Cogburn Davidson | June 9, 2025 | Dog Bites

Dog attacks can leave more than scars—they raise urgent legal questions. At Cogburn Davidson Car Accident & Personal Injury Lawyers, our award-winning trial team has spent 40+ years turning those questions into victories, recovering hundreds of millions of dollars for injured Nevadans. Below, we combine that courtroom experience with the latest Nevada statutes, ordinances, and case law so you know exactly where you stand after a bite.

No Statewide “Strict-Liability” Statute

Unlike many states, Nevada has never adopted a dog-bite statute that makes owners automatically liable. Instead, liability is usually proved in one of three ways:

  1. Negligence. Owners who fail to exercise reasonable care—e.g., letting a dog roam off-leash—can be held responsible. The Nevada Supreme Court confirmed this traditional negligence path in Harry v. Smith, 893 P.2d 372 (Nev. 1995).
  2. Negligence per Se. Violating a safety law (such as a leash ordinance) can create automatic civil liability.
  3. “Dangerous” or “vicious” dog classification.

The Dangerous & Vicious-Dog Statute (NRS 202.500)

Nevada’s Legislature criminalizes owning a dog that has been declared “dangerous” or “vicious.”

A dog becomes dangerous after two menacing incidents in 18 months, and becomes vicious if it causes severe injury or kills without provocation. Owners of vicious dogs face misdemeanor charges and must permanently confine or destroy the animal (NRS 202.500).

Keep in mind:

  • A civil case does not require the dog to be declared vicious
  • However, prior “dangerous” status is powerful evidence of the owner’s knowledge and negligence

Local Leash & Containment Ordinances

Leash rules are set city by city. In Clark County, for example, it’s a misdemeanor to walk a dog in public without a leash or tether (§ 10.36.040). Violating the rule can form the basis of negligence per se in a bite lawsuit.

Comparative Fault Rules

Nevada follows modified comparative negligence. If the victim is 51 percent or more to blame (for provoking or teasing the dog, for instance), they recover nothing. Otherwise, their award is reduced by their share of fault (NRS 41.141).

Two-Year Statute of Limitations

Most dog-bite lawsuits must be filed within two years of the attack. If you miss the deadline, the court will dismiss it, no matter how strong your evidence is (NRS 11.190(4)(e)).

Why Proving Negligence Still Wins

Because Nevada relies on common-law negligence, documentation is everything:

  • Owner’s prior knowledge of aggression (past bites, bark complaints, “Beware of Dog” signs)
  • Ordinance violations, such as broken fencing or an unlocked gate
  • Industry standards—the AVMA notes that 1 in 5 dog-bite victims needs medical attention, underscoring why reasonable owners must control animals (AVMA Dog-Bite Prevention)
  • Severity of harm—CDC data show dog bites send an average of 337,000 Americans to the ER each year, highlighting the public-health stakes (CDC Healthy Pets – Dogs)

Every piece of evidence shores up the negligence argument and maximizes your economic and non-economic damages.

Steps to Protect Your Rights After a Bite

  1. Seek medical care and request a full record of treatment
  2. Report the attack to local animal control so the dog’s vaccination and quarantine status are documented
  3. Photograph injuries & scene (leash, broken fence, warning signs)
  4. Collect witness information
  5. Call an experienced dog-bite attorney before speaking with the owner’s insurer

We’re Here to Help

Dog-bite law in Nevada is a patchwork of statutes, city codes, and Supreme Court precedents. Navigating it without guidance can jeopardize your health and your financial future.

Cogburn Davidson couples deep knowledge of these rules with relentless investigative resources, which is precisely why Nevada families have entrusted us with their most serious injury claims for two decades.

Understanding the law is the first step. Enforcing it, with seasoned trial lawyers in your corner, is how you secure full justice. Contact us today to book your complimentary consultation and learn more about your rights and options.