How Does Compensation Work for Dog Bite Injuries?

dog bite compensation

If you have been bitten by a dog, I will work tirelessly to get you the compensation for your dog bite injuries–compensation you deserve – from the dog owner’s homeowner’s insurance company. I am typically able to negotiate a fair settlement with the dog owner’s insurance company but in some cases, I need to file a lawsuit against the dog owner. With assistance from an experienced dog bite attorney in Pennsylvania, you can receive a fair settlement for your injuries.

What the Owner is Responsible For

When you are injured by someone’s dog, the owner is responsible for your:

  • Medical bills
  • Lost income
  • Pain and suffering
  • Property damage

If that dog has injured someone in the past, or the owner was partially at-fault or did something outrageous to lead to the accident, you may also be able to receive compensation for:

  • Double or triple the damages
  • Punitive damages – which are designed to punish the owner for his or her malicious behavior

Medical Costs

The most obvious expense for dog bites are medical bills. These can include direct costs associated from the injury – such as emergency room treatment or hospitalization. But they can also include future medical costs – such as treatment for an infection that develops from the bite, or plastic surgery required to correct scars. If the bite aggravates a victim’s pre-existing condition, then the medical bills could add up. For example, if a person has a heart condition and during the attack, he or she suffered a heart attack, the dog’s owner would be liable for the medical costs of the actual bite, as well as the heart attack.

Lost Income

If you are injured by a dog bite and have to take time off work – or miss work to take care of a child attacked by a dog – you could receive reimbursement for your lost wages. If the injury impairs your ability to work in the future, or limits what you can do to earn a living, then the dog’s owner will have to compensate for your future losses, as well.

Pain and Suffering

The pain that you suffer from a dog bite is real – but this does not have a fixed price. Instead, a jury would consider the pain that you suffered at the time of the attack, as well as in the future. They will also consider the emotional trauma of the accident, and how the individual may suffer emotionally in the future – such as suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder because of the attack.

Punitive Damages

Punitive damages are rarely awarded in dog bite cases, unless the owner has had a previous attack, or he or she maliciously intended for the dog to attack someone – such as commanding the dog to attack a person or training the dog to be vicious. In these cases, the courts would award punitive damages. These are designed specifically to punish the defendant – not to to compensate the victim. The courts will pick their punitive amounts based on the intent and actions of the owner.

Were You Injured by a Dog Attack? Contact me, Jeffrey H. Penneys, Esquire

To explore the type of compensation that your attack case may be entitled to, you need to speak with a PA dog bite attorney. I have years of experience helping injured victims just like you receive compensation. I will hold owners accountable for their dog’s actions, and make sure that vicious dogs are not let back onto the street. To get started, schedule a consultation with me at 215-987-3550 (office), 215-771-0430 (cell) or fill-out my online contact form with your questions.

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