$
Jury Verdict
$ 10 Million
Medical Malpractice
Luzerne County
Why Hire Our Scranton Dog Bite Lawyer
Millions Recovered
Millions won for victims, including Luzerne County's largest medical malpractice verdict.
Certified Trial Advocacy
Led by one of few female Board Certified Trial Advocates in Pennsylvania.
Zero Upfront Cost
You don't pay a penny out of pocket, we only get paid when you do.
Years of Experience
100+ combined years of experience in personal injury, medical malpractice, and criminal defense.
Pennsylvania law makes the dog’s owner pay every dollar of your medical bills from the very first bite, even if the dog has no history of aggression. The owner’s insurance company knows this, and its adjuster is often on the phone before your stitches come out.
At Scartelli Olszewski, P.C., attorney Melissa A. Scartelli has represented injured families in Lackawanna County from our Scranton office since 2001. She is a Board Certified Civil Trial Advocate, one of the very few female attorneys in Pennsylvania with this certification.
Call (570) 346-2600 before you return the adjuster’s call, or schedule a free consultation online. You get an honest assessment of your claim and your next steps, at no cost.
Why Hire Scartelli Olszewski After a Dog Bite in Scranton
When you call, our Scranton personal injury team gets to work right away. We investigate the attack, identify every party who may be responsible, and secure the evidence adjusters dispute later, from animal control reports and medical records to witness statements and the dog’s bite history. You focus on healing. If a fair settlement is not offered, our trial team takes your case to a Lackawanna County jury.
- 100+ combined years of attorney experience across personal injury, medical malpractice, and criminal defense
- Led by Melissa Scartelli, a Board Certified Civil Trial Advocate, a certification held by only a small number of Pennsylvania women
- A former Judge and District Attorney on our team
- Super Lawyers recognition for 17 consecutive years (2010-2026)
- 4.7 stars on Google from verified clients
- Free case review. Available 24/7. Zero upfront cost.
What to Do Immediately After a Dog Bite in Scranton
What you do in the first hours after a dog bite affects more than how quickly you heal. It shapes whether you can recover compensation later.
- Get medical care first. Even a shallow puncture wound can carry bacteria that lead to a serious infection, and your medical records become the foundation of your claim.
- Identify the dog and its owner. Get a name, address, and phone number, and note whether the dog is licensed or has a known history in the neighborhood.
- Report the bite. Call Scranton police or the state dog warden for Lackawanna County so that an official record exists, and the dog’s rabies status can be confirmed.
- Photograph the injury and the scene. Bite marks, torn clothing, and the location of the attack all become evidence that an adjuster cannot argue away later.
- Get witness contact information. A neighbor or passerby who saw the attack can confirm the dog was unprovoked.
- Contact a dog bite attorney before you speak with the dog owner’s insurance company. Adjusters often call within days, and anything you say can be used to reduce your payout. Call (570) 346-2600, visit our office at 411 Jefferson Avenue, Scranton, PA 18510, or request a case review online.
Every one of these steps preserves the proof your claim depends on. The next question is what that proof can actually be worth.
What Is Your Dog Bite Case Worth?
Pennsylvania recorded 1,324 dog bite and related injury claims in 2025, the fifth-highest count of any state, with an average payout of $68,786 per claim, according to 2025 claims data from the Insurance Information Institute. Where your case lands within that range depends on the severity of your injuries and which legal path your claim follows.
- Medical expenses come first: emergency treatment, stitches, antibiotics, and any reconstructive or scar-revision surgery you need.
- Lost wages factor in next, the income missed during recovery, plus any reduced earning capacity if the injury limits your work long-term.
- Pain and suffering are calculated separately: the physical pain and the anxiety or dog-related fear that often follows a serious attack.
- Scarring and disfigurement are valued on their own, and they carry particular weight in pediatric cases.
- If your treatment continues, future medical care, additional therapy, follow-up surgery, or ongoing counseling becomes part of the claim too.
Every category above factors into your number before any settlement offer reaches your desk. The dog owner’s insurance company knows this too, and adjusters are trained to delay, dispute, and undervalue each category. We document every element of your damages so the insurer cannot quietly leave one out.
Does Shared Blame Reduce What You Can Recover?
Yes, shared fault can reduce your compensation, but it rarely eliminates your claim. Pennsylvania follows a modified comparative negligence rule under 42 Pa.C.S. § 7102: if you are found partly at fault, your compensation is reduced by that percentage. A dog owner who argues provocation has to prove it, and courts rarely treat routine contact, like petting a dog on a sidewalk, as provocation. You lose your right to recover only if you are found 51% or more at fault. We push back on inflated fault arguments insurance adjusters use to shrink a payout.
Pennsylvania Dog Bite Laws: Medical Bills vs. Full Compensation
Pennsylvania dog bite claims follow two separate legal tracks, and the one that applies determines what you can recover.
| Medical Bills Only | Full Compensation | |
|---|---|---|
| Legal standard | Strict liability, 3 P.S. § 459-502(b)(1) | Negligence, or a “dangerous dog” finding under 3 P.S. § 459-502-A |
| What you must prove | The dog bit you, nothing more | The owner knew the dog was dangerous, or the dog met the dangerous dog criteria |
| What it covers | Hospital bills, stitches, follow-up care | Medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, scarring |
| Applies even if | The dog has never bitten anyone before | Injuries are severe or disfiguring |
Pennsylvania law defines a “severe injury” as broken bones or disfiguring lacerations that require multiple sutures or cosmetic surgery. Pennsylvania’s dangerous dog law (amended in January 2024) removed the requirement to prove a dog’s history of aggression, and injury attorneys argue this opens the door to full damages after a first attack. Appellate courts have not yet ruled on how far the change reaches, and we track every development in this statute so your claim reflects the most current law.
Who Can Be Held Liable for a Dog Bite in Scranton?
The dog’s owner carries primary responsibility for your injuries, but Pennsylvania law reaches further when other people share control over the dog or the property where the attack happened.
If the dog has been declared dangerous, its owner must meet the requirements of 3 P.S. § 459-503-A:
| Requirement | What It Means |
|---|---|
| Registration | Register the dog with the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture as dangerous |
| Liability Insurance | Maintain at least $50,000 in coverage for injuries the dog may cause |
| Secure Enclosure | Confine the dog in a fenced, locked enclosure built to prevent escape |
| Posted Warning | Display a visible sign warning that a dangerous dog lives on the property |
| Muzzle and Leash | Muzzle and leash the dog whenever it leaves the property |
Beyond the owner, other parties can share liability:
- Landlords who knew about a dangerous dog and allowed the tenant to keep it
- Dog sitters, walkers, or boarders with control of the dog when it bit you
- Parents or guardians responsible for a minor who owns the dog
- Business owners who allowed a known dangerous dog on the premises
Identifying every liable party matters because each one may carry separate insurance coverage your claim can reach.
Already been turned away by another firm, or unsure who is even responsible? Call (570) 346-2600. We represent the rights of individuals, not the interests of insurance companies, and a short conversation costs you nothing.
How Long Do You Have to File a Dog Bite Lawsuit in Scranton, PA?
Pennsylvania personal injury statutes of limitations give you two years from the date of the bite to file a personal injury lawsuit under 42 Pa.C.S. § 5524. If the victim is a minor, the deadline pauses until their 18th birthday, then runs for two more years until age 20. Missing this deadline bars you from recovering compensation in court, regardless of how strong your case is. Insurance companies know this deadline too, and some slow-walk settlement talks, hoping it passes. Filing early preserves evidence: surveillance footage gets overwritten, witnesses move, and a dog’s bite history becomes harder to document the longer you wait. Call (570) 346-2600 as soon as possible after a dog bite so we can start protecting your deadline immediately.
How Much Does It Cost to Hire a Scranton Dog Bite Lawyer?
Hiring our office costs nothing upfront. We represent dog bite victims on a 100% contingency fee, which means you pay no attorney fees unless we recover compensation for you. Your initial consultation is free, and we handle the investigation, the medical records requests, and every negotiation with the insurance company while your claim is open. If we do not win your case, you owe us nothing for our time. This fee structure lets you pursue full compensation for a dog bite without adding financial risk to an already difficult recovery.
Find Out What Your Case Is Worth
(570) 346-2600Scranton Dog Bite Claims FAQ
Is the Dog Owner Liable Even If Their Dog Has Never Bitten Anyone Before?
Yes, the dog owner is liable for your medical costs even if their dog has never bitten anyone before. Pennsylvania rejects the “one free bite” rule for medical expenses under 3 P.S. § 459-502(b)(1). The owner pays every medical bill from the first bite, with no history of aggression required. Compensation beyond medical bills requires proof of negligence or a dangerous dog finding.
What If the Dog That Bit Me Belongs to a Neighbor or a Family Member?
A dog bite claim against someone you know almost always goes through their homeowners or renters insurance, not their personal finances. Filing a claim is a conversation with an insurance company, not a lawsuit against your neighbor personally, and we handle that conversation for you.
Can I File a Claim If the Bite Happened at a Dog Park or Public Place in Scranton?
Yes, you can file a claim if the bite happened at a dog park or public place in Scranton. Pennsylvania’s strict liability rule for medical expenses applies in every location where you were lawfully present. A bite in a public park, on a sidewalk, or at a friend’s home in Lackawanna County carries the same owner responsibility. Trespassing and provocation are the two defenses that defeat this rule.
What If I Cannot Find Out Who Owns the Dog That Bit Me?
Officers can trace an unknown dog owner through licensing records, microchips, and a neighborhood canvass. Report the bite to Scranton police or the state dog warden on the day of the attack. Reporting on day one gives investigators fresh witnesses and an identifiable dog. An unidentified-owner case becomes harder to prove with every week that passes, because the trail to the dog goes cold.
Speak With a Scranton Dog Bite Lawyer Today
A dog bite case gets harder to prove every day that evidence sits uncollected. Call (570) 346-2600 or start your free consultation online, and we will tell you honestly whether you have a case and how we would pursue it. Peter Paul Olszewski, Jr., Rachel D. Olszewski, and Kristin A. Mazzarella join founding attorney Melissa Scartelli in representing dog bite victims throughout Scranton, Lackawanna County, and Northeastern Pennsylvania.
“Small Enough to Care, Large Enough to Win”
Past results do not guarantee a similar outcome. Every case is unique, and the value of any claim depends on its specific facts.
I don't think I could have picked a better team to represent my case. My situation was unique and extremely complicated but it was handled with the utmost care and professionalism. The firm's strong and organized representation ultimately brought great results and helped reconcile a tragic event.
- Jeremy S.
Was wrongly accused of a very serious Felony 3 account and hired Peter Paul Olszewski. The entire firm of Scartelli Olszewski worked tirelessly to have the Pike County Assistant District Attorney as well as the District Magistrate Judge Dismiss the charges! Very pleased with the outcome of this Law Firm and recommend this Law Firm.
- Kerry S.Dealing with the attorneys over at Scartelli Olszewski was nothing short of satisfactory. Through the entire 4 year process we had, I was constantly kept updated and cared for. More than doing their job, they truly care for their clients which I felt off the first meeting with Melissa. Both my family and I are forever thankful for them!
- Noah T.
Melissa A. Scartelli
Founder & President
Melissa is a respected Pennsylvania trial attorney, firm founder, and board-certified civil trial advocate recognized for compassionate client service, major case results, and longstanding Super Lawyers honors. Deeply active in the legal community and local institutions, she continues to champion injured clients alongside her family-led legal team.
After an accident, who you hire matters. We've spent years fighting for families just like yours – and we're ready to fight for you.
