In 2019, insurance companies paid $797 million in settlements and jury verdicts to people who were injured by dog bites and attacks nationwide. Claims made by dog bite and attack victims are almost always paid by the dog owner’s homeowner’s or renter’s insurance company.
Compensation Available to Dog Bite Victims
Depending on the circumstances surrounding the dog bite, including insurance coverage, compensatory damages that may be recovered include:
Pain and suffering: This is the right to compensation for physical pain and suffering and mental anguish you have suffered and could possibly endure in the future. This accounts for many of the damages that are recovered and are in addition to the following damages that are discussed.
Loss of Earnings: You are entitled to recover for the loss of earnings which you suffered from your injuries. This includes wages, commissions, bonuses, and all other earnings and fringe benefits. If you are not able to work presently because you are recovering from your injuries, the loss of income will be made up.
Future Loss of Earnings: If your injuries have prevented you from your ability to earn income in the future, you can recover damages for the value of the reduction in earning capacity with reasonable probability which will occur in the future.
Disfigurement: If the injury causes scarring or other unsightly marks, the victim is entitled to recovery for the disfigurement. Because these injuries are often in very visible places, victims are often very self-conscious of their appearance.
Children are frequently bitten in the facial region and require plastic surgery later on in life. Depending on the age of the child at the time of the attack, many surgeons will not perform surgical revisions until the child reaches early adulthood. This means that many times, children will go through the embarrassment and humiliation of the scar through adolescence, a period in which they are very self- conscious of their appearance. This often impacts them both socially and emotionally.
Medical Expenses: Damages include any sort of medical expenses that a victim has had to pay for at a hospital, clinic, or to a pharmacy. These include the cost of basic medical treatment, going to the emergency room, and any sort of surgical treatment or care needed to repair the damaged area of the body.
Do you have a Virginia dog bite injury case?
✓ Were you or a loved one attacked by someone else’s dog?
✓ Did the attack cause serious physical injury?
✓ Did you seek medical attention for your injuries?
✓ Was the attack a result of dog owner (or caretaker) negligence?
✓ Did the attack occur in the Commonwealth of Virginia?
If you’ve answered yes to all of these questions, you may have a Virginia personal injury case. Consider consulting with a Virginia personal injury lawyer experienced with dog bite/attack cases to determine your options.
Attorney Richard Serpe
Richard Serpe is a highly skilled Virginia personal injury attorney with a reputation for meticulous preparation and presentation. He has a tremendous track record of success in obtaining favorable jury verdicts and settlements for his clients. As a personal injury attorney, he advocates for those who have been injured due to the negligence of another person, dangerous product, or company. A substantial portion of his 35-year legal career has been devoted to the representation of injured children.
Awards & Recognition
- “Super Lawyer” – top 5% of lawyers in Virginia (2006 – Present)
- Best Lawyers (2005 – Present)
- Norfolk Personal Injury Lawyer of the Year by Best Lawyers® (2020)
- AV rating from the Martindale-Hubbell law directory, which is the highest given
- Rated 10/10 – “Superb” by attorney rating service Avvo.com
Contact Our Dog Bite Lawyers
Our Virginia dog bite attorneys operate under a no fee promise. This means that you are not responsible for any legal fees unless we win or settle your case. Contact us to learn more 877-544-5323.
