If your injury prevents you from working while you recover, or if it causes lasting impairment that limits your future employment, you may be eligible to receive compensation for your lost wages and diminished earning capacity.

For instance, if you work with your hands and a bite on your dominant hand results in nerve damage that interferes with your job performance, you could recover compensation not only for time missed at work, but for any reduction in future income.

In rare but tragic cases, dog attacks result in fatal injuries. Families may pursue a wrongful death claim. [Learn more about Wrongful Death 🔗]

Beyond the physical injury, dog bites can cause significant pain that interferes with daily life. Pain and suffering compensation takes into account the intensity, duration, and long-term impact of the physical discomfort caused by the attack.

If you experienced months of nerve pain following a bite to the leg that left you unable to walk comfortably, that ongoing pain would factor into your compensation.

Dog attacks are traumatic events, especially when they happen without warning. Victims may experience anxiety, nightmares, or a fear of animals that interferes with daily routines or personal relationships.

For example, if your child becomes fearful of all dogs following an attack, and begins to show signs of social withdrawal or emotional trauma, that suffering can be acknowledged through financial compensation.

If your injury prevents you from participating in the activities you once enjoyed, such as sports, gardening, or playing with your children, you may be entitled to compensation for this significant lifestyle change.

Say you enjoyed hiking on weekends, but now, due to lingering pain or psychological fear of off-leash dogs, you no longer feel safe outdoors. That loss of freedom and joy deserves to be recognized.

In some cases, the effects of a dog bite injury may impact your relationship with your spouse or family. If emotional trauma, physical limitations, or long recovery periods interfere with your ability to engage in your usual family roles, a close family member may be eligible for compensation.

For instance, if your injury leaves you unable to care for your young children or strains your relationship with your partner, this emotional toll for your loved one could be its own claim.

When a dog owner’s behavior is particularly negligent, such as ignoring prior warnings, failing to restrain a known aggressive dog, or violating local leash laws, punitive damages may apply. These are designed to penalize the wrongdoer and deter similar behavior.

For example, if a neighbor’s dog had previously bitten others and the owner did nothing to address the risk, a jury may award punitive damages in addition to compensatory damages.

Although less common in dog bite cases, there may be damage to personal property during the incident, such as torn clothing, broken glasses, or a damaged phone, that can be included in your claim.

If the dog knocked you to the ground and shattered your phone, or tore through expensive outerwear, those losses are recoverable.

Dog attacks often lead to a range of additional costs that aren’t covered by insurance. These might include medications, travel to medical appointments, bandages, scar creams, co-pays, or home modifications to support your healing process.

Say you had to pay for weekly counseling sessions out of pocket or purchase wound care supplies your insurance would not cover. These expenses could be reimbursed through a claim.