Dog Bite Lawyer ยท Personal Injury
Bitten by a dog in Ontario? You have a real claim.
Ontario holds dog owners strictly liable, even if the dog never bit anyone before. James Moon, a former insurance-defence lawyer, handles your file personally in English and Korean.
Questions โ
What a dog bite lawyer proves in Ontario
Get medical care first, even if the wound looks small. Bites carry infection risk, and a clean medical record from day one is the single best piece of evidence in your claim. Ask for a tetanus update and follow any rabies advice.
Report the bite to your local public health unit and to animal control. The dog is usually placed under a 10-day rabies observation, and that report becomes an official record of what happened.
Photograph the wounds, your clothing, the location, and the dog. Get the owner's name, address, and phone number, and the name of any witnesses. If you do not know the owner, ask anyone nearby and check for cameras on the street or building.
Keep every receipt and document: hospital papers, prescriptions, time off work, and any messages from the owner. Then call us before the two-year limitation period starts to bite into the case.
Questions
Common questions, answered.
General information, not legal advice. Contact James to find out what applies to your situation.
Do I have to prove the dog owner was careless?
No. Ontario's Dog Owners' Liability Act makes owners strictly liable. You only need to show the dog bit or attacked you and identify the owner. You do not have to prove negligence or that the owner knew the dog was dangerous.
The dog had never bitten anyone before. Does that matter?
No. Ontario has no 'one free bite' rule. Under section 2(3) of the Act, liability does not depend on the dog's history, so a first-time bite is treated the same as a repeat attack.
Who actually pays the compensation?
Usually the owner's home or tenant insurance liability coverage, not the owner out of pocket. This often holds even if the bite happened away from the owner's home, depending on the policy. We work to identify every responsible owner and insurer.
I was bitten by a friend's or family member's dog. Do I have to sue them personally?
In most cases the claim is really against their insurance, not their personal savings. People are often more comfortable once they understand the money typically comes from a policy they already pay for.
How long do I have to make a claim?
Generally two years from the date you knew you were injured and that the dog and its owner were responsible, under the Limitations Act, 2002. For most bites that is the date of the attack. The deadline can be paused for children and for people unable to manage their own claim.
What if they say I provoked the dog?
Provoking or teasing the dog, or trespassing, can reduce your compensation in proportion to your share of fault, but it usually does not erase the claim. We assess how the incident really happened and respond to that argument with evidence.
Talk to James.
Tell us what happened, in English or Korean, and we will get back to you shortly.
Call 647 702 9838