What to Expect From a Dog Bite Settlement

Did you know there are approximately 4.5 million dog bite incidents in the United States every year? And 800,000 of those require medical care. If you or a loved one have been bitten by a dog, you may be able to pursue legal action.

Personal injury cases, like dog bites, are handled by personal injury lawyers. A lawyer will explain the legal process of a personal injury case and explore settlement options.

Want to know what you can expect from a dog bite settlement? Keep reading!

Dog Bite Cases

A dog’s owner is responsible for the behavior of his or her dog. So, when a dog bites someone and injures them, the owner may be liable. Liable means that the person is responsible because they were negligent.

If a dog owner is negligent it means that they are expected to act in a certain way and failed to do so. For example, if a dog owner does not have his or her dog on a leash at the park, that could be considered negligent behavior – especially when that dog bites someone.

If you were injured from a dog bite, you should contact a personal injury lawyer right away. They specialize in these cases and can help you seek compensation from the dog owner.

Dog Bite Settlement

Compensation for dog bites may help you cover medical expenses related to the dog bite. If you needed stitches or a rabies shot after the dog bite, save the medical records and expenses. The dog owner may have to pay those bills or reimburse you.

Dog bite settlements may also include compensation for pain and suffering. Pain and suffering include physical and mental or emotional pain as a result of the incident. Unfortunately, people bitten by dogs may experience trauma from the incident or develop a fear of all dogs.

In some cases, dog bite victims develop post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) which can impair their ability to live a healthy, happy life. Treatment for PTSD might include sessions with a psychologist which could be covered in the compensation from the settlement.

The amount of money for pain and suffering varies. Talk to a personal injury lawyer to learn how a court decides the amount for pain and suffering compensation.

Finally, a dog bite settlement might include compensation for lost wages if the victim had to miss work or their injury physically prevented them from working. In some cases, a personal injury attorney might also request punitive damages. Punitive damages are awarded if a dog owner was extremely reckless or if the dog has repeatedly dangerous behavior.

Hire a Personal Injury Lawyer for Your Dog Bite Case

Everyone deserves personal safety. So if you have been involved in a dog bite accident, you have a right to pursue compensation. Speak with a personal injury lawyer to find out the type of dog bite settlement you can ask for.

Remember to keep all your medical bills and write down any details you can remember from the incident. Don’t wait, reach out for legal representation today.

You can find more useful legal tips along with travel, lifestyle, and tech news when you visit our site and browse our blogs!