Introduction
In a dog bite incident, an injured victim can end up having to pay exorbitant costs for their medical care, time off of work, and any related damages. Fortunately, there are avenues that victims can pursue to receive appropriate dog bite injury compensation, especially with the help of a qualified personal injury attorney.
Arizona dog bite laws outline strict regulations surrounding a dog owner’s liability in the event of a dog bite. If an owner was reckless or negligent in handling their dog, they may also have to worry about covering the compensation amount for any damages that ensued.
When navigating the process of receiving compensation, it’s helpful to understand what forms of dog bite injury compensation may exist, what the amount of compensation may look like, and what to expect from a dog bite settlement.
Costs Associated with Dog Bites
Costs associated with recovering from a dog bite can add up quickly. Between the extravagant medical care costs, the number of bills, and the risk of pain and suffering. Depending on the severity and the type of injuries incurred, medical care for dog bite injuries can cost anywhere from a few hundred dollars to $100,000.
Arizona Revised Statute 11-1025 states that the owner of a dog that bites a person in public is liable for damages suffered, regardless of the history of the dog’s viciousness. With this law, owners may be on the hook for providing the victim with the appropriate compensation.
Homeowner’s insurance may cover some damages from dog bites, but it is not always reliable, especially if there is a legal challenge. Because of the exorbitant expenses, both sides should be aware of the following costs associated with dog bites and how they influence the dog bite injury compensation settlement.
Medical Bills
The rising cost of medical care is already making many procedures costly, and caring for someone who has a dog bite, especially a rather severe one, can be beyond your imagination. Not only do you have to worry about the likelihood of going to an emergency room, but you also have to worry about the potential costs of needing several stitches, pain medication, surgery, and sometimes physical therapy.
In cases where an animal is suspected to have rabies, you may also need to receive an anti-rabies vaccine. These cases are rare for domesticated dogs and pets, but these situations can arise.
All together, a dog bite can cost a victim a great deal of money—starting from a few hundred dollars to a few thousand.
Missed Time at Work
If you are unable to work because you have been bitten by a pet, you are likely going to be stuck with a loss of income. The court will often consider this lost income as part of the dog bite injury compensation amount so that you can receive appropriate restitution. The owner of the dog, or their insurance, will often be the one responsible for covering this amount.
Pain and Suffering
You may also find that there is a cost related to pain and suffering. Recuperating from a dog bite can be overwhelming not only physically but also mentally. Those mauled by a dog have a long road ahead of them where they may need to see a therapist or some other kind of counselor as part of the healing process.
Some may think that it’s only a dog bite, but when you have been viciously attacked by a large dog, like a German Shepherd or a Doberman, and received severe injuries as a result, this can make moving on in your life very difficult. The additional cost of pain and suffering may be part of the dog bite injury compensation amount.
Property Damage
Damage to property may occur from a dog bite or attack as well. For example, if you wear eyeglasses and they were broken during the incident, you will need to be compensated. If you are riding a bicycle and it was damaged as part of the attack, compensation will be expected here. If the person injured has their computer damaged, their backpack torn apart or their clothing ripped, these are all considered in the compensation package.
Punitive Damage
A judge or jury may find that a dog owner’s behavior was reckless in the way the dog was restrained, leading them to order punitive damages. Punitive damages are compensatory damages ordered by the court to punish a defendant for negligence. These damages will be added on to the compensation as additional financial costs.
A dog that is off a leash at the time of the attack will increase the dog bite injury compensation amount due to negligence on the part of the owner—the court may find that this penalty needs to be imposed as a “lesson” to the dog owner to be more responsible with their pet.
These punitive damages can be quite excessive, far more than all of the other costs incurred combined. It’s a warning to the dog owner and all other dog owners that they need to be much more responsible with their pet.
JacksonWhite Can Help You Receive the Compensation You Deserve
From the medical costs incurred to the costs of pain and suffering, a dog bite can be costly for a victim. Because of Arizona’s strict laws surrounding dog bites, owners have strong liability in the event of a dog bite incident.
Whether you were bit by a dog or you are an owner of a dog who bit someone else, our Personal Injury attorneys can help you navigate the legal processes to secure the best possible outcome. JacksonWhite Law can support victims of dog bite injuries in receiving the compensation they deserve for their injuries. We can also support pet owners in building a strong defense and negotiating a reasonable dog bite settlement.
Our Personal Injury team will use our advanced expertise to bring the case to a suitable resolution. If you have been injured by a dog, or your dog injured someone else, call our Personal Injury team at (480) 378-8802 to discuss your case today.