Protecting Victims and Securing Justice
If you have been attacked or bitten by a dog in the Crescent City, the physical and emotional aftermath can be overwhelming. A sudden encounter with an unrestrained animal often leads to more than just physical scars — it results in mounting medical debt, lost wages, and a lingering fear of being outdoors.
At Justin Reese Law Group, we understand the unique challenges residents face when navigating Louisiana's specific animal liability laws. We serve the entire New Orleans metro area from our office in Gretna, providing the dedicated advocacy needed to hold negligent pet owners accountable.
Whether your incident occurred in a crowded park in Mid-City or on a quiet residential street in Gentilly, we are here to help you recover.
Why You Need a Dog Bite Lawyer in New Orleans
Louisiana law regarding animal attacks is complex. While some believe the state follows a simple "one-bite" rule, the reality — governed by Louisiana Civil Code Article 2321 — is more nuanced. It requires proving that the owner knew or should have known of the animal's dangerous tendencies and failed to exercise reasonable care.
Under Louisiana Civil Code Article 2321, We Must Establish:
- Knowledge of Dangerous Tendencies — The owner knew or should have known the animal had a propensity for aggression or dangerous behavior.
- Failure to Exercise Reasonable Care — The owner failed to take appropriate steps to prevent the attack — such as proper restraint, fencing, or warning.
- Causation & Damages — The owner's failure directly caused the attack and resulted in real, compensable harm to you.
When you work with Justin Reese Law Group, we immediately begin an investigation — securing animal control records, NOPD police reports, and witness statements before evidence disappears.
Gathering Evidence
We secure animal control records, NOPD police reports, prior incident complaints, and witness statements — building the evidentiary foundation your case requires to succeed under Louisiana's specific liability framework.
Identifying Insurance Coverage
Most dog bite claims are paid through homeowners or renters insurance policies. We handle all communications with these companies so you don't have to — and we investigate every possible source of coverage, including breed exclusion workarounds.
Documenting All Damages
Beyond immediate puncture wounds, we account for long-term nerve damage, future scar revision surgeries, psychological trauma treatment, and the full lifetime cost of your injuries — not just today's medical bills.
Understanding Dog Bite Injuries
A dog's jaw can exert hundreds of pounds of pressure per square inch. The injuries from a serious dog attack are not minor — they can be life-altering, requiring multiple surgeries, long-term rehabilitation, and psychological treatment.
Puncture Wounds & Lacerations
The most common dog bite injuries — carrying a high risk of serious infection, including Pasteurella and Capnocytophaga, which can become life-threatening if not treated immediately and aggressively.
Nerve Damage
Deep bites can sever nerves, leading to permanent loss of sensation or motor function in the hands, fingers, and limbs — injuries that may never fully resolve even with extensive treatment.
Broken Bones
Large breeds can easily knock down a child or elderly person, resulting in hip fractures, wrist breaks, and complex orthopedic injuries requiring surgery and extended rehabilitation.
Facial Disfigurement
Children are disproportionately victims of facial bites, often requiring multiple reconstructive surgeries at facilities like University Medical Center or Children's Hospital New Orleans.
Scarring & Disfigurement
Significant scarring from dog bites — particularly on visible areas like the face, neck, and arms — can require years of scar revision procedures and carries lasting quality-of-life impacts.
Psychological Trauma
The invisible injury of an attack is often the most lasting. Many victims develop a lifelong phobia of dogs, severe anxiety, and PTSD that requires long-term mental health counseling and treatment.
What to Do Immediately Following a Dog Attack in New Orleans
The steps you take in the minutes and hours after a dog attack can significantly impact both your health and your legal claim. Dog owners and their insurance companies begin protecting themselves immediately — you need to protect yourself just as fast.
Seek Medical Attention Immediately
Go to the nearest emergency room right away. Tulane Medical Center or Ochsner Baptist are equipped to handle trauma and provide necessary rabies prophylaxis or tetanus shots. A same-day medical record is critical for your claim.
Identify the Dog and Owner
If possible and safe, get the owner's name, address, and insurance information. Take a photo of the dog from a safe distance. If the owner is unknown, note the dog's description, breed, and the exact location of the attack.
Report the Incident
Call New Orleans Animal Services or the NOPD to file a formal report. This official documentation is vital for your legal claim — it establishes a record that the attack occurred and may uncover prior incidents involving the same animal.
Document the Scene
Take photos of your injuries, your clothing, and the exact location of the attack — including any broken fences, open gates, or missing warning signs that contributed to the incident.
Do Not Talk to the Owner's Insurance
Do not provide a statement to the owner's insurance company before consulting an attorney. Insurance adjusters are trained to minimize payouts — anything you say can and will be used against you. Call us first.
Where to Seek Care After a Dog Attack in New Orleans
New Orleans is home to world-class medical facilities capable of treating the full spectrum of dog bite injuries — from wound care and infection treatment to reconstructive surgery and psychological support. We coordinate with medical professionals at these facilities to ensure your records accurately reflect the full impact of your injuries.
University Medical Center (UMC)
2000 Canal St, New Orleans, LA 70112 — Level 1 Trauma Center equipped for severe lacerations, nerve damage, and complex reconstructive surgical needs following a serious dog attack.
Children's Hospital New Orleans
200 Henry Clay Ave, New Orleans, LA 70118 — specializing in pediatric trauma and facial reconstructive surgery, critical for children who are disproportionately victims of serious dog bite injuries.
Ochsner Medical Center
1514 Jefferson Hwy, New Orleans, LA 70121 — a leading facility for emergency trauma, orthopedic care, and post-attack infection management and wound treatment.
Where Dog Attacks Happen Most Often in New Orleans
New Orleans is a city where life is lived outdoors — but this also increases the risk of animal encounters. Our team has noted that certain locations and neighborhoods see a higher frequency of incidents involving unrestrained or poorly managed dogs.
City Park
With its vast acreage and the NOLA City Bark dog park nearby, encounters between leashed and unleashed dogs often spill onto pedestrian trails near Victory Avenue and Dreyfous Drive — creating high-risk situations for other park visitors.
Audubon Park
The popular Loop near St. Charles Avenue and Magazine Street is a high-traffic area where joggers and cyclists frequently encounter dogs that may react aggressively to fast movement or proximity.
Crescent Park (Marigny/Bywater)
The narrow walkways near the Piety Street Bridge can create cornering situations where a dog may feel threatened and strike — particularly during crowded weekend hours.
Canal St & S. Carrollton Ave
A busy transit hub where commuters frequently encounter dogs being walked in high-stress, high-traffic environments — a combination that increases the likelihood of reactive aggression.
St. Claude Ave & Elysian Fields
A bustling area where pets are often tied up outside businesses, creating a risk for unsuspecting passersby who enter a dog's perceived territory without warning.
Claiborne Ave Corridors
Frequent reports of stray or unrestrained animals in parts of the Seventh Ward and Central City make these corridors higher risk for unprovoked neighborhood attacks on residents and pedestrians.
Directions to Justin Reese Law Group
Office Address: 320 Huey P Long Ave., Suite 200, Gretna, LA 70053 — conveniently located just across the river from downtown New Orleans, easily accessible from the Westbank, the East, and the CBD.
From Downtown New Orleans (CBD)
- Take the Crescent City Connection (US-90 Business West) across the Mississippi River.
- Take the exit toward Huey P Long Ave / Gretna.
- Continue onto the Westbank Expressway frontage road.
- Turn right onto Huey P Long Ave. Our office is at 320 Huey P Long Ave., Suite 200 on your right.
From Metairie / Kenner
- Take I-10 East toward New Orleans.
- Follow signs for the Westbank / US-90 W.
- Cross the Crescent City Connection.
- Exit toward Huey P Long Ave / Gretna and turn right onto Huey P Long Ave.
From the Lower Westbank
- Take the Westbank Expressway (US-90 Business East) toward Gretna.
- Exit at Huey P Long Ave.
- Turn left onto Huey P Long Ave under the expressway.
- Our office is at 320 Huey P Long Ave., Suite 200 on your left.
New Orleans Dog Bite FAQ
Yes. Under Louisiana's liability laws, you do not necessarily have to prove the dog had a prior history of aggression. If the owner could have prevented the attack by exercising reasonable care and failed to do so, they may be held liable for your damages regardless of whether the dog had bitten before.
This is one of the most common concerns we hear. Most dog bite claims are filed against the owner's homeowners or renters insurance policy — not the individual's personal savings. We handle these situations with the utmost professionalism to ensure you get the care and compensation you need without unnecessarily straining personal relationships.
In Louisiana, the prescriptive period for personal injury claims is generally one year from the date of the incident for cases arising before July 1, 2024, and two years for incidents after that date. Either way, this is one of the shortest windows in the United States. Contact legal counsel immediately — evidence disappears fast and the clock starts the moment the attack occurs.
You may be entitled to compensation for past and future medical expenses, lost wages and loss of earning capacity, pain and suffering, scarring and disfigurement, and emotional distress including mental health counseling costs. We evaluate every dimension of your loss before recommending any settlement.
Some insurance policies have breed exclusions — often for Pit Bulls, Rottweilers, or Dobermans. However, even if the owner's insurance denies coverage based on a breed exclusion, there may be other avenues for recovery. Our firm investigates every possible source of compensation, including umbrella policies and third-party liability claims.
Contact a New Orleans Dog Bite Lawyer Today
Don't let an animal owner's negligence dictate your future. At Justin Reese Law Group, we provide the aggressive representation needed to secure the maximum settlement for your injuries. We operate on a contingency fee basis — meaning you pay nothing unless we recover money for you.
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