Average Dog Bite Settlement Amounts
Attacked by a dog? Get legal help from a skilled Vancouver attorney
Dog bite injuries can leave you with hefty medical bills, physical scars, and lasting emotional damage. If a dog has bitten you, knowing what your case could be worth and how settlements are calculated in a personal injury claim can make all the difference.
A skilled Vancouver dog bite lawyer will fight to get you every dollar you deserve. Attorney Colin Scott understands the tricks insurance companies use to cut their payouts, and he’s here to protect your rights and maximize your recovery. Don’t let the insurance companies take advantage of you. Lawyer up and level the playing field – get The Scott Law Firm, PLLC on your side.
What is the average dog bite settlement?
Dog bite settlements can vary widely depending on a variety of factors such as the severity of the bite or attack, the amount of required medical treatment, and any resulting disability, scarring, or disfigurement. A serious dog attack may result in lasting emotional difficulties, including anxiety when around other dogs and PTSD. Such cases may have a value well into the six figures and possibly more.
Every case is unique and so are the individuals involved. Therefore, it is impossible to determine what an “average” dog bite settlement is without evaluating each case on its own merits. Ultimately, any money recovered from insurance will depend on the severity of the injury and facts that are unique to the case.
What is the Dunbar Dog Bite Scale?
The Dunbar Dog Bite Scale provides a tool that allows individuals to evaluate the severity of a dog bite or attack using objective criteria. It’s methodology may not apply to every case, but generally bites are classified according to a scale from 1 to 6.
- Level 1: Aggressive behavior but no skin contact
- Level 2: Teeth make contact but no puncture
- Level 3: One to four punctures, but none deeper than half the length of the dog’s tooth
- Level 4: One to four punctures, with at least one deeper than half the length of the dog’s tooth
- Level 5: Multiple bites, or a serious injury from a single attack
- Level 6: Fatality
The higher the level, the more severe the injury (according to the scale). It is debatable whether this scale correlates to the amount of money an insurance company is willing to pay for a dog bite or attack, although it does provide some basis for ranking the severity of a so-called dog bite. Insurance companies use their own criteria when evaluating dog bites – which is one of the many reasons we recommend consulting with an experienced dog bite attorney before attempting to resolve your claim with an insurance company.
Is there such a thing as a settlement calculator to estimate the value of your claim?
Insurance companies have access to vast amounts of data, which they use to “calculate” what a claim is worth. This information is proprietary and for the most part kept hidden from the public. More importantly, people are not just numbers in a machine.
If you or a loved one has been bitten or attacked by a dog and suffered injuries, the best thing you can do to estimate the value of your claim is pick up the phone and talk to an attorney. Make sure the person you call is an actual attorney who is licensed to practice law in your area, goes to court regularly, and has a successful track record of handling dog bite cases.
Consult Vancouver attorney Colin Scott for your dog bite case
Dog bites can lead to lasting damage, including physical scarring and psychological trauma. Children, seniors, and postal workers are especially vulnerable, and many victims require extensive medical treatment and therapy. Attorney Colin Scott knows what it takes to stand up to insurance companies and secure the compensation you are entitled to receive.
If you or a loved one has been injured in a dog attack, don’t face the insurance companies alone. Contact The Scott Law Firm today for a free consultation and let us fight for the justice you deserve.