A dog attack happens without warning. One moment you are walking through your neighborhood, visiting a friend’s home, or doing your job — and in the next, you are dealing with serious injuries, a trip to the emergency room, and the shock of an animal attack that may leave lasting physical and emotional scars. If a dog bit you or a loved one in Delaware County, PA, you have legal rights — and the dog owner may be held responsible for your losses.
At the Law Office of Deborah M. Truscello, our Pennsylvania dog bite lawyer represents dog bite victims throughout Media, Chester, Upper Darby, West Chester, Philadelphia, and the surrounding region. We help injured individuals and families understand their legal options, pursue fair compensation, and navigate the settlement process with confidence.
We offer a free consultation. You pay nothing unless we recover compensation for you.
Attorney Deborah M. Truscello has served the Delaware County community for decades and has received positive feedback from clients who appreciate her straightforward guidance and commitment to their cases.
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Reading client experiences can help individuals better understand what to expect when working with a personal injury attorney in Media, PA.
Pennsylvania dog bite law is different from that of many other states, and understanding how it works is essential to building a strong personal injury claim.
Under 3 P.S. § 459-502 (Pennsylvania Dog Law), dog owners are strictly liable for the medical costs incurred as a result of a dog bite — regardless of whether the dog has bitten anyone before. You do not need to prove the dog owner was negligent to recover your medical bills, hospital bills, emergency room costs, surgery expenses, and ongoing treatment costs. The bite itself triggers the dog owner’s financial responsibility.
This is important because Pennsylvania does not follow the traditional “one-bite rule” that shields owners from liability until their dog has shown prior aggression. A first bite is enough to hold the dog owner liable for your medical care under Pennsylvania law.
Strict liability covers medical expenses — but to recover damages for pain and suffering, lost wages, emotional distress, and other losses, a dog bite victim must also prove that the dog owner was negligent.
Negligence in a Pennsylvania dog bite case may be established by showing:
The dog owner failed to restrain or control their dog
The dog owner violated Pennsylvania’s leash law (3 P.S. § 459-305), which requires dogs to be confined to the owner’s property, secured on a leash, or under reasonable control at all times
The dog owner was aware of the dog’s aggressive tendencies, history of growling, lunging, or prior attacks, and failed to take appropriate precautions
The dog had previously been designated as a “dangerous dog” under Pennsylvania’s Dangerous Dog Statute (3 P.S. § 459-502-A)
In 2023, Pennsylvania amended its Dangerous Dog Law, effective January 2024, to expand liability for all unprovoked animal attacks — removing a prior requirement to separately prove the dog had a history of aggression. This change strengthens dog bite victims’ ability to pursue full compensation, particularly in cases involving vicious dogs that have never bitten before.
A skilled Pennsylvania dog bite attorney can evaluate the facts of your specific dog bite case, identify all liable parties — including dog owners, property owners, or landlords who knew about a vicious dog on the premises — and aggressively pursue the maximum recovery available under Pennsylvania law.
Dog bite injuries range widely in severity. Even a bite from a medium-sized dog can cause severe injuries that require surgery, extended medical treatment, and long-term care. Larger dogs — including pit bulls, German shepherds, and other powerful breeds — can inflict catastrophic harm, particularly to children.
Common dog bite injuries include:
Puncture wounds and deep lacerations — often requiring stitches, debridement, and monitoring for infection
Facial lacerations and scarring — among the most emotionally and financially significant injuries, particularly for children and young adults
Permanent scarring and disfigurement — many dog bite victims require future plastic surgery and reconstructive procedures to address severe cosmetic damage
Nerve damage — bites to the hands, arms, and face can sever nerves, causing numbness, weakness, or permanent functional loss
Broken bones — especially in the hands and arms, which victims instinctively raise in self-defense during a vicious attack
Infections — including cellulitis, sepsis, and in rare cases, rabies may not be immediately apparent after a dog bite accident
Psychological trauma and emotional distress — fear of dogs, post-traumatic stress, and anxiety disorders are recognized consequences of a traumatic dog attack
Wrongful death — in rare cases, severe dog attacks result in fatal injuries, particularly for elderly victims or young children
Over 26,000 reconstructive surgeries were performed on dog bite victims in 2013 alone, underscoring the serious physical and financial burden these injuries impose. Approximately 4.5 million people are bitten by dogs each year in the United States, and 20 percent of those injuries require emergency medical treatment.
Children are among the most common dog bite victims — between 2010 and 2012, 359,000 children were bitten by dogs across the country. Children are often bitten on the face and head because of their smaller stature, which makes their injuries particularly severe.
Workers whose jobs take them to private property are also at heightened risk of dog-bite accidents. These may include:
Postal carriers and package delivery drivers
Meter readers and utility workers
Cable technicians and home security system installers
Electrical and other repair personnel
If you or a family member was bitten while working on someone else’s property, you may have both a workers’ compensation claim and a personal injury claim against the dog owner or property owner. An experienced attorney can help you understand how to pursue both.
We have a contingency fee agreement with all of our Personal Injury clients. Our fee is based on a percentage of what we obtain for you, and we will not charge you any fee unless and until we settle your case, prevent the loss of your benefits or obtain benefits for you.
Dog bites in Delaware County, PA, and throughout Southeastern Pennsylvania occur in a variety of settings. Understanding where the bite happened matters to your legal claim.
On the owner’s property: If you were lawfully on the dog owner’s property — as a guest, a delivery driver, or a repair professional at the front door or inside the home — you are still entitled to pursue compensation from the dog owner. Being on someone’s property with permission does not eliminate the owner’s responsibility to control their dog.
On public property: Dog owners in Pennsylvania must keep their dogs under reasonable control at all times when off their property. When a dog owner violates leash laws in a public park, on a public sidewalk, or in a common area, and a dog attack results, the owner may be held liable for the full extent of the dog-bite victim’s injuries.
On someone else’s property (landlord liability): If you were bitten by a tenant’s dog, a landlord may also be held liable if the landlord had actual knowledge of the dog’s dangerous propensities and had the ability to take action — for example, by enforcing a no-pets clause or requiring the tenant to remove the animal.
The steps you take immediately after a dog bite affect both your health and your legal rights. Here is what our legal team recommends:
Seek medical attention immediately. Even if the wound seems minor, dog bites carry a serious risk of infection. Some infections do not become apparent until days after the incident. Emergency medical documentation also creates a direct link between the dog attack and your injuries — which is critical evidence in a dog bite claim.
Report the bite to the Delaware County Department of Health. Under Delaware County Health Code § 200.44, all animal bites in Delaware County are considered a reportable disease and must be reported to the Delaware County Health Department (DCHD). Reports can be submitted through the DCHD online portal or by fax at (484) 534-5660. The DCHD will advise on whether rabies post-exposure treatment is necessary and may place the dog under a 10-day observation period.
Do not release the dog. If it is safe to do so, request that the dog be confined for observation. The animal’s vaccination and health status matter to your medical treatment decisions.
Collect evidence. Photograph your injuries, the location of the attack, and any conditions that contributed to the incident (e.g., a broken fence, an off-leash dog, no warning signs). Gather the dog owner’s contact and insurance information. Collect witness statements if possible.
Keep all medical records and bills. Document every treatment, prescription, follow-up appointment, and expense related to the dog bite injury. Maintain a journal of how your injuries affect your daily life, work, and emotional well-being.
Do not give a recorded statement to the dog owner’s insurance company. Insurance adjusters and insurance carriers for dog owners work to minimize payouts. Do not accept an early settlement offer or provide a recorded statement before speaking with a Pennsylvania dog bite attorney.
Contact a dog bite lawyer in Delaware County. The sooner you involve an experienced attorney, the better positioned you are to recover full compensation. Evidence can disappear quickly, and Pennsylvania law gives dog bite victims two years from the date of the injury to file a personal injury claim.
In Pennsylvania, a dog bite claim can recover compensation for both economic and non-economic losses. Depending on the facts of your dog bite case, recoverable damages may include:
Economic damages:
Medical bills, hospital bills, and emergency room costs
Future medical bills for ongoing treatment, physical therapy, and follow-up care
Future plastic surgery and reconstructive procedures for scarring or disfigurement
Lost wages during recovery
Reduced earning capacity if the injury causes permanent impairment
Non-economic damages:
Pain and suffering
Emotional distress and psychological trauma
Permanent scarring and disfigurement
Loss of enjoyment of life
Loss of consortium (impact on spouse and family relationships)
In cases involving a vicious dog attack where the owner’s conduct was particularly reckless — for example, knowingly keeping a dangerous dog that had previously injured others — punitive damages may also be available to punish the at-fault party and deter future conduct.
Insurance companies often respond to dog bite claims with low initial settlement offers, hoping victims will accept less than the full value of their claim before they understand their legal rights. Our law firm helps dog bite victims level the playing field by:
Thoroughly investigating the dog attack, gathering evidence, and identifying all liable parties
Obtaining the dog’s bite history, vaccination records, and any prior reports to animal control
Working with medical experts to document the full extent of current and future injuries
Negotiating with insurance adjusters and insurance carriers to pursue fair compensation
Preparing every dog bite case for trial if the insurance company refuses to offer a reasonable settlement
The Law Office of Deborah M. Truscello handles dog bite cases on a contingency fee basis — meaning you pay no legal fees unless we recover compensation on your behalf. There is no financial risk to consulting with our law firm about your rights.
Call (610) 892-4940 or complete the form below for a free legal consultation.
Yes. Pennsylvania law allows dog bite victims to pursue compensation from the dog owner and, in some cases, from property owners or landlords. Under 3 P.S. § 459-502, dog owners are strictly liable for a victim’s medical bills regardless of the dog’s prior history. To recover pain and suffering, lost wages, and emotional distress, you must also establish negligence — for example, by showing the owner violated leash laws or knew the dog had dangerous tendencies.
Dog bite settlements vary significantly based on the severity of the injury, the extent of scarring or permanent damage, the clarity of liability, and the dog owner’s insurance coverage. Minor bite injuries with no lasting effects may settle for a few thousand dollars, while serious bites causing permanent scarring, nerve damage, or significant lost wages can result in much larger recoveries. A dog bite attorney can evaluate the specific value of your claim during a free consultation.
In most cases, yes — particularly when injuries required medical treatment, caused scarring, or resulted in missed work. Dog bite cases are often resolved through the dog owner’s homeowners or renters insurance policy, and many settle without going to trial. Because our law firm works on a contingency-fee basis, there is no financial risk in exploring your legal options.
At the Law Office of Deborah M. Truscello, dog-bite cases are handled on a contingency-fee basis. You pay no upfront attorney fees. Our fee is a percentage of the compensation we recover for you — and if we do not recover, you owe nothing. Most qualified Pennsylvania dog bite attorneys handle cases on this same contingency basis.
Compensation depends on your specific losses: medical expenses, future medical care, lost income, pain and suffering, and the extent of any scarring or permanent injury. Insurance companies routinely offer low initial settlements. Working with an experienced dog bite attorney helps ensure the full extent of your damages — including future medical bills and emotional distress — is accounted for before you accept any offer.
Attorney Deborah M. Truscello has represented individuals and families in Delaware County for decades. Her office, conveniently located in Media, Pennsylvania, is located near the Delaware County Courthouse, and she is familiar with the procedures and timelines of the Delaware County Court of Common Pleas.
Prospective clients can schedule a free consultation to discuss their situation and learn about their legal options.
Our law firm represents dog bite victims throughout Delaware County, PA, and surrounding communities, including Media, Chester, Upper Darby, Swarthmore, Springfield, Ridley Park, Lansdowne, Philadelphia County, Chester County, and Southeastern Pennsylvania.
If you or a loved one suffered a dog bite injury, Attorney Truscello is a pa dog bite lawyer with more than 30 years of experience helping injury victims pursue the compensation they deserve.
Discuss your case in person with an experienced lawyer. We are also readily available
by telephone at (610) 892-4940 or fill out the form to send us an email.