Dog bites can cause painful, disfiguring, and life-threatening injuries. The injured person could have significant medical expenses. Pain, mental anguish, and post-traumatic stress disorder could take a toll, reducing their quality of life.
Missouri law allows dog bite victims to seek injury compensation. In most cases, this compensation comes from a settlement between the injured person and the dog owner or their insurance company. The amount of this settlement will vary, depending on the outcome of the attack.
National Average Dog Bite Settlement
According to the Insurance Information Institute, the average payout by insurers for dog bite claims in 2023 was $58,545. However, this number is subject to the following caveats:
- This was a national average, not a Missouri average.
- The number included both settlements and verdicts.
- It covered dog bites of all severity levels, from minor to fatal.
Thus, while this average provides some broad guidance about dog bite claims, it does not account for the many factors that affect the value of a settlement.
Factors Affecting Your Dog Bite Claim Settlement
Under Missouri law, dog owners are strictly liable for injuries resulting from unprovoked dog attacks. This liability extends to dog bites on public and private property as long as the victim was lawfully present.
This law simplifies claims since the owner is liable even if they didn’t know their dog was aggressive. However, the dog owner and their insurer must still determine the value of a claim before offering a settlement.
Dog bite claims usually fall under renter’s and homeowner’s insurance policies. These policies include liability coverage for slip and fall accidents and other premises liability claims. They may also cover dog bites on or off the insured property. In other words, some policies will cover your losses whether you were bitten at the park or on the dog owner’s porch.
The value of your dog bite claim should include both your economic and non-economic losses. Economic losses encompass your medical bills, lost wages, and the other financial costs of the dog bite. Non-economic losses cover the impact of the attack on your quality of life, such as physical pain, scars, and nightmares.
Thus, the following factors could affect your dog bite settlement amount in Missouri:
Severity Of Your Injuries
The severity of your injuries will play a major role in determining the settlement you receive. More severe injuries require more extensive treatment and have a greater likelihood of causing disability.
For example, if the dog knocked you over and caused a brain injury, you might require surgery and years of therapy. The injury may never fully heal. This case would justify a much larger settlement than one in which a dog attack resulted in lacerations that healed without any complications.
Impact Of Your Injuries On Your Life
Your dog bite injuries could affect your life in many ways. A permanently disabling injury could significantly reduce your earning capacity. You might need a caretaker to help you with daily tasks or have to depend on others to handle cooking, cleaning, or driving.
Dog bite injuries can also have intangible effects. You might suffer from flashbacks or other psychological symptoms. You could develop crippling social anxiety about the scars you suffered.
If you document these impacts of the dog attack, your attorney can negotiate with the insurer to include compensation for them in your settlement.
Dog Owner’s Insurance
While most dog bites are covered by insurance, some are not. Sometimes, the dog owner has insurance, but not enough to cover all of the victim’s losses. If that’s the case, you might receive a smaller settlement simply because the dog owner cannot pay more.
Evaluating Your Dog Bite Case
The national average dog bite settlement sits just below $60,000. However, this number tells you little about what you can seek for your injuries. Instead, you and your attorney must analyze the factors specific to your case to determine a full and fair settlement.
Contact a Personal Injury Lawyer at Roach Law Car Accident Lawyers Today
For more information, contact the attorneys at Roach Law Car Accident Lawyers we proudly serve all throughout Missouri, including St. Louis County, and we have offices in St. Louis, Chesterfield, Clayton, and Creve Coeur.
Roach Law Car Accident Lawyers – St. Louis Office
1010 Market Street, Suite 1605
St. Louis, Missouri
(636) 519-0085
Roach Law Car Accident Lawyers – Chesterfield Office
400 Chesterfield Center Suite 400
Chesterfield, MO 63017
(636) 999-9587
Roach Law Car Accident Lawyers – Creve Coeur Office
11628 Old Ballas Rd, Suite 320
Creve Coeur, MO 63141
(314) 557-2869
Roach Law Car Accident Lawyers – Clayton Office
7733 Forsyth Blvd, Suite 1100
Clayton, MO 63105
(314) 804-4569
