Louisiana Dog Bite Law and Settlement Calculator

Louisiana is a strict liability state for dog bites. This means the dog owner is liable for injuries their dog causes regardless of whether the owner knew the dog was dangerous. You do not need to prove the dog had a history of aggression or that the owner was negligent — the fact that the dog bit you is typically sufficient to establish liability in Louisiana. This makes Louisiana one of the more claimant-friendly jurisdictions for dog bite cases.

Louisiana Civil Code article 3493.1 gives 2 years to file a dog bite lawsuit, counted from the day the injury is sustained, for bites after July 1, 2024 (Acts 2024, No. 423). A bite on or before that date falls under the former 1-year period.

Louisiana's pure comparative fault system means you can recover damages from a dog bite even if you were mostly at fault. If you are found 70% responsible for a collision and your damages total $100,000, you would still receive $30,000. This makes virtually every dog bite claim worth evaluating, regardless of the fault split.

Louisiana dog bite damages typically include medical expenses (emergency care, surgery, plastic surgery for scarring, antibiotics, rabies shots), lost wages, pain and suffering, and scarring or disfigurement damages. In cases involving children or facial injuries, non-economic damages can be substantial. Louisiana courts also consider the psychological impact of a dog attack, including PTSD and cynophobia (fear of dogs), as compensable harms.