Merrimack Dog Bite Lawyer

Were you injured in a dog attack in Merrimack?

At Welts, White, & Fontaine, P.C., we are trial-tested dog bite lawyers committed to thorough preparation in every matter.

If you were bitten by a neighbor’s dog or injured by a dog on rental property, our Merrimack, NH dog bite lawyer can identify every responsible party and each insurance policy that applies to your claim. We prepare each case as though it will be tried, which gives the insurer an accurate view of what the claim is worth. We also handle all communication with the insurer while you recover.

Welts, White, & Fontaine, P.C. has practiced law in southern New Hampshire for close to five decades. Contact our office to request a consultation.

Dog Bite Lawyer Merrimack, NH

When someone else’s dog injures you, a dog bite lawyer builds your claim, deals with the insurance company, and takes the case to court if the insurer will not pay a fair amount. In Merrimack, many of these cases involve a neighbor’s dog or a dog living in a rental home.

The Census Bureau reports an owner-occupied housing rate of 88.9 percent among Merrimack’s 10,844 households, which means many dog bite claims in town are presented to a homeowner’s insurer. Homeowner’s policies typically include liability coverage for dog bites. Liability under New Hampshire’s dog statute attaches to the owner, keeper, or possessor, so a person who was walking or watching the dog can also be responsible.

Types of Dog Bite Cases We Handle in Merrimack

Our dog bite attorneys handle attacks at private homes, rental properties, and businesses in Merrimack, as well as on public roads. The first task in each case is establishing who controlled the dog at the moment of the attack.

• Bites from a neighbor’s dog. A dog that crosses a property line or greets a visitor at the door can cause serious injury in an instant. We document the scene, identify the owner, and present the claim to the owner’s homeowner’s insurer.
• Dogs kept by tenants in apartments and condominiums. When the dog belongs to a tenant, the tenant’s renter’s policy is often the primary source of coverage. Our dog bite lawyers confirm whether that policy exists and whether any other policy may apply to the location of the attack.
• Bites involving dog walkers, sitters, and boarding facilities. New Hampshire law can hold a keeper responsible along with the owner. A professional walker or kennel may carry business liability coverage that is separate from the owner’s policy.
• Attacks on walkers, runners, and cyclists. Dogs that leave a yard can injure people on neighborhood roads and trails. Roads without sidewalks bring pedestrians into close contact with dogs that are not confined. We obtain the animal control report and locate witnesses who saw the dog before and during the attack.
• Injuries to mail carriers and delivery drivers. Workers who enter a property to deliver packages are frequently bitten at the door. A claim against the dog’s owner can proceed alongside any benefits the worker receives through employment.
• Knockdowns that cause fractures. A large dog can knock an older adult to the ground and cause a hip or wrist fracture without a single bite. When the injured person had a preexisting condition, we separate the new harm from the prior condition with the help of treating physicians.
• Injuries suffered while separating fighting dogs. Owners who step in to protect their own pet are often bitten in the process. The claim can include the owner’s medical care and the veterinary bills for the injured pet.
• Bites at businesses that allow dogs. A customer bitten inside a store or other business that allows dogs may have a premises liability claim against the business, in addition to a claim against the dog’s owner. We review what the business knew about the dog.

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

Trial Preparation in Every Dog Bite Claim

Jack S. White has tried civil and personal injury cases before New Hampshire judges and juries since 1980. Michael J. Fontaine has represented injured clients for more than 35 years and holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Assumption University. His workers’ compensation practice helps when a delivery driver or other worker is bitten on the job and has claims against both an employer’s insurer and the dog’s owner. That is the experience you get when you hire our firm as your personal injury lawyer in Merrimack, NH.

Recoveries in Premises and Injury Matters

The firm’s personal injury clients have recovered millions of dollars through negotiated settlements and verdicts, and those results include:

• $1,250,000 for a pedestrian struck by a motor vehicle
• $450,000 for a concussion sustained in a trip and fall at a supermarket plaza
• $292,500 in a personal injury matter
• $250,000 jury verdict for a back injury in a motor vehicle accident

When you hire a Merrimack dog bite attorney at our firm, representation is offered on a contingency fee basis. Our fee is a percentage of the recovery, and if there is no recovery, there is no attorney fee.

What Is Important to Understand About a Dog Bite Case?

What Is the Dog Bite Case Timeline?

Most dog bite claims in Merrimack follow a consistent sequence.

• The first weeks: medical treatment, a report to Merrimack animal control, and photographs of the injury and the location of the attack
• Investigation: identifying the owner, keeper, or possessor of the dog, requesting the relevant insurance policies, and interviewing witnesses
• Demand: once treatment reaches a stable point, a written demand to the insurer supported by medical records, bills, and photographs
• Negotiation: offers and responses with the adjuster, which resolve many claims without a lawsuit
• Litigation: if needed, a lawsuit filed within the three-year filing deadline, either in the Merrimack district court or in Hillsborough County Superior Court, depending on the amount in dispute

We identify the filing time limits that apply to your claim when we first review it.

What Are Important Aspects of a Dog Bite Case?

In a dog bite claim that arises on someone else’s property, the main questions are who was responsible for the dog and which insurance applies. Four issues arise in most Merrimack cases, and a dog bite attorney addresses each one before a demand is made.

1. Identifying every responsible party. The owner, a keeper, and anyone possessing the dog at the time of the attack may each bear responsibility, and a parent or guardian answers for a dog owned by a minor.
2. Locating every applicable policy. Homeowner’s, renter’s, and business liability policies can each apply. Dog-related liability claims cost homeowners insurers $1.862 billion in 2025, according to Triple-I claims data.
3. Addressing allegations of shared fault. Dog bite liability does not require proof of carelessness, but insurers often argue general negligence principles to shift blame to the victim. Under the comparative fault statute, a recovery is reduced by the injured person’s share of fault and barred only when that share exceeds the defendant’s.
4. Preserving evidence from the property. Fencing, gates, leashes, and prior complaints to animal control can show how the dog reached the victim.

Damages, Liability, and Compensation for Dog Bite Cases

Compensation reflects both the financial cost of the injury and its effect on daily life. The value of a claim depends on the severity of the injury, the length of treatment, and whether any effects are permanent, and a personal injury lawsuit may be necessary when an insurer will not pay that value. Recoverable losses generally include:

• Medical and rehabilitation costs, including surgery, physical therapy, and scar treatment
• Lost income, covering missed work and any lasting reduction in earning capacity
• Pain, scarring, and emotional distress, which often represent the largest part of a serious claim
• Veterinary bills when the attack also injured the victim’s own dog

Future medical care, such as scar revision performed after a wound matures, is included when a physician documents the need for it.

What Should You Bring to Your Dog Bite Consultation?

The following documents help our dog bite lawyer identify the responsible parties and the insurance coverage at the outset.

• The address where the attack occurred and the name of the dog’s owner or caretaker
• Any lease, rental, or property information connected to the location
• Medical records and bills, plus veterinary records if a pet was injured
• The animal control or police report number
• Photographs of the injuries, the dog, and the property

At the consultation, we review how the attack occurred, who controlled the dog, and what coverage is likely available. If a claim cannot succeed, we say so plainly before you invest further time in it.

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

Contact us with the details of the attack, and our Merrimack dog bite lawyer can review the coverage that may apply to your injuries. Welts, White, & Fontaine, P.C. represents dog bite victims under a contingency fee arrangement. During the consultation, we discuss the responsible parties, the insurance involved, and the next steps. Bring any photographs, medical records, and insurance letters you have.