Dog Bite Laws in Tennessee: Rules and Regulations

If you’ve been bitten by a dog in our home state of Tennessee, you may be wondering who is responsible and what your legal options are. What are the dog bite laws in Tennessee, and what options do you have?

As an award-winning Memphis dog attack lawyer, I help victims like you understand their rights and fight for the compensation they deserve. Tennessee’s dog bite laws can be confusing, but I’m here to break them down in a way that’s easy to understand.

Tennessee’s “One Bite” vs. Strict Liability Rule

Tennessee has a mix of strict liability and the “one bite” rule, depending on the situation.

Strict Liability

In most cases, a dog owner is automatically responsible if their dog bites someone in a public place or if the victim was lawfully on private property.

The owner doesn’t have to know that their dog is dangerous to be held responsible.

One Bite Rule (Residential Exception)

If the attack happens on the owner’s personal property (like inside their home or fenced backyard), the owner may not be automatically liable unless they knew or should have known that the dog was dangerous.

This is sometimes called the “one bite” rule because if the dog has bitten someone before, the owner should have been aware of the risk.

When a Dog Owner Is Liable

A dog owner can be held responsible for a bite if:

  • The dog was off-leash or not properly contained in a public area.
  • The dog attacked someone in a public place or on private property where the victim was legally allowed to be.
  • The owner knew the dog was aggressive but failed to take proper precautions.
  • The owner violated local leash laws or failed to control the dog properly.

Defenses a Dog Owner Could Use

Not every dog bite case is straightforward. The owner may try to argue a few common things:

  • You provoked the dog – If you teased, hit, or threatened the dog, the owner might not be held responsible.
  • You were trespassing – If you were unlawfully on private property when the attack happened, the owner may not be liable.
  • You assumed the risk – In some cases, if you were knowingly interacting with a dangerous dog, the owner may claim you took the risk of being bitten.

However, common sense often wins out in these cases. Most people understand how dangerous and unexpected dog bites can be, especially from certain breeds. And in most cases we’ve seen at our Memphis dog bite law firm, the victim did nothing to provoke an attack.

Dog Attack Lawyer Memphis, TNWhat Compensation Can You Get?

If you’ve been bitten by a dog in Tennessee, you may be able to recover compensation for:

  • Medical expenses, like hospital bills, surgeries, medications, etc.
  • Lost wages if the injury keeps you from working
  • Pain and suffering, including both physical pain and emotional distress
  • Scarring and disfigurement if the bite left lasting damage

Bear in mind the compensation laws work differently if the dog attacked a pet instead of a human. Unfortunately, the law typically only sees pets as personal property. But we know their death or injury might cause unbelievable trauma to their owners.

Fortunately, at our firm we’ve made some progress in the effort to get justice for pet owners. We had a case where a neighbor’s pit bull attacked a woman’s small dog as she held it in her arms. Her husband had passed, and the dog had become her close companion.

Everyone assumed there was no money in it, but we did a lot of research on the law and also raised awareness in the news. As a result of public pressure, the city council agreed to award up to $5000 to people in her situation.

Darrell CastleA Lawyer to Fight for the Compensation You Deserve

Dog bites can be painful, traumatic, and expensive to recover from. Tennessee’s dog bite laws are designed to protect victims like you, but proving liability can be tricky.

That’s where I come in. As an experienced Memphis dog attack lawyer, I can help you navigate the legal process and fight for the compensation you deserve.

Our trusted Memphis dog bite firm has won dog bite cases for our clients time and again. We understand the dog bite laws in Tennessee and know how to use them in your case. We fight for you every step of the way, all with our award-winning communication and client care.

If you or someone you love has been bitten by a dog, don’t wait. Call me today or reach out online for a free consultation, and let’s discuss how I can help you get justice.