Bitten by a Dog? Talk With Our Team About Your Options

If a dog bit you or someone you love, the time limit for a dog bite in Georgia is generally two years to file a lawsuit (O.C.G.A. § 9-3-33; Kenneth B. Cameron v. Jmp Pizza, Inc (2026)). This page explains when that clock starts, how children and families are treated, and what can change the date. It is general information, and the facts of each case matter.

The Short Answer: Two Years in Georgia for Most Dog Bite Claims

Georgia generally requires that actions for injuries to the person be brought within two years after the right of action accrues. That rule appears in O.C.G.A. § 9-3-33, and a Georgia appeals court opinion quotes the same two-year rule.

In plain words, you generally have two years to file suit in court (O.C.G.A. § 9-3-33; Kenneth B. Cameron v. Jmp Pizza, Inc (2026)). A dog bite is an injury to the person, so this is the rule most people will check first.

Keep one distinction in mind. The deadline is for filing a lawsuit. Those steps can take longer, and they do not replace the filing date.

When the Two-Year Clock Starts

The clock generally starts when the right to sue arises, which is usually the day of the bite or injury.

Here is a simple example. A dog bites a neighbor in Duluth on a set day.

Counting mistakes are common and costly. People often count from memory or from a later doctor visit. Write down the exact bite date, including the date on any police, animal control, or urgent care record. Then confirm it early. Two years passes faster than most people expect, especially during recovery.

Dog Bite Claims That Involve a Child

A child bitten by a dog gets different timing under Georgia law. Under O.C.G.A. § 9-3-90(b), a person who is under 18 when the claim arises gets the same time after reaching 18 that other people get to bring an action.

In practice, the child’s time runs after the child turns 18. It does not run from the day of the bite the way an adult’s does.

Parents should not read this as unlimited time. The statute gives a set amount of time after the child turns 18. It does not cover every claim a family might bring. Write the child’s birthdate and the bite date in your notes so the timing can be checked early.

We do not give a specific end date for a child’s claim here. That date turns on exact dates from the case file.

Fatal Dog Attacks and Wrongful Death

When a dog attack causes a death, the claim falls under Georgia’s wrongful death statutes. Those laws ask different questions than an injury claim. A family should not assume the injury rules answer everything.

Under O.C.G.A. § 51-4-2(a), a surviving spouse or, if there is no surviving spouse, a child or children may recover for the homicide of the spouse or parent. The recovery is the full value of the life of the person who died, as shown by the evidence.

Separately, O.C.G.A. § 51-4-5(b) lets the personal representative of the deceased recover funeral, medical, and other necessary expenses. That rule applies when a death results from a crime or from criminal or other negligence.

Grief, funeral planning, and calls from an insurance company often arrive at the same time. That is why families miss timing questions. A death claim raises its own issues, so the family should have the timing reviewed early.

What Can Change the Deadline

Georgia law recognizes a few situations that can pause or change the filing period. Each one turns on specific facts, so none should be treated as a reason to wait.

Mental incapacity. Under O.C.G.A. § 9-3-90(a), a person who is legally incompetent because of intellectual disability or mental illness when the claim arises gets the same time after the disability is removed.

A pending criminal case. If a dog bite leads to a criminal case, O.C.G.A. § 9-3-99 can pause the time for a tort claim by the victim. The pause runs until the prosecution is final or ends. It cannot exceed six years.

Whether any of these applies depends on the facts of your case. Do not treat an exception as a reason to wait. The facts that support one can be hard to prove later, so plan around the two-year rule.

Why Waiting Puts a Claim at Risk

Evidence also fades. Photos of the wound and the scene, witness names, the dog’s vaccination and license records, animal control reports, and medical records are easier to collect early. Memories blur over time.

Georgia’s dog bite rule also looks at how the owner handled the dog. Under O.C.G.A. § 51-2-7, an owner who keeps a vicious or dangerous animal may be liable. That applies when careless management or letting the animal go at liberty causes injury to someone who did not provoke it.

If a city, county, or consolidated government ordinance required the dog to be at heel or on a leash, and at the time of the occurrence it was not at heel or on a leash, that alone is enough to prove vicious propensity. This does not apply to domesticated fowl, including roosters with spurs, or to domesticated livestock.

Other States Use Different Rules

If you were bitten in Atlanta, Johns Creek, Kennesaw, Dunwoody, or elsewhere in Georgia, the Georgia rules on this page are the starting point.

Talk to Our Team About Your Dog Bite Timeline

Many people reading this are still recovering from a bite. Others are worried about a child, parent, or friend who was hurt. You may be juggling medical visits, bills, and calls from an insurer while trying to understand a deadline you did not expect.

This page gives general information about Georgia law. It is not legal advice for your situation. Responsible lawyer: Peter F. Jaraysi, Slam Dunk Attorney, Duluth, Georgia. Contact: our contact page.

Our initial consultation is free, confidential, and without obligation to continue. If a dog bite has you or someone you love unsure how much time is left, reach out through our contact page and we can review the bite date and the deadline with you.