Dog Bite Settlement Calculator

If you or a loved one have been bitten by a dog, we want to help you get what you deserve.

It can be a very traumatic experience, and victims deserve compensation for their injury or loss. Many dog bite victims are unfamiliar with the process, so our goal at MKP Law Group, LLP is to help bring transparency to the situation.

We’ve built this dog bite settlement calculator for you from scratch to allow you to quickly get a range of what you may be entitled to. This will take less than 5 minutes. At any time, you can also call our office for a free and easy consultation where we can listen to your situation and give you a more accurate estimate.

Calculate How Much You are Owed:

 

 

Even if you cannot avoid becoming the victim of a dog bite injury, our team of hardworking attorneys can help you deal with the aftermath. Intending to make you whole again, working with a dog bite settlement calculator helps you understand what compensation you may be entitled to receive.

As we cover on our dog bite service page:

“A dog bite can turn an ordinary day into a traumatic experience, leaving you with physical injuries, emotional scars, and financial stress.

Unfortunately, dog bites are incredibly frequent in California. Emergency room visits across the state for dog-bite-related injuries increased by 70% from 2005 to 2022, a record high in nearly two decades.

In California, dog owners are held strictly liable for injuries their pets cause, regardless of the dog’s history or breed. At MKP Law Group, LLP, our experienced attorneys are here to help you navigate your legal options and seek the compensation you deserve.”

“Though the actual attack may last mere seconds, the hardships of physical scarring, disfigurement, mental anguish and medical procedures may continue for a lifetime. The experienced team at MKP understands these issues and can help you obtain maximum financial compensation for your dog bite injuries.” – Jordan Peagler

Types of Damages Awarded in Dog Bite Cases

 

Injuries associated with dog bites range from deep puncture wounds to broken bones. It is not uncommon for someone to survive a serious dog bite but have nerve damage that takes a long time to overcome. Other damages include infections and associated complications, scarring, and emotional trauma. The law recognizes four distinct types of losses that require compensation.

 

Possible Economic Damages of a Dog Bite Injury

Each case revolves around its unique facts. However, there are some similarities. Economic damages refer to the money you lost because of the dog bite injury and its aftermath.

Medical Expenses

Any money you spend getting medical attention for the bite injury falls under this category. This also refers to any rehabilitation, surgeries, or treatments you may need in the future because of the injury. The more severe the bite injury, the higher the medical expenses you are likely to have.

Lost Wages

Did you have to take time off to treat the bite injury? Were you unable to work for a time because you were healing? During this time, you lost the opportunity to earn money at work. This is economic damage that you should recover. Other lost wages include future income opportunities. For example, if an injury prevents you from staying at the job and benefitting from raises and promotions, it is fair to request compensation for the lost income.

Property Damage

While property damage awards are not usually a significant concern in dog bite cases, a dog bite settlement calculator may allow you to recoup costs of destroyed clothing, corrective lenses, and anything else the struggle with the animal damaged or broke.

 

Non-Economic Damages

Some damages you are dealing with do not have an easy way of assigning a dollar value. For example, how do you put a dollar figure on no longer being able to participate in a hobby because of the injury’s extent? A dog bite settlement calculator attempts to allow you to use compensation to make you whole.

Pain and Suffering

While it is impossible to gauge the severity of your pain and assign it a dollar value, it is possible to consider the injury’s severity. With this severity in mind, courts usually let you use it as a multiplier of economic damages.

Disfigurement

Particularly in the cases involving young children, disfigurement can be problematic. Although plastic surgery will typically take care of the most severe problems, the mere fact that you have scars could adversely affect self-esteem. An adult may feel that their romantic opportunities have significantly decreased. You deserve compensation for disfigurement.

Emotional Trauma

Traumatic experiences present with a variety of symptoms. After a dog bite, you may notice a fear of dogs that you have never experienced. In severe cases, dog bite survivors go to great lengths to avoid places or occasions where dogs may be present. For example, you may no longer go to the park because you fear encountering off-leash dogs. In youngsters, this trauma may be more severe. Psychological counseling, or psychiatric intervention, may help with anxiety, depression, and phobias.

 

Punitive Damages

Did the dog’s owner know that the animal was aggressive before they let it off the leash? Did the dog have a history of attacking children? Did the animal’s owner act in such a way that their negligence could be considered egregious? In such cases, punitive damages could apply.

Wrongful Death

If a loved one did not survive a dog attack, you, as the surviving family member, may have a case where you can apply for compensation.

Funeral and Burial Expenses

You could be entitled to recover the burial costs of your loved one. Liability laws make the animal’s owner responsible for bearing these expenses.

Loss of Consortium

One of the most heartbreaking losses is the loss of companionship, encouragement, and affection your loved one offered you. An attorney may apply for compensation on this basis.

Loss of Society

When children are involved, they will miss their family member and their role in the youngsters’ lives. This damage falls under the heading of loss of society or emotional benefit.

Medical Expenses

Although your loved one died, doctors worked hard to save them. Claim your loved one’s medical bills even though treatment was not successful.

 

Frequently Asked Questions

How much money can I get from a dog bite?

The severity of your economic and non-economic damages determines the settlement. Sit down with an attorney to talk through the losses you have.

 

Why are dog bite settlements so high?

The settlements are in keeping with the cost of treatment and economic damages. Remember also that these settlements take into consideration any future treatment expenses.

 

How much can I sue for a dog bite?

It depends. Use a dog bite settlement calculator to get an idea. However, discussing the case with an attorney makes the most sense.

 

How much would you get for a dog bite?

Talking to a lawyer about your case will give you a better idea of what type of settlement you might expect.

 

What is the average dog bite settlement amount?

The Insurance Information Institute reported that the average cost per claim in 2021 was right around $49,025.

 

What Is the average dog bite settlement worth in New Jersey?

The same source noted that the average dog bite cost per claim is $49,981 in New Jersey.

 

How much is a dog bite claim worth?

The severity of the injuries and the totality of economic and non-economic damages determine the claim amount for a dog bite injury.

 

What can I do to maximize my dog bite settlement amount?

Discuss your case with a lawyer specializing in dog bite injuries. It gives you the best chance of evaluating all possible losses you may have incurred and may have in the future.

 

What is the average settlement for a dog bite accident?

The dollar amount of settlements depends in large part on the negligence of the animal’s owner and the losses you experienced.

 

What should I look for in a dog bite lawyer?

The right dog bite injury attorney is compassionate and has experience in personal injury cases. They should take your case on a contingency basis, which means that you do not have out-of-pocket expenses.

 

How does a dog bite settlement calculator work?

The calculator lets you plug in expenses and losses you experienced because of the dog bite injury. To maximize the claims you make, use the calculator as part of an attorney consultation.

 

Is there a calculator to estimate my potential dog bite settlement?

Each attorney has their favorite version. Ask the MKP Law Group which one they would recommend.

 

Source:

https://www.iii.org/press-release/triple-i-us-home-insurers-paid-out-nearly-900m-in-dog-related-claims-in-2021-041222