Been Bitten by a Dog in Indianapolis?

If a dog has bitten you, your first priority is getting away from the animal and to a safe location. Dog bites can range from minor puncture wounds to severe lacerations, crush injuries, and even disfigurement. Children are especially vulnerable to serious injury.

If the bite is severe — deep punctures, heavy bleeding, bites to the face, neck, or hands, or any bite from an unknown or potentially rabid animal — call 911 or go to the emergency room immediately.

Even if the bite seems minor, clean the wound immediately with soap and warm water for several minutes. Apply an antiseptic and cover with a clean bandage. Then see a doctor as soon as possible — ideally within 24 hours.

Dog bites carry a high risk of infection, including bacterial infections, tetanus, and in rare cases rabies. A doctor will evaluate whether you need antibiotics, a tetanus booster, or rabies post-exposure prophylaxis. Deep bites may require stitches, surgery, or referral to a specialist.

In Indianapolis, IU Health Methodist Hospital, Eskenazi Health, Ascension St. Vincent, and Community Health Network all provide emergency care. Numerous urgent care clinics throughout Marion County can handle less severe bites.

Keep all medical records, bills, and documentation of your treatment. This links your injuries directly to the bite and is essential for any claim.

If you don't already know, try to identify the dog and its owner. Get the owner's name, address, phone number, and — if possible — the dog's vaccination records, especially rabies vaccination status. If the owner is present, ask for this information directly.

If the dog is a stray or the owner is unknown, note the dog's description (breed, size, color, markings, collar) and the exact location of the attack. This information will help animal control locate the animal, which is important for both public safety and determining rabies risk.

Report the dog bite to Indianapolis Animal Care Services (IACS), which handles animal control for Marion County. You can reach them at (317) 327-1397 or file a report through the indy.gov website. Indiana law requires healthcare providers to report animal bites, but you should report it yourself as well.

Animal control will investigate the incident, may quarantine the dog to observe for signs of rabies, and will document the bite — all of which supports your claim. They will also check whether the dog has a history of aggression or prior bite incidents, which is critical under Indiana's dog bite law.

Photograph your injuries immediately and continue photographing them as they heal (or worsen). Take photos of the location where the bite occurred, any torn clothing, and the dog if possible.

Write down exactly what happened while it's fresh: where you were, what you were doing, whether the dog was leashed or confined, whether the owner was present, any warnings (or lack thereof), and the names and contact information of any witnesses.

If you were bitten at a property (a neighbor's yard, an apartment complex, a park), document the conditions — was the dog fenced? Was there a "Beware of Dog" sign? Was the gate open?

The dog owner's homeowner's or renter's insurance typically covers dog bite liability. Their insurance company may contact you and offer a quick settlement. Don't accept it until you know the full extent of your injuries and treatment needs.

Dog bite injuries often require follow-up care — wound care, antibiotics, plastic surgery for scarring, physical therapy for hand or nerve damage, and counseling for emotional trauma (especially for children). A quick settlement rarely accounts for these ongoing costs.

Indiana's dog bite law is different from many states. Indiana generally follows a negligence standard — often called the "one-bite rule." To recover compensation, you typically need to show that the dog owner knew or should have known the dog was dangerous or had a tendency to bite.

This means evidence of the dog's prior behavior is critical: previous bites, aggressive tendencies, lunging at people, or the owner's own admissions about the dog's temperament. If the owner knew the dog was dangerous and failed to properly restrain it, they can be held liable.

Strict liability in Indiana applies only in a narrow circumstance: when the victim is a law enforcement officer, firefighter, or other government employee performing official duties (Ind. Code § 15-20-1-3). For most victims, you must prove the owner's negligence.

Indiana's modified comparative fault rule (Ind. Code § 34-51-2-6) also applies. If you are found 51% or more at fault — for example, if you were provoking the dog — you recover nothing. Under Indiana Code § 34-11-2-4, you have two years from the date of the bite to file a personal injury lawsuit.

Dog bite cases in Indiana require proving the owner knew or should have known the dog was dangerous, which can be challenging without legal help. An experienced attorney can investigate the dog's history, interview witnesses, work with animal control records, and build the evidence needed to establish the owner's negligence.

Most personal injury attorneys in Indianapolis offer free consultations and work on contingency — you pay nothing unless they win your case.