November 30, 2021 - Blog, Dog Injuries

Types of Compensation You Can Get From a Dog Bite Settlement

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If a dog has injured you through a dog bite, a dog attack, a dog causing you to fall, or other circumstances, you deserve to get compensated for your losses. Dog bites and injuries related to dogs happen. They can happen anywhere and anytime. They often happen in the home or the neighborhood.

Children can be especially vulnerable. Dog bites for children under 18 were by the family pet or the neighbor’s dog in 80% of cases.

When you suffer injuries, your life can change instantly. Understanding what types of compensation you can pursue for a dog bite settlement can help you take the first steps.

In most cases, the dog owner’s home insurance company will be the party responsible for paying for losses. Deciding who to hold accountable is one of the steps your dog bite attorney will determine for your dog bite claim.

For a dog bite insurance claims settlement or any dog bite claim, the case will focus on the following main areas to compensate the victim for their losses.

Medical Bills

A dog bite can require hospitalization, specialist care, or ongoing physical therapy, depending on the types of injuries. Medical bills can add up. Maintain a file of the medical bills and medications to stay organized. In preparing your dog bite case, future medical costs are also taken into consideration.

Lost Wages

Recovering from a dog attack may mean you can’t go to work. You may also require time off work to attend medical appointments. In some cases, a victim may not be able to return to the job they once had and may have reduced income due to their limited capabilities from the injuries. Time off work may also have resulted in a lost promotion or raise or lost sales commissions.

Property Damage

In many cases, property damages may only be any clothing torn or ripped at the time of the attack, but it could also include a damaged phone or eyeglasses. If a chasing dog caused a bike or car accident, that may also become part of the dog bite settlement.

Pain and Suffering

Though emotional trauma can sometimes be difficult to quantify, dog bite victims can go through emotional trauma following a dog attack. This can include post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) or psychological trauma resulting from a disfigurement.

Punitive Damages

In very rare circumstances, a victim may be able to file a claim to receive punitive damages. Punitive damages punish a wrongdoer. They are difficult to recover as the injured party must prove ill will, outrageous conduct, or malice. It is very unusual for punitive damages to be awarded in New Jersey for a dog bite case.

Wrongful Death

Another rare occurrence is that a dog attack results in a fatality. If this does happen to a loved one, a New Jersey dog bite lawyer will provide legal advice and guide you through this process.

Average Compensation for Dog Bite Cases

Economic and non-economic damages cover most of the compensation categories in an injury claim. Every dog bite claim is unique. The average settlement for dog bite cases was $50,245 in 2020. There are factors to consider, such as whether injuries are permanent, if there was facial scarring, the age of the victim, etc.

Get an Experienced NJ Dog Bite Attorney

An experienced dog bite attorney will be able to calculate the damages that will support your dog bite claim. Dog bite Lawyer, David J. Cowhey, is familiar with dog bite settlement amounts and gathering the evidence required for a successful dog bite lawsuit payout. If you’ve been bitten by a dog, David J. Cowhey understands dog bite laws in New Jersey and will provide personal attention, as there is no average dog bite.

Contact David J. Cowhey for a free consultation on your dog bite case at 609-513-0627.

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Dave was awesome helping me through the nightmare world of insurance claims after my daughter was attacked by a neighbors dog. Dave is very friendly, always available and extremally knowledgeable and connected to this process. I highly recommend you call him about your case,

John L.

David Cowhey, Esq. did a great job for my daughter, who had been bit by a dog and left with a scar on her leg. He is an extremely competent and responsive attorney. The whole process was very easy and he negotiated a great settlement! We are very happy. Highly recommend his professional services!!

J S

My experience with David Cowhey was amazing, he is a very knowledgeable and helpful lawyer. I got bit by a dog and it left a very noticeable scar on my leg and David was great to have on my side. He’s very easy to work with, would definitely recommend if you’re going through the same thing!

Michaela S.

Dave is so professional. My daughter was 6 when she was attacked by a friend of the family dog. I contacted Dave’s office and spoke with his secretary. She was so friendly and asked questions that made me feel comfortable. I was amazed by how fast the service was and everything was easy to understand. Dave made sure my daughter was compensated for her injuries and along with pain & suffering. There couldn’t be a more perfect choice but that’s because God helped me choose this great lawyer! He did an excellent job!!! She is 7 now and We are now able to move on better because of the help of Dave. Pick this lawyer!! I PROMISE YOU WONT REGRET ANYTHING AT ALL‼️ Thank you Dave!

Nieja M,

My entire experience with Dave and his team was 5 stars. They specialize in one thing, and this experience taught me why you want an attorney who specializes. Dave's knowledge, experience, and confidence is what made things go smoothly and quickly. Professional and quick responses always. If someone was bitten by a dog I recommend this guy, he will get you what you deserve.

Morgan K.

My wife got bit by a dog last spring; she immediately received medical care and we made a police report- all within 2 hours. Shortly thereafter, we decided to choose Attorney David to represent her. He walked us through the process. It is much more comfortable knowing that his practice only involves dog bites. He knows his stuff! We have just received notice that a fair settlement has been reached. If you have been bitten by a dog, my wife and I would highly recommend David Cowhey for an attorney. Thank you to David and his professional staff!

David D.

My 8 year old son was bitten by a neighborhood dog, leaving permanent scars on his abdomen. I immediately contacted David Cowhey. He explained the process very clearly and made it very easy for us to come to a fair settlement for my son. He was a perfect advocate for us, and he is very compassionate for the victim. We are very pleased with the hard work David has done for our son.

Stephanie D.

Lawyer Dave Cowhey (& his office) helped my wife, son and me immensely over the past 15 months. He is tremendously professional, responsive and proactive, as well as being, a great attorney. Thanks to Dave, we are now able to put our 'incident' behind us. I highly recommend his services - he will work hard and long for you to get you the settlement you deserve.

Seth K G

My experience with Dave and his law firm was wonderful. While I was nervous to start the process of something that I knew nothing about, he was extremely helpful and explained everything clearly and concisely. He answered all of my questions - day or night, weekday or weekend, and made sure I was comfortable at each step. I would highly recommend Dave and his firm!

Ariella L.

I absolutely loved my entire time of working with with Dave. He always kept my best interest in mind and made sure that I was taking care of. He was amazing at communicating all steps in the process with me, and never hesitated to answer any of my questions. Would highly recommend!

Amanda G.

Dave was extremely responsive and guided me thru the process with compassion. His specialization in dog bites really helped facilitate the process. He knows all the insurance issues and, despite the backlog of cases due to Covid, was able to settle my claim for more than we anticipated as well as earlier. I would definitely recommend Dave as I felt comfortable that I was getting the best advice every step of the way!

Kristen J.

Dave did extremely well by me and my family. He was nothing short of professional and assisted us through the entire process. I called him the day of the dog bite, and I followed his instructions to the "T". Him, and his staff, were knowledgeable on every step of the process. From medical advise, to advise on setting up our structured settlement for our child. If you need help right away, don't wait.... call him asap!!!

William W.

Dave was amazing, he handled my case with care , answered every question , email and helped me to understand the steps we needed to take. I had never dealt with a lawsuit before so of course I was nervous and thought I was going to get ripped off but nope. He was very professional and attentive. Hope I never need him again but should I ever need a lawyer for a dog bite i'm calling him first!

Neyia W.

Dave Cowhey was amazing during our case which was very personal in the sense that involved family members. He was candid and professional and always gave us his honest opinion to all our questions and concerns. He's a family man and understands how upsetting the situations are at hand. I wish he was a lawyer for everything honestly, he was fantastic! Highly recommended Dave and his team.

Courtney R.

My one year old dog and I were viciously attacked by a pit bull. I didn’t want to file a law suit initially until I realized the severity of the injuries both mentally and physically. Most lawyers are all about the money not for the justice and compassion of the victim. I am blessed to have found David. He was our hero who understood our situation was efficient knowledgeable and above all sincerely compassionate

Karol M.

Dave was hands on and always available. Steered me through the entire process and helped cover my medical costs and compensation for my scar and injury. Went over and Beyond and made me feel at ease and confident in a positive outcome. Would recommend to all.

COACH B

Honest, fast, responsive and professional. Great experience working with Mr. Cowhey and I highly recommend to handle any dog bite case.

Lilian P.

We contacted Dave when our 5 year old son was attacked by our neighbor's dog, resulting in deep wounds (and now scars) on his face and arm. Dave was extremely knowledgeable/helpful from the start, explaining how everything would work, and he was always available via phone/text if we had questions come up throughout the process. He always gave us all of the options/routes we could take and let us decide what was the best move for our family. He advocated for the best outcome for our son and always kept us in the loop. We were able to settle in a friendly hearing with the homeowner-insurance company, which was simple and straightforward, thanks to all of Dave's hard work behind-the-scenes. We definitely could not have navigated this process ourselves and we are very thankful for the help of Dave and his team!