How much is my dog bite case worth?

Norfolk, Virginia dog bite lawyerA: In 2018, insurance companies paid $675 million in settlements and jury verdicts to people who were injured by dog bites and attacks. Claims made by dog bite and attack victims are almost always paid by the dog owner’s homeowner’s insurance company.

Typical damages that dog bite victims may receive compensation for 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.
  • Scarring & 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: Dangers 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.

Time Deadlines for Virginia Dog Bite Claims

In Virginia, there are strict deadlines for filing a lawsuit. In many cases, Virginia provides a two-year deadline also known as a Statute of Limitations. However, sometimes special circumstances apply and can alter that deadline.  It is important to contact an experienced attorney as soon as possible after the accident to protect your rights.

Virginia Dog Bite Lawyers at the Serpe Firm

Our Virginia-based personal injury law firm handles dog bite and dog attack cases. Our attorneys know the rules, the regulations, and the laws surrounding dogs and dog attacks, and we know how to fight for you to recover the fair compensation that you may be owed. Contact us for a free, no obligation consultation to discuss your situation.

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