A dog bite can mean stitches, an infection, nerve damage or scars, and for children, real fear of dogs for years afterward. Most bites come from a dog the person knows: a neighbor's, a friend's, a relative's. That can make it hard to think about a claim. Usually, though, the money comes from the owner's homeowner's or renter's insurance, not out of the neighbor's pocket.
How Indiana dog bite law works
Indiana has a specific statute for one group of people. If a dog bites, without provocation, someone acting peaceably who is where they are because of a duty under state or federal law or postal regulations (a mail carrier, for example), the owner is liable even if the dog never acted vicious before (IC 15-20-1-3).
For everyone else, the question is usually whether the owner knew or should have known the dog was dangerous, or was otherwise careless, such as letting the dog run loose or ignoring a local leash rule. Indiana's comparative fault rule (IC 34-51-2) can also come into play if the owner claims the dog was provoked.
Reporting a bite in Indianapolis
- Indianapolis Animal Care Services investigates bites and dangerous-dog complaints in Indianapolis. You can report one through RequestIndy or the Mayor's Action Center.
- The Indiana Department of Health takes animal bite reports through a fillable form or your local health department, and it encourages people who were bitten to also report to the animal control or police agency where it happened.
- Outside Marion County, call the county or city animal control office.
What to do now
- Wash the wound and get medical care. Bites infect easily.
- Get the owner's name, address and insurance information, and the dog's vaccination status.
- Photograph the wound now and as it heals, plus where it happened.
- Get names of anyone who saw it.
- Make a report with animal control so there is an official record.
For our fee on these cases, see our fees or ask when you call. We help across Marion County and the rest of the service area.
Call (317) 780-8000.
Sources
- IC 15-20-1-3 (dog bite liability): iga.in.gov/ic/2026/Title_15/Article_20/Chapter_1.pdf
- IC 34-51-2 (comparative fault): iga.in.gov/ic/2026/Title_34/Article_51/Chapter_2.pdf
- City of Indianapolis, how to report animal complaints: www.indy.gov/activity/how-to-report-animal-complaints
- Indiana Department of Health, report an animal bite: www.in.gov/rabies/report-an-animal-bite/