Bitten by a Dog in Nashville? Here's What to Do Next.

If the dog is still nearby, move away calmly and slowly. Do not run — this can trigger a chase instinct. If possible, put a barrier (car, fence, door) between you and the animal. If the attack is ongoing and you're able, try to protect your face, neck, and throat.

Once you're safe, identify the dog and its owner if you can. Note the breed, size, color, collar details, and any identifying features. If the owner is present, get their name, phone number, and address. This information is critical for your medical care (rabies assessment) and any future legal claim.

Dog bites require medical attention even when they seem minor. Puncture wounds can drive bacteria deep into tissue, leading to serious infections including cellulitis, MRSA, pasteurella, and in rare cases sepsis. Deep bites can damage tendons, nerves, muscles, and bones. Facial bites — particularly common in children — may require plastic surgery.

Call 911 if the injuries are severe, if the dog is still loose and dangerous, or if you don't know the dog's vaccination status. For serious injuries, Vanderbilt University Medical Center and TriStar Skyline Medical Center provide trauma-level care. TriStar Centennial, Saint Thomas Midtown, and Saint Thomas West handle non-emergency wound care. Monroe Carell Jr. Children's Hospital at Vanderbilt is the appropriate facility for child victims.

Ask the treating physician about rabies risk assessment, tetanus vaccination status, and whether prophylactic antibiotics are recommended. If the dog's rabies vaccination status is unknown, post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) may be necessary.

Tennessee law and Nashville/Davidson County ordinances require that dog bites be reported. Contact Metro Animal Care and Control (MACC), which operates under the Metropolitan Nashville government, to report the bite. Animal control will investigate the incident, attempt to identify the dog and owner, and typically place the dog under a mandatory quarantine period (usually 10 days) to monitor for rabies.

You should also file a report with the Metropolitan Nashville Police Department (MNPD) if the attack was severe, if the dog was running at large, or if the owner was negligent or aggressive. A police report creates additional official documentation of the incident.

Keep copies of all reports and reference numbers. These become important evidence if you pursue a legal claim.

Take photographs of your injuries immediately and continue photographing them as they heal (or worsen) over the following days and weeks. Photograph the location where the bite occurred, the dog if possible, any torn clothing, and any blood or debris at the scene.

Write down everything you remember about the incident while it's fresh: the time, location, what you were doing, what the dog was doing, whether the dog was leashed or running loose, whether the owner was present, and what the owner said. If there were witnesses, get their names and contact information.

Keep every medical record, bill, prescription, and receipt related to your treatment. Document any time missed from work, activities you can no longer perform, and any emotional or psychological effects (anxiety around dogs, nightmares, PTSD symptoms).

Tennessee's dog bite law is more complex than most states. The state uses a hybrid system combining strict liability and the traditional "one-bite rule," enacted through the Dianna Acklen Act of 2007 (Tenn. Code § 44-8-413).

Strict liability applies when all three conditions are met: (1) the dog was running at large or not under the owner's reasonable control, AND (2) the bite occurred in a public place or on another person's private property, AND (3) the victim was not trespassing, provoking the dog, or committing another wrongful act.

The "residential exclusion" is critical: if the bite occurred on the dog owner's own residential, farm, or non-commercial property, strict liability does not apply. Instead, the victim must prove that the owner knew or should have known about the dog's dangerous propensities — this is the traditional "one-bite rule" or scienter standard. Evidence of prior bites, aggressive behavior, complaints from neighbors, or a "dangerous dog" designation can establish this knowledge.

Key defenses under Tennessee law: the owner may avoid liability if the victim was trespassing, provoked the dog, was committing an illegal act, or if the dog was securely confined. Dogs performing police or military duties are also exempt.

Tennessee's statute of limitations for dog bite claims is one year from the date of the bite (Tenn. Code § 28-3-104). This is one of the shortest deadlines in the country. Missing it means you permanently lose the right to file a lawsuit.

Tennessee's modified comparative negligence rule also applies (Tenn. Code § 29-11-103). If you are found 50% or more at fault — for example, if you were provoking the dog or trespassing — you recover nothing. Even partial fault reduces your compensation proportionally.

Homeowner's or renter's insurance policies typically cover dog bite liability. The dog owner's insurer may contact you relatively quickly. As with any insurance claim, be cautious. Do not give recorded statements without legal guidance, and do not accept an early settlement before you understand the full extent of your injuries.

Dog bite injuries frequently require multiple rounds of treatment: initial wound care, antibiotics, follow-up visits, potential surgery for nerve or tendon damage, plastic surgery for scarring (especially facial scars), and sometimes counseling for PTSD. An early settlement almost never accounts for all of this.

Dog bite cases in Tennessee involve nuanced legal questions: Where did the bite occur? Was the dog under the owner's control? Did the owner know the dog was dangerous? Was the victim partially at fault? An experienced attorney can investigate the circumstances, determine which liability standard applies, and build the strongest possible case.

Most personal injury attorneys handle dog bite cases on contingency — no upfront cost, no fee unless they win. The initial consultation is free. Given Tennessee's 1-year deadline and the complexity of the hybrid liability system, early legal advice is important.