Dog Bite Injury Lawyers in Ontario
A dog attack can leave deep wounds, permanent scarring, nerve damage, and lasting fear — and in Ontario the law is firmly on the side of the person who was bitten. Azimi Law and Naimark Law Firm are trial lawyers who use the Dog Owners' Liability Act to hold owners accountable, because that statute makes them strictly responsible for what their dog does.
In Ontario, the Owner Is Strictly Liable
Many provinces and U.S. states follow a "one-bite rule," which forces a victim to prove the owner knew the dog was dangerous. Ontario rejected that approach. Under the Dog Owners' Liability Act, the owner of a dog is strictly liable for damages when the dog bites or attacks a person or another animal. You do not have to prove the owner was careless, and you do not have to prove the dog had ever shown aggression before. The bite itself is the basis of the claim.
That makes a dog bite claim fundamentally different from most injury cases. The fight is rarely about whether the owner is liable — it is about the full extent of the harm. Dog attacks cause puncture wounds, torn tissue, infections, nerve and tendon damage, and scarring that may require plastic surgery. The psychological injury is just as real: many victims, especially children, develop anxiety, nightmares, and a lasting fear of dogs that affects daily life for years.
Compensation in these cases usually comes from the owner's home or tenant insurance policy, which commonly includes personal-liability coverage that responds to a dog bite. That means pursuing a claim does not require the owner to have personal wealth — and it means an insurer will be on the other side, working to minimize what they pay. Ryan Naimark spent roughly twenty years defending those insurers, and he now uses that knowledge to push for full value on behalf of the injured person.
Children are among the most frequent victims, often bitten on the face, head, and hands because of their height and their instinct to approach animals. Their injuries can affect growth and require revision surgeries into adulthood, and a claim brought on a child's behalf is treated with special care, including court approval of any settlement. We bring the same trial-ready preparation to every dog bite file, whether the victim is a small child or an adult.
No Win. No Fee. Legal fees are a percentage of your recovery. The firm funds the disbursements needed to build your case. If there is no recovery, you owe nothing for legal fees.
Types of Dog Bite & Animal Attack Cases We Handle
Dog attacks happen in many settings, and the circumstances shape the evidence we gather and the insurer we pursue.
Bites to Children
Children are bitten more often than any other group, frequently on the face and head by a familiar dog. These cases demand sensitivity, careful documentation of scarring, and provision for future surgeries as a child grows.
Facial & Scarring Injuries
A bite to the face or hands can leave permanent, visible scars. We support claims for the cost of reconstructive and revision surgery and for the lasting impact disfigurement has on a person's life.
Off-Leash & Loose Dogs
Many attacks involve a dog that was not leashed or contained in a yard. Strict liability under the statute applies regardless of how the dog got loose, and we identify every owner and keeper responsible.
Nerve & Tendon Damage
Deep bites to the hands and limbs can sever nerves and tendons, causing lasting loss of strength, sensation, and function. We work with treating specialists to document the full extent of these injuries.
Infections & Complications
Dog bites carry a high risk of serious infection that can lead to hospitalization and further surgery. Complications that follow the attack are part of the harm caused by the dog.
Psychological Trauma
A frightening attack can cause anxiety, post-traumatic stress, and a disabling fear of dogs, particularly in children. Emotional injuries are compensable, and we ensure they are properly assessed and proven.
Compensation Available After a Dog Bite
A dog bite claim can recover damages under several categories. We pursue each one your injuries support, drawing on the owner's liability coverage.
Pain & Suffering
Non-pecuniary damages for the physical pain, scarring, and emotional distress of the attack and recovery — often a significant component where disfigurement or trauma is involved.
Scarring & Disfigurement
Compensation that reflects the permanence and visibility of scars, including the personal and social impact of disfigurement to the face, hands, or other exposed areas.
Medical & Surgical Costs
The cost of treatment the attack made necessary, including emergency care, wound repair, infection treatment, and reconstructive or revision surgery now and in the future.
Psychological Treatment
Funding for counselling and therapy to address anxiety, post-traumatic stress, and fear of dogs, which can be especially important for a child's long-term recovery.
Income Loss
Past wages lost while recovering and, where a serious injury affects long-term function, the value of reduced earning capacity going forward.
Out-of-Pocket & Family Claims
Reimbursement of expenses caused by the attack, and Family Law Act claims allowing close family members to recover for loss of care, guidance, and companionship.
The Legal Process & Critical Deadlines
Acting early protects your health, the evidence, and your claim. Here is how a dog bite case typically unfolds.
Get Medical Care & Treat the Wound
Seek treatment immediately to clean and close the wound, prevent infection, and address rabies risk. Prompt care also creates the medical record that proves the severity of the bite.
Photograph the Injuries & Identify the Dog
Photograph the wounds at every stage of healing and record the owner's name and address, the dog's description, and any witnesses. We use this to establish ownership and the extent of the harm.
Report to Animal Control
Reporting the attack to local animal services or public health creates an official record and may trigger an investigation. We help you make the report and obtain the resulting file.
Identify the Insurance & Establish Liability
We locate the owner's home or tenant insurance, confirm strict liability under the Dog Owners' Liability Act, and gather the medical and photographic evidence that drives the value of the claim.
Negotiate From Strength — or Go to Trial
We pursue full settlement while preparing the file for court. Where a child is involved, any settlement requires court approval, and we manage that process so the result is protected.
Two-year limitation. Most claims in Ontario must be commenced within two years of the attack under the Limitations Act, 2002, though the clock for a child does not begin until adulthood. Reporting deadlines for animal control and evidence that fades over time make early action important. Call as soon as you can after a bite.
Why Dog Bite Victims Choose Azimi Law & Naimark Law Firm
We Know the Insurer's Playbook
Ryan Naimark spent 20 years defending the home and liability insurers who pay these claims. That experience now drives how we value and pursue every dog bite file.
We Are Trial Lawyers
We prepare each case for the courtroom, not just settlement talks. That readiness is what moves insurers to offer the full value of an injury.
Two Firms, Combined Depth
Azimi Law and Naimark Law Firm work together so your file has the resources and bench strength of two established Ontario practices.
No Win, No Fee
You pay nothing up front and nothing for legal fees unless we recover for you. We fund the cost of building your case.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I have to prove the owner was careless or that the dog bit before?+
No. Ontario's Dog Owners' Liability Act makes the owner strictly liable for a bite or attack. There is no "one-bite rule" here, so you do not need to show the dog had ever been aggressive or that the owner did anything wrong. The fact of the bite is enough to establish liability; the case focuses on the extent of your injuries.
Where does the compensation come from?+
In most cases the money comes from the owner's home insurance or tenant insurance, which usually includes personal-liability coverage that responds to a dog bite. This means a claim does not depend on the owner having personal savings. Because an insurer is involved, having experienced counsel matters to securing the full value of the claim.
My child was bitten. Is the process different?+
The legal basis is the same, but claims for children are handled with extra protection. The limitation period does not start until the child reaches adulthood, and any settlement must be approved by the court to ensure it is fair and the funds are protected. We also account for future surgeries and the long-term effect of scarring as a child grows.
The owner says I provoked the dog. Does that end my claim?+
Not necessarily. Compensation can be reduced if the victim contributed to the incident, for example by provoking the dog, but this reduces the claim rather than eliminating it in most cases. We examine exactly what happened and respond to provocation arguments with the evidence, rather than accepting the owner's version.
What should I do right after a dog attack?+
Get medical care immediately to treat the wound and prevent infection. Photograph the injuries, record the owner's name and address and a description of the dog, and collect witness information. Report the attack to local animal control or public health, and contact us before discussing the incident with any insurer.
Can I claim for psychological injury and fear of dogs?+
Yes. Emotional and psychological harm — including anxiety, post-traumatic stress, and a lasting fear of dogs — is compensable when it is caused by the attack. This is particularly important for children, whose trauma can persist for years. We ensure these injuries are properly assessed and supported by appropriate evidence.
What does it cost to hire you?+
Nothing up front. We work on a contingency fee basis, which means our legal fee is a percentage of what we recover for you, and the firm funds the disbursements required to advance your case. If there is no recovery, you owe no legal fees. We explain the agreement in plain language before you sign anything.
Bitten by a Dog? Talk to a Trial Lawyer Today.
Free consultation. No obligation. No win, no fee. Available 24 / 7 / 365.