Dog Attacks on Children

Most Massachusetts dog owners are responsible and safe, but there are some dangerous exceptions.  Tragically, irresponsible dog owners and dangerous dogs can injure other people, and the most extreme cases are often dog attacks on children.  If your child has been attacked by a dog in Massachusetts, Dog Bite Lawyer Tracy Paulsen can help you obtain the justice and compensation you deserve.

As Rightful Legal, we fully understand that a dog attack can be traumatic for you and your child.  Children and teenagers bitten by dogs can experience lasting physical, psychological  and emotional injuries.  Injuries like nerve damage, disfigurement, mental injuries, and permanent scarring can affect the rest of your child’s life.  For some families, a dog attack results in the worst case scenario – the death of a child.  Massachusetts dog bite victims often have the right to bring a legal claim to recover damages for their injuries.  As a parent or guardian, you can enlist the services of a skilled dog attack attorney to advocate on behalf of your child.

Dog bites are all too common in the United States, and children are more likely to be bitten by dogs than adults are.  It is estimated that half of all children may be bitten by a dog in their lifetime and the majority of the severe cases will involve the head and neck.  Dog bites involving children are most common in the summer, specifically July, and the most common dog bite location is also the most dangerous: the child’s head.  Alarmingly, the younger the child, the more likely they will be bitten on the face.  About 8% of child dog bite victims require surgical intervention because of the severity of their injuries.

If your child is bitten by a dog, it is crucial that you obtain medical care for them right away.  Your child’s health and safety is the absolute priority in such a situation, and they may need surgery or other major medical intervention to make a recovery from their dog attack injuries.  Additionally, an insurance company may use any delay in medical care as an excuse not to pay for your child’s injuries.

Once your child has been medically stabilized, it is crucial that you find a local attorney, like Rightful Legal, who has successfully handled child dog attack cases across the Commonwealth and will be a compassionate and strong advocate for you and your child.

Some of the injuries children suffer at the hands of a dog attack commonly include: 

• Head Injuries
• Face injuries
• Disfigurement 
• Permanent scarring
• Broken bones
• Bites and puncture wounds
• Skin tears
• Soft tissue injuries
• Arm injuries
• Nerve damage
• Infections
• Emotional trauma
• Death

Attorney Tracy Paulsen considers representing children attacked by dogs part of her career-long fight for justice.  Children need a strong advocate to ensure that they get the compensation they need to recover and reach their full potential now and in their future.  Rightful Legal is ready to hold irresponsible dog owners accountable for the harm they have caused your child. 

Has Your Child Been Attacked By a Dog?

Contact Rightful Legal Immediately to Preserve Your Claim.   

Call or Text 617-821-5856

or

What Does Massachusetts Law Say About Dog Attacks on Children?

In Massachusetts, dog owners have a legal duty to keep their dogs from hurting people. This law applies especially when dogs are in public places like parks, sidewalks, or neighborhoods. If a dog bites or injures someone—even if the dog never acted aggressively before—the owner is usually legally responsible.

Massachusetts is a strict liability state when it comes to dog attacks. This means that if a dog hurts someone, the owner is responsible automatically, unless certain exceptions apply. The victim does not need to prove that the dog had bitten before, or that the owner was careless. As long as the person wasn’t trespassing, breaking the law, or provoking the dog, they can bring a claim against the dog’s owner, per Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 140, Section 155.

This law doesn’t just cover bites. If a dog knocks someone over, chases them into the street, or causes injury in another way, the owner can still be held accountable—especially if the owner didn’t do enough to control the dog and stop the injury from happening.

When a child is attacked, the law offers even stronger protection. Massachusetts law assumes that children under the age of seven did not provoke the dog. That means the owner has to prove the child somehow caused the attack—which is often difficult to do. This rule helps protect young children, who may not understand how to behave around animals.

There are some exceptions. If a person is trespassing, committing a crime, or provoking the dog (like hitting, teasing, or scaring it), the owner may not be held responsible. But in most everyday cases—especially with children—the dog’s owner is liable.

Dog attacks can leave children with serious physical and emotional injuries. At Rightful Legal, Attorney Tracy Paulsen has seen firsthand how traumatic these events can be. With more than 15 years of experience fighting for injured clients in Bristol Country and throughout Massachusetts, she understands the legal system and knows how to hold dog owners accountable.

If your child has been hurt by a dog, don’t wait. Call Rightful Legal today at 617-821-5856 or reach out online for a free, private consultation. We’re here to help your family get justice.

What Should You Do When Your Child is Attacked by a Dog?

• Ensure your child is safe.  Make sure that your child is physically separated from the dog to prevent further injury.
• Report the attack to authorities.  For serious injuries, call 911.  For less serious injuries, you can report the attack to police using a non-emergency number.
• Seek medical attention.  Even small bites can become infected.  A doctor should evaluate your child’s wounds and may prescribe antibiotics or a tetanus shot.
• Get details about the dog.  If it is safe to do so, try to obtain the dog owner’s name, address, and proof of the dog’s rabies vaccination.
• Identify witnesses.  Collect names and contact information of anyone who saw the attack.
• Document the child’s injuries.  Take clear photographs of all visible wounds and bruises as soon as possible.
• Preserve evidence.  Keep clothing worn during the attack and any torn or bloodied items.
• Write down what happened.  As soon as possible, record everything you remember about the incident while it’s still fresh.  
• Reach out to Rightful Legal for legal representation to protect your child’s rights in the aftermath of the dog attack.
• Do not speak to insurance companies without legal advice.  Avoid making a statement to any insurance company before you have spoken to an attorney about your child’s case.

Massachusetts Dog Bite Lawyer Tracy Paulsen understands how frightening and devastating a dog attack on your child can be.  Rightful Legal is here to fight for your family during this overwhelming experience.

What Compensation Can You Get for Your Child After a Dog Attack?

No two dog bite cases are exactly the same, especially when a child is involved. The amount of money you may be able to recover for your child depends on how badly they were hurt and how the injury affects their life moving forward. In Massachusetts, the law allows parents to bring a personal injury claim on behalf of a minor child to recover both financial and emotional damages.

Here are some of the most common types of damages that may be available in a dog attack case involving a child:

• Medical bills – This includes emergency care, surgery, hospital stays, medications, and follow-up appointments.
  
• Travel costs for treatment – If you need to drive long distances for your child’s care, these expenses may be reimbursed.
  
• Physical therapy or rehab – If your child needs long-term treatment to regain movement or strength.
  
• Compensation for lost limbs, fingers, or other body parts – Some attacks cause permanent physical damage.
  
• Loss of vision or hearing – If the injury affects your child’s ability to see or hear, that loss is taken very seriously.
  
• Scarring and disfigurement – Children who are bitten on the face, arms, or legs often carry lifelong scars, both physically and emotionally.
  
• Emotional suffering and trauma – A dog attack can leave lasting emotional harm, including fear, nightmares, and anxiety.
  
• Mental health care – The cost of therapy or counseling needed after the attack.
  
• Property damage – If clothing, phones, eyeglasses, or other personal property was damaged during the attack.
  

If a child tragically dies because of a dog attack—either at the time of the attack or later from their injuries—the family may also be able to file a wrongful death claim. This can include compensation for funeral costs, loss of companionship, and the emotional impact on surviving family members.

Attorney Tracy Paulsen at Rightful Legal has been fighting for injured clients and grieving families in Massachusetts for more than 15 years. She knows how to value your child’s case properly and won’t let an insurance company lowball you or your child’s future.

Has Your Child Been Bitten or Attacked by a Dog?

Contact Attorney Paulsen Today for a Free Case Evaluation. 

We Are Here to Protect Your Rights and Help Your Family Get Justice

Call or Text 617-821-5856

or

Why You Should Contact a Massachusetts Child Dog Attack Attorney Now

You may be eligible to bring a dog attack claim on your child’s behalf if:

• Your child suffered an injury in a dog attack AND 
• The dog belonged to another person.  

You may be eligible to bring a wrongful death claim if you have lost your child in a Massachusetts dog attack.  Our attorneys are both compassionate to our clients and passionate about justice for your family.  We want to help during this painful time.

If your child is eligible to bring a dog attack claim, you should consult with a personal injury attorney right away.  Reach out today to Rightful Legal so we can help you take advantage of your only chance to receive compensation on behalf of your child for their dog attack injuries.  

Why Families Choose Rightful Legal for Child Dog Attack Cases in Massachusetts?

When your child has been hurt by a dog, you need more than just a lawyer—you need someone who understands the emotional weight, the medical urgency, and the long-term impact these injuries can have. That’s where Attorney Tracy Paulsen and the team at Rightful Legal come in.

With over 15 years of experience in personal injury law and a focus on child-related dog attack claims, Attorney Paulsen has built a reputation for being a relentless legal advocate and a compassionate ally for families in crisis. She doesn’t just file claims—she fights to rebuild futures. From scar injuries and trauma therapy to wrongful death lawsuits, she knows what it takes to get real results when it matters most.

What sets Rightful Legal apart from other personal injury firms:

• We only take cases we believe in. That means when we represent your family, you have our full dedication from day one.
  
• You will speak directly to Attorney Paulsen anytime you wish and most of the time. You will not be passed around to staff only speaking with your lawyer at intake and then at settlement.
  
• We prepare every case as if it’s going to trial, giving us the strongest possible position to negotiate top-dollar settlements.
  
• We understand the stakes when a child is involved, and we move quickly to secure medical records, eyewitness statements, and animal control reports to build a solid case.

Contact Rightful Legal Now

Our team is standing by to evaluate your Massachusetts dog bite case.  We can help you collect evidence and estimate damages.  We will communicate fully with the insurance companies and handle all aspects of your case so you can focus on your child’s recovery and future.. We will negotiate relentlessly with the insurance company and all parties involved, and we will take your child’s dog attack case to court if you feel justice cannot be obtained in settlement.  Reach out Today to share your child’s dog attack story with us.  Call 617-821-5856 or contact Rightful Legal’s Massachusetts Dog Attack Attorneys right away online.  Our team is ready to Fight for Your Rights and help your family recover the maximum possible compensation for your child’s harm and suffering.