What is the average settlement for a dog bite in Virginia?
Answer: There is no true “average” dog bite settlement because the value of a case depends on the severity of the injury, scarring, medical treatment, lost income, available insurance, and whether liability is disputed. However, national insurance data gives a helpful starting point.
In 2025, U.S. insurers paid approximately $1.86 billion for dog bite and other dog-related injury claims, according to the Insurance Information Institute and State Farm.
The average cost per claim was $65,450, with 28,450 claims reported nationwide. That was a 25.6% increase in the number of claims from 2024.
That does not mean every dog bite case is worth $65,450. Some claims settle for less, while serious cases involving facial scarring, surgery, nerve damage, infection, permanent disfigurement, or children can be significantly more.
Why Dog Bite Settlement Amounts Vary So Much?
Dog bite settlements are highly fact-specific. A minor bite that heals quickly will usually be valued very differently from an attack that causes permanent scarring, requires surgery, or leaves a child with visible injuries.
The value of a dog bite claim may depend on:
- Location and severity of the bite
- Whether the victim needed stitches, surgery, or specialist care
- Scarring or disfigurement, especially to the face
- Nerve damage or loss of mobility
- Infection or complications after the attack
- Pain and suffering
- Lost wages or reduced ability to work
- Whether the victim was a child
- Whether the dog owner or another party was negligent
- Amount of insurance coverage available
Insurance coverage matters because many dog bite claims are paid through homeowners or renters insurance. According to Triple-I, homeowners and renters policies typically cover dog bite liability up to the policy limits, often between $100,000 and $300,000.
Virginia Dog Bite Settlement Examples
Examples of Virginia dog bite settlements include:
$425,000 – Child suffered severe facial bites in Richmond, VA
$175,000 – Adult bitten on the face in Newport News, VA
$160,000 – Adult sustained a leg injury in Portsmouth, VA
$155,000 – Adult attacked by a dog in Alexandria, VA
$149,000 – Pedestrian bitten by a dog in Virginia Beach, VA
$100,000 – FedEx driver severely bitten in Wythe, VA
$100,000 – USPS mail carrier required surgery in Norfolk, VA
Every case is different, so prior results can never guarantee a similar outcome.
Contact a Virginia Dog Bite Lawyer
If you were injured in a dog attack, contact the Law Offices of Richard J. Serpe, PC to discuss your situation. We have spent decades handling Virginia dog bite claims and understand the legal and insurance issues these cases involve. Your consultation is free, and there are no legal fees unless we win.