At least 4.5 million dog bites occur in the United States each year. Out of these, almost 800,000 require medical care. Depending on the severity of the injury, a victim can need extensive treatment, surgery, physical therapy, and more to get well. This can be very expensive.
Dog bites can also result in temporary or permanent disability. To help victims of a dog bite deal with the aftermath of the attack, the law allows them to claim compensation from the at-fault party.
It is vital to hire an experienced Vegas injury lawyer or a good lawyer in your state to help you file the claim or lawsuit to get compensated for your damages. Your lawyer will prove liability, calculate your compensation, and negotiate a fair settlement. Here are some of the compensation that you can claim after a dog bite:
Medical Bills
One of the main components of a dog injury claim is the medical bills. Dog bites can cost more than $40,000 to treat. This is because they require extensive treatment. A victim will incur medical expenses such as the following:
- EMT costs
- Ambulance costs
- Emergency room treatment
- Cleaning and dressing of the wound
- Stitches and suturing
- Rabies shots and tetanus shots
- Surgical procedures
- Removal of the dog’s teeth
- Plastic surgery
- Antibiotics, pain killers, and more
Severe dog bites that require surgery and other corrective procedures can cost more than $100,000. Dog bites require immediate medical attention to prevent the wound from getting infected. Some victims may require physical therapy, occupational therapy, and more to get back on their feet.
Lost Wages And Loss Of Earning Capacity
Adults who sustain dog bites are likely to miss work. If this is the case, they can claim compensation for their lost wages or contracts. If a victim sustains life-threatening injuries or a disability that affects their ability to resume their work, they can also claim loss of earning capacity. Loss of earning capacity can help compensate victims who have a professional life for the life they have lost because of the dog bite.
Property Damage
This compensation covers the property the victim lost or was destroyed during the attack. This includes torn or ruined clothes and bags (and items in them), damages to a motorcycle or bicycle if any, and any other damages to their property. Your attorney will give an estimated value of the damaged property or the cost to repair them and use it to negotiate the claim.
Pain And Suffering
Victims can also recover compensation for the physical pain that they have to go through due to the bite. This is meant to compensate victims for the pain they endured during the attack, painful medical procedures, soreness, weakness, and more. You can also claim trauma, fear, emotional distress, mental anguish, any other psychological effects of the attack.
Loss Of Consortium
Spouses of victims can claim loss of consortium. These damages cover their emotional distress, pain and suffering, loss of companionship, inconvenience, and more. Note that this damage is awarded to the victim’s spouse and not the victim. If the attack was fatal, the victim’s dependents could recover more damages.
Punitive Damages
The court can choose to award the victim punitive damages as per the state laws and procedures. This award is rare and can only be awarded if the defendant is not remorseful or their conduct is appalling.
Call A Dog Bite Lawyer
A dog attack is scary and can be fatal. If you are a victim of a dog bite, you deserve to get justice for what happened to you. A lawyer will consider all the bite’s negative impacts while calculating and negotiating a claim to ensure maximum compensation. The compensation will help you deal with the damaging effects of the attack.
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