Being attacked by a dog is a frightening and often painful experience. In the United States, millions of dog bites occur each year, leaving many victims with not only physical injuries but also emotional distress and significant financial burdens. If you’ve been bitten by a dog, you’re likely facing medical bills, lost time at work, and uncertainty about your recovery.
This blog is here to help. We will provide clear, practical information about your legal rights as a dog bite victim, the types of compensation you may be entitled to, and how homeowners insurance plays a crucial role in covering these claims. We’ll guide you through the steps to take after an attack, explain the legal process, and emphasize why having an experienced dog bite lawyer on your side can make all the difference in maximizing your settlement. Our goal is to empower you with the knowledge you need to pursue fair compensation and move forward with your life.
Understanding Dog Bite Severity: The Key to Settlement Amounts
The severity of a dog bite is a major factor in the value of your personal injury claim. Dog bite severity is often categorized based on the wound itself and scales developed by experts.
Dog Bite Severity Levels
One common way to classify dog bites is through a scale like the Dunbar Scale,1 which ranges from Level 1 to Level 6:
- Level 1: No skin contact by teeth, or contact with skin but no skin indentation. This might involve aggressive behavior without a bite.
- Level 2: Skin indentation, but no puncture. The dog’s teeth made contact, but did not break the skin.
- Level 3: One to four punctures from a single bite, with punctures no deeper than half the length of the dog’s canine teeth. This level often involves nips or surface wounds.
- Level 4: One to four punctures from a single bite, with at least one puncture deeper than half the length of the dog’s canine teeth, or a single bite with lacerations from the dog’s front teeth. These are more serious punctures and tears.
- Level 5: Multiple bites, or multiple-tooth punctures, where at least two punctures are deeper than half the length of the dog’s canine teeth. This indicates a more sustained and severe attack.
- Level 6: A fatal attack.
The higher the severity level, the more extensive the injury, medical treatment, and potential legal compensation. For example, Level 3-4 bites, which involve moderate to severe injuries, can result in settlements ranging from $500 to $50,000 or more.2 Level 5-6 bites, leading to very severe injuries or even death, can result in settlements that exceed $100,000, $1,000,000, or even more in some cases.3
Common Injuries and Medical Impact
Steps to Take After a Dog Bite Incident
Taking the right steps immediately after a dog bite can significantly impact your ability to recover compensation and protect your legal rights.
- Seek Immediate Medical Care: Your health is the top priority. Even if the bite seems minor, get medical attention to treat the wound and prevent infections like rabies or tetanus. Follow up with all recommended medical appointments.
- Report to Animal Control or Law Enforcement: Report the bite to the proper authorities. This creates an official record of the incident and can initiate an investigation into the dog’s history and vaccination status.
- Document the Injury and Scene: Take photos and videos of your injuries, the location of the attack, and any relevant surroundings. Gather contact information from any witnesses.
- Gather Dog and Owner Information: Obtain the dog owner’s name, contact information, the dog’s breed, vaccination records, and any known history of aggression.
- Contact a Qualified Dog Bite Attorney Promptly: An experienced dog bite attorneycan advise you on your rights and help you begin the legal process, especially important given Nevada’s two-year statute of limitations for these cases.
Animal Control Resources
Insurance Claims and Settlement Trends
Homeowners and renters insurance policies often cover dog bite incidents. In 2021, there were nearly 18,000 dog-related insurance claims, with a total payout of almost $882 million.6 The average payout per claim was approximately $49,000, typically associated with Level 4-5 bite severity.6
From 2015 to 2024, we’ve seen a noticeable increase in dog bite claims: the total claim value went up by 174.7%, the number of claims increased by 47.6%, and the average cost per claim rose by 86.1%.6 Higher claim payouts are often linked to more severe injuries and situations that require a dog bite litigation attorney.
Legal Landscape of Dog Bite Settlements in Nevada
Understanding the specific laws in Nevada is crucial if you’ve been bitten by a dog. Unlike some states with “strict liability” laws, Nevada generally determines dog bite liability under personal injury laws based on negligence.7 This means the details of the incident matter significantly for your claim.
Dog Owner Liability: Laws and Variations
In Nevada, a dog owner can be held responsible for their dog’s harmful behavior in several situations:
- The “One-Bite Rule” (and its nuances): While Nevada doesn’t have a strict “one-bite” statute, if a dog has bitten someone before, the owner is expected to know about that aggressive tendency. If they fail to control a dog known to bite, that can be considered negligence, making them liable for future injuries.
- General Negligence: Even if a dog has never bitten before, an owner can still be held responsible if they failed to take reasonable care to prevent the injury. This includes situations like allowing a dog to roam off-leash in an inappropriate area, failing to secure a fence, or not properly supervising a dog.
- “Dangerous” or “Vicious” Dog Designation: Nevada law allows animal control to classify dogs as “dangerous” or “vicious” based on their behavior. If a dog has received one of these official designations, the owner is held to a higher standard of care, and it becomes much easier to prove liability if that dog causes another injury.
- Violation of Local Ordinances: Many Nevada cities, including Reno and Sparks, have local ordinances like leash laws. If a dog bite occurs because an owner violated one of these laws (e.g., their dog was off-leash when it should have been), that violation itself can be considered evidence of negligence, known as “negligence per se.”
Ultimately, dog owners in Nevada have a clear responsibility to ensure their pets do not pose a danger to others.
Homeowners & Renters Insurance and Coverage
However, there can be challenges. Sometimes, identifying the dog owner or confirming their insurance coverage can be difficult. While homeowners policies usually cover dogs, renters insurance often does not include dog liability, and many renters do not carry such policies, creating potential obstacles for victims.7 Be aware that some insurers may also have breed-specific exclusions or may increase premiums or deny coverage after a bite incident.
Common Challenges in Settlements
Types of Compensation in Dog Bite Claims
If you’ve been a victim of a dog bite, you may be entitled to various types of compensation to cover your losses and suffering. These can include:
- Medical Expenses: This covers all costs related to your injuries, including emergency room visits, surgeries, medications, physical therapy, and any ongoing rehabilitation.
- Lost Wages: If your injuries prevented you from working, you can seek compensation for the income you lost. This can also include compensation for a reduced future earning capacity if your injuries have long-term effects on your ability to work.
- Pain and Suffering: This accounts for the physical pain and discomfort you endured, as well as the emotional distress caused by the attack. This can include anxiety, fear of dogs, and even post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
- Emotional Distress: Similar to pain and suffering, this specifically addresses the psychological impact of the attack, such as trauma, nightmares, and changes in your daily life due to fear or anxiety.
- Property Damage: This covers any personal property damaged during the attack, such as clothing, glasses, or other items.
For example, a child who suffered facial lacerations from a dog bite in Nevada received a settlement of $56,798 to cover their medical care and other damages.5
The Role of a Dog Bite Attorney in Maximizing Settlement
After a dog bite, dealing with injuries, medical bills, and insurance companies can be overwhelming. This is where an experienced dog bite attorney becomes an invaluable asset. Jensen Personal Injury Law specializes in helping victims of animal attacks and dog bites in Nevada. We understand the significant physical and psychological injuries these attacks can cause and are ready to help you hold the responsible party accountable.
Jensen Personal Injury Law has over 40 years of experience in personal injury cases, including a strong track record with dog bite claims, and offers comprehensive legal support designed to help you recover and secure financial stability.
Here’s how we can help:
- Investigating the Incident and Liability: We thoroughly investigate the attack to identify all responsible parties, whether it’s the dog owner, a property owner, or another party.
- Determining Case Value and Maximizing Compensation: Jensen Personal Injury Law assesses the full extent of your damages, including future losses and emotional harm, to determine a fair value for your case. Our aggressive reputation as trial lawyers often leads to excellent results and fair early resolutions because insurance carriers know we are prepared to go to court.
- Gathering Evidence and Handling Complex Paperwork: We take on the burden of collecting all necessary evidence and completing all complex paperwork, ensuring strict deadlines are met.
- Negotiating with Insurance Companies: We handle all communications with insurance companies and the responsible parties, negotiating for a fair settlement and advising you on how to avoid tactics that could harm your case.
- Preparing for Trial: While many cases settle out of court, Jensen Personal Injury Law is always prepared to go to trial if a fair offer is not made. Our extensive litigation experience, including insights from both plaintiff and defense perspectives, gives them a unique advantage.
- Advocating for Victim Rights: We are dedicated to fighting for your rights and helping you understand complex laws. Since we operate on a “NO FEE unless WE WIN” policy, consultations are free, and you only pay legal fees if we recover compensation for you.
Take Action and Secure Your Future
Dog bite incidents can be traumatic, leaving victims with lasting physical and emotional scars. Understanding the factors that impact settlement size, the legal nuances that vary by location like Reno, Sparks, and Washoe County, Nevada, and the complexities of insurance coverage are all crucial steps in seeking fair compensation.
Don’t let the legal process overwhelm you. You have rights, and there are options available to ensure you receive proper compensation for your injuries and losses. Act quickly, gather evidence, and seek experienced legal help.
Ready to understand your rights and options? Schedule a FREE consultation with Jensen Personal Injury Law today.
Sources
- https://apdt.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/ian-dunbar-dog-bite-scale.pdf
- https://www.legalzoom.com/articles/dog-bite-levels
- https://www.iii.org/press-release/triple-i-us-home-insurers-paid-out-nearly-900m-in-dog-related-claims-in-2021-041222
- https://dpbh.nv.gov/Programs/OPHIE/Docs/dogbitereport03/
- https://www.lawsuit-information-center.com/dog-bite-lawyer.html
- https://www.iii.org/article/spotlight-on-dog-bite-liability
- https://www.superlawyers.com/resources/animal-bites/nevada/can-i-sue-when-someones-dog-bites-me/