Your dog may be your best friend, but if someone else’s dog bites you, you could be looking at very considerable losses as a result of the attendant physical, financial, and emotional consequences. Dog bites are dangerous, slow to heal, and closely associated with complications, which makes them especially serious injuries that can require ongoing medical attention.
If you or someone you love has been harmed by a dog bite, don’t wait to reach out for the professional legal guidance of an experienced New Jersey dog bite liability lawyer.
What Is the Average Dog Bite Settlement?
Every dog bite settlement is called upon to address the unique losses – or legal damages – suffered by the claimant in the unique case at hand. Considering other claims, in terms of the array of losses they address, however, can help you gain a better perspective of average dog bite settlements.
Medical Expenses
Both the Mayo Clinic and the New Jersey Department of Health encourage anyone whose skin has been broken by a dog’s bite to seek immediate medical attention. It’s important to determine that the animal is up to date with its vaccinations, and you may require a tetanus booster – in addition to the medical care you need for the bite itself.
Dog bites can lead to extensive medical expenses for all the following reasons:
- Dog bites are especially prone to serious infections, which can lead to serious complications and the need for ongoing care.
- Dogs tear into the skin and underlying flesh, which leads to jagged wounds that take longer to heal and are more prone to serious scarring.
- Whenever the bite is on the hand or foot or on a joint, such as the wrist or ankle, the damage can be that much more profound due to the intricate workings of these body parts.
- A bite on the face or neck can be permanently disfiguring and can require multiple plastic surgeries.
It’s critical that your dog bite claim includes a careful analysis of your complete medical needs, including those that are ongoing or are likely to be required in the future.
Lost Earnings
A dog bite can keep you off the job while you’re healing, but there’s more to it than that. If the bite interferes with your ability to do your job or affects your career trajectory, the related financial losses can be immense. To complicate things further, such losses can also generate psychological pain and suffering.
Pain and Suffering
The physical and emotional pain and suffering associated with being attacked by someone else’s dog can be difficult to overstate. Additionally, this category of loss can intensify the effects of your other damages – interfering with your physical recovery and your earning capacity.
Your settlement should carefully reflect each of these categories of loss as they relate to your specific situation.
How Much Money Can You Get from a Dog Biting You?
Being bitten by someone else’s dog is not only dangerous but also terrifying, and obtaining just compensation is essential to regaining your health and well-being. Your claim will be unique to the circumstances involved, but having a clearer understanding of dog bite claim averages can support a better understanding of your own claim. Consider the following critical information shared by the Insurance Information Institute (III) regarding dog bite claims in 2021:
- New Jersey was one of the top 10 states for both the number of dog bite claims and their related costs.
- New Jersey had 611 dog bite claims.
- The average cost per claim in New Jersey was just under $50,000.
- The overall number of dog bite claims in the U.S. increased by 2.2 percent over 2020 and by 9 percent over 2012.
- The overall value of dog bite claims in the U.S. increased by 1.1 percent over 2020 and by a whopping 44 percent over 2012.
How Much Is a Case Worth?
Your dog bite case will be worth the total cost of legal damages – or losses – that you experience as a result of the bite. Your dedicated dog bite liability lawyer will ensure that your complete losses are clearly represented in your claim and will skillfully negotiate for terms that address these losses fairly.
Dog bite claims, however, are complex, and you can count on the insurance company taking whatever steps it can to keep your settlement low – and its profits high. Common examples include:
- Stalling the claims process
- Making the claims process overly complicated, lengthy, or both
- Denying claims without affording them the necessary attention
- Making early but lowball settlement offers
- Attempting to shift the fault, such as by accusing the claimant of provoking the dog to bite
- Denying the claimant’s full range of losses
With a formidable dog bite liability lawyer in your corner, you’ll be well prepared to take on the insurance company in focused pursuit of just compensation.
New Jersey’s Dog Bite Laws
While some states employ what is known as a one-bite law when it comes to dog bites, New Jersey takes a different approach. One-bite states don’t impose liability for a first dog bite – prior to the owner recognizing the dog’s propensity to become aggressive. New Jersey, on the other hand, employs strict liability, which means dog owners are responsible for the damages suffered by claimants – even if it’s the first time the dog in question has ever bitten anyone.
Turn to an Experienced New Jersey Dog Bite Liability Lawyer for Skilled Legal Guidance Today
David J. Cowhey at the New Jersey Dog Bite Lawyer is a seasoned dog bite liability lawyer who is well prepared to help guide your claim toward a favorable resolution that addresses your losses in their entirety. Your claim and your recovery are important, so please reach out to us through our online form or call us at (866) 259-4377 today.
Our legal team stands up for dog bite victims, and we can help you.
