, Liability, and Compensation for Dog Bite Cases

New Hampshire holds dog owners strictly liable for injuries their animals cause. That is a significant advantage for the person who was bitten. You do not need to prove the owner was careless or that the dog had a history of aggression. The fact that the dog caused the injury is enough.

Compensation in a Litchfield dog bite case may cover:

• Emergency room visits, surgery, and follow-up medical appointments
• Physical therapy for nerve or tendon injuries
• Plastic or reconstructive surgery to address scarring and disfigurement
• Wages lost while recovering from the attack
• Pain and suffering, which can include lasting anxiety around dogs, sleep disruption, and emotional distress
• Projected future medical costs when additional procedures are likely

New Hampshire does apply a comparative fault rule. If the victim provoked the dog or was trespassing when the bite occurred, the recovery is reduced by the victim’s share of fault. And if the victim is found 51% or more at fault, the claim is barred.

What Are Important Aspects of a Dog Bite Case?

Dog bite claims in Litchfield, NH turn on a handful of factors that tend to come up again and again. Getting ahead of them early gives your attorney a stronger position from the start.

• Document the injury right away. Photographs, medical records, and a written account of how the attack unfolded are the most important pieces of early evidence
• Report the bite to Litchfield animal control or the police. This creates a formal record and may trigger a quarantine of the dog under NH public health protocols
• Get the dog owner’s name, address, and homeowner’s insurance information. Without it, your attorney cannot identify the right insurance carrier to pursue
• Do not give a written or recorded statement to the owner’s insurance company before speaking with an attorney. Insurers handling dog bite lawsuits routinely use early statements to reduce the value of claims
• New Hampshire law gives you three years from the date of the bite to file a personal injury lawsuit. Missing that deadline eliminates your right to bring the case at all

What Is the Dog Bite Case Timeline?

How long a dog bite case takes depends on the injuries, how clear the liability picture is, and whether the parties can agree on a fair number.

• Medical treatment: immediate care within hours of the bite, followed by any ongoing treatment for infection, scarring, or nerve damage
• Investigation: the attorney collects medical records, photographs, animal control reports, and statements from anyone who saw the attack
• Demand: a formal demand letter goes to the dog owner’s homeowner’s or renter’s insurance carrier, laying out the claim and the compensation owed
• Negotiation: the insurer responds, and the two sides work toward a resolution
• Litigation: if the insurer will not offer a fair settlement, the attorney files a civil complaint, and the case moves into discovery and trial preparation

A straightforward bite with clear liability and limited scarring might resolve in a few months. Cases involving disfigurement, child victims, or disputes over whether the victim provoked the dog tend to go longer, sometimes well past a year.

What Should You Bring to Your Dog Bite Consultation?

Having the right documents ready before you sit down with a Litchfield dog bite attorney at Welts, White & Fontaine, P.C. makes the first conversation more productive.

• Photographs of the bite wound, taken as close to the time of the attack as possible
• Medical bills and records for every visit, procedure, or prescription related to the bite
• The animal control or police report, if one was filed
• The dog owner’s name, address, and insurance information
• Any letters, emails, or messages you have received from the owner or their insurer

Your attorney will go through the facts, explain how negligence claims and strict liability work in your situation, and lay out what the next steps look like.

Reach Out to Welts, White & Fontaine, P.C. to Schedule a Consultation

If you or someone in your family has been bitten by a dog in Litchfield, NH, the attorneys at Welts, White & Fontaine, P.C. can review your case and walk you through your legal options. The initial consultation is free, and you owe nothing unless we recover compensation on your behalf. Contact us to schedule a case review. We represent dog bite victims throughout Litchfield and southern New Hampshire.