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Home / Blog / Blog / Navigating the Cost of Compensation: Understanding the Average Settlement for Dog Bite Cases

February 27, 2023 - Blog, Dog Injuries

Navigating the Cost of Compensation: Understanding the Average Settlement for Dog Bite Cases

Table of Contents

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  • What Is the Average Dog Bite Settlement?
    • Medical Expenses 
    • Lost Earnings
    • Pain and Suffering 
  • How Much Money Can You Get from a Dog Biting You?
  • How Much Is a Case Worth?
  • New Jersey’s Dog Bite Laws
  • Turn to an Experienced New Jersey Dog Bite Liability Lawyer for Skilled Legal Guidance Today
  • Related Topics

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.

Related Topics

  • Types of compensation you can get as part of a settlement
  • Who pays the dog bite injury settlement in NJ?
  • Understanding Dog Bite Lawsuit Settlement Amounts – Part 1
  • Understanding Dog Bite Lawsuit Settlement Amounts – Part 2

I’ve been bitten by a dog

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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!

Elisa H.

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