Can a Mail Carrier Sue After Being Bitten by a Dog in New Hampshire?

It’s fairly common knowledge that dog bites do not just happen to strangers walking down the street. Postal workers face this risk every day on the job. If a dog has ever bitten you while you were making a delivery or simply passing through a neighborhood, it helps to understand what New Hampshire law actually says about who pays for your injuries.

USPS Highlights an Ongoing Safety Concern

Recent reporting on mail carrier safety in New Hampshire showed that dog bites remain a persistent hazard for postal workers, with the Postal Service recording 23 dog bites among carriers in the state over a single year. Carriers describe close calls that happen in seconds, often on quiet residential streets. While much of the public conversation focuses on prevention, injured carriers and other visitors also have legal rights when a bite occurs.

New Hampshire Holds Dog Owners Strictly Liable

Under RSA 466:19, a dog owner or keeper is liable for damage a dog causes, regardless of whether the owner knew the dog had ever bitten anyone before. This is often called strict liability, and it removes a significant hurdle for injured people. You generally do not need to prove that the owner was careless or that the dog had a history of aggression. If the dog caused your injury, the owner may be responsible.

Does This Apply to Mail Carriers and Other Workers?

Yes, in most situations. Delivery drivers, utility workers, and mail carriers who are lawfully present on a property retain the same protections as any other injured visitor. The law only denies recovery when the injured person was trespassing or committing another wrongful act at the time of the bite. Someone completing a scheduled delivery is not trespassing, so this exception rarely applies.

What Should You Do After a Dog Bite?

Seek medical attention promptly, even if the wound looks minor. Dog bites can carry a real risk of infection, and documentation from a doctor creates an important record of your injury. Try to identify the dog and its owner, and report the incident to local animal control so a rabies determination can be made. Photos of the injury and the scene can also be valuable evidence later.

Contact a Manchester Dog Bite Attorney

If a dog attacked you while you were making a delivery, walking through a neighborhood, or visiting someone’s home, New Hampshire law may already be on your side. Our Manchester dog bite attorneys can review the circumstances of your bite, explain how the strict liability standard applies to your situation, and pursue compensation for your medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering. Contact the Law Office of Manning Zimmerman & Oliveira PLLC today to discuss what happened to you.

Source:

nhpr.org/nh-news/2026-07-06/dog-bites-usps-nh-mail-carriers-post-office-mailman