Compensation typically comes from the insurance company of the dog owner or guardian. There are various different types of compensation that may be available.
Economic Damages
This could include past and future medical costs (including cosmetic treatment of scars), loss of income, loss of the ability to earn income, damaged possessions, psychological treatment costs, and other costs related to the dog bite.
Non-Economic Damages
This includes pain and suffering from the injury, mental anguish, scarring, and other traumas affecting your quality of life.
Statutory Strict Liability
The dog owner must pay damages for the dog bite victim's injury regardless of whether or not the dog appeared dangerous in the past. The term "statutory" specifies that this type of liability varies from state to state.
Punitive Damages
If the attacking dog's owner knew that their dog was violent but let them interact with people anyway, punitive damages may be collected. (This type of compensation varies from state to state.)
Insurance Information Institute reports more than $850 million in dog bite claims were paid out in 2020.
According to the Center for Disease Control, there are around 4.5 million dog bites per year in the United States. Roughly 1 in 5 of these requires medical attention and most dog bites are done by dogs who have not been spayed or neutered.
Regardless of why the dog might have bitten a person, if you were bitten by a dog without provoking it, you may be entitled to substantial compensation.
There are several scenarios that can provoke a dogs to bite a human, including:
- Stressful situations
- Feeling scared or threatened
- Feeling the need to protect themselves, their owners, or their puppies
- Past abuse
- Obtain the dog owner’s contact information, including homeowner's insurance or renter's insurance.
- Obtain the attacking dog's proof of rabies vaccination.
- Seek medical attention to treat the wound and document the incident.
- Collect the contact information of witnesses, and whoever had custody of the dog during the incident.
- Photograph the wound and the setting where it took place. If there are no "Beware of Dog" signs, photograph this as well.
- Report the incident to the police and/or your local animal control agency.
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If your loved one has been bitten by a dog, you may be entitled to significant compensation. We can guide you through the legal process with compassion and expertise. Reach out to us today. We are here to help.
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