Rs Law Offices/Our blog/Dog Bites: Your Dog and Compensation Law

Dog Bites: Your Dog and Compensation Law

22/02/2021

Many people who experience severe injuries from dog bites usually wonder whether it is worth the hustle to pursue legal redress. Most fear they are a small minority and decide to suffer in silence.

However, the truth is that dog bites are shockingly common and are among the most frequent types of personal injury lawsuits. 

To assist you to understand when you need to consult a dog bite injury lawyer, we have gathered a comprehensive insight into what you should be on the lookout and when it is necessary to engage a lawyer. 

  1. Prevalence of Dog Bites

It is estimated that roughly 5 million people report being bitten, and over 1 billion U.S. dollars are paid in compensation according to the Centre for Disease Control and Prevention. 

In the United States, dogs are the most popular pet among most Americans, with over 35 percent of households preferring the canine. That translates to about 70 million dogs all over the country.

It is no wonder dog bites are so common. Due to the proximity we have with the domesticated animal and their territorial nature, more than 75 percent of dog bites are caused by canines belonging to family or friends. 

Reacting to dog bite complaints, county governments and city councils are passing more and more bylaws to regulate dog ownership. 

  1. Dog Bites Compensation

Although dogs are considered man’s best friend – loyal, protective, and always ready to heed your command, a quick snap of their jaw can quickly make them your wallet’s worst enemy. 

In 2019, the average cost of a dog bite claim was approximately 45,000 U.S. dollars, according to the Insurance Information Institute. 

  1. What Can You Claim After a Dog Bite Injury?

Generally, your dog bite compensation should cover all your psychological and physical injury and losses. Some of the compensations you can claim include:

  • Pain and suffering
  • Loss of income
  • Medical and rehabilitation expenses
  • Property damage

  1. How Does a Dog Bite Get Calculated?

While no two dog attacks or bites can claim to be the same, dog bites are usually calculated by placing an economic value on the gap between your assumed life status before the dog attack, and your current life status after the dog attack. 

Usually, higher compensation awards are given when the dog attack has done the following:

  • When the dog attack has left a permanent scar or disfigurement. Such cases can attract up to 100,000 U.S. dollars in compensation
  • The need for specialized treatment or extended medical care
  • Result in disability
  • Results in the need for psychological or mental therapy

  1. Avoiding Such Lawsuits

If you are a dog owner, there are things you might want to put in place to avoid the risk of being sued. Some of the tips include:

  • Enrol your pet in an obedience class
  • Socialize your dog
  • Ensure you have a fence if you keep your dog in the backyard. Chains sometimes tend to break easily

Remember to take extra caution if you live in an area with a high population of children. Almost half the number of Americans who seek medical attention from dog attacks happen to be children. 

In the unfortunate event, you or a close family friend experiences a dog bite, our team of able lawyers are readily available to assist you in claiming compensation. Contact us today to schedule a free consultation.

blogs

You might like

Slip and Fall Injuries in Arizona and California

In desert climates especially, some property managers have a tendency to not count on inclement weather when it comes to the upkeep of their properties. This means that, over time, things like rain and seismic shifts can slowly wear away at all kinds of surfaces, making them unsafe to walk on. While property managers may […]

02/12/2022
Read more

Driving on the 101

Living in California, there is a big focus on driving. With everyone rushing off to work, sitting in traffic, or getting around to see people, it can be easy to forget how much fun the open road can really be. As we swing towards the end of summer, you want to set aside some time […]

06/09/2021
Read more

Bicycle Safety in California

In a lot of ways, California is known as the driving capital of America, if not the world. Where else are so many people absolutely defined by their vehicles, their routes to work, and even their carbon footprint for transportation? The state requires some of the most stringent emission requirements across the nation and is […]

07/06/2021
Read more

Clearing Up Workers Compensation Misconceptions

If we hear the term “workers comp,” we probably feel like we understand the basics – if you get hurt on the job, you file for workers comp, you get time off to heal and hopefully a little extra something along with your salary to make it all easier. In an ideal world, sure, it […]

18/11/2022
Read more

Slip and Falls in Private Homes

Slips and falls are serious anywhere, but if you concentrate just on occurrences in private homes, an arresting statistic jumps out right away- falls are responsible for 50% of all accidental deaths in the home. Let’s take a look at two of the top causes of a slip and fall in a private home. We […]

20/11/2021
Read more

Five Apps for Increased Road Safety

Staying safe on the road is more important as more and more cities become increasingly dependent on automobile transportation. Increasedroad safety is about diligence and attentive driving, but there are also ways to “gamify” or in other ways incentivize safe driving, through smartphone apps. Here are five apps designed to keep you less distracted and […]

12/09/2022
Read more

Top Five Most Common Car Accidents

Despite the plethora of traffic rules and safety measures implemented, car accidents are still quite rampant in the country. According to a report on the World Health Organization website, over three million people are injured in auto-accidents yearly, while 30,000 others succumb to their injuries.  As experienced car accident attorneys, we’ve handled our fair share […]

22/03/2021
Read more

The Most Common Types of Motorcycle Injury

The Most Common Types of Motorcycle Crashes According to the National Institute of Health, there are four main types of motorcycle crashes. Distinguishing these by category helps determine patterns that can later be used to help treat such accidents. The four main types are: The Most Common Injuries on a Motorcycle In the same study, […]

26/03/2022
Read more

Ridesharing and Car Accidents

Ridesharing services like Uberpool and Lyft are a pretty popular way to get around. According to surveys, the ridesharing industry will reportedly have a market value of over $220 by 2025. However, this increasing popularity is no surprise, as ridesharing services are convenient and cheap.  However, while convenient, ridesharing services are not all sunshine and […]

19/10/2020
Read more

Safety Tips for Rideshares

Companies like Uber, Lyft, and others have changed the game when it comes to the gig economy, the taxi industry, and, of course, just getting around in general. For most of us passengers, these ridesharing companies offer an increase in convenience, especially in California where public transport is not entirely dependable. Besides the convenience issue, […]

21/08/2021
Read more

contact form

Get in touch

By providing your phone number, you agree to receive text messages from RS Law Offices. Message and data rates may apply. Message frequency varies. View our Privacy Policy.