In a stunning report from the Insurance Information Institute, nearly $700 million was paid by homeowners’ insurance providers to cover costs from dog bites in 2017. That a 2.2% increase from the previous year.

While they’re known to be among our most loyal friends, would you know what to do if someone else’s dog bit you?

We’ll talk about it in this issue.

How common are dog bites?

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) confirms that dog bites are quite common, with roughly 4.5 million people in the U.S. bitten each year. Of those, nearly 800,000 require medical attention.

What’s the average settlement for a dog bite case?

Each case, of course, is different but reports confirm that the national average payout from a dog owner’s insurance provider is $37,051 – that’s a 93% spike from 2003.

When you consider the most common injuries from incidents involving dog bites, it’s easy to see why the settlement figures are what they are. Among the most common dog bite injuries are nerve damage, rabies, torn ligaments and tendons, emotional trauma, etc.

The factors that determine settlement amounts for dog bite injuries include:

• bills already received for medical treatment, and anticipated future treatment and therapy;
• lost wages and reduced earning potential; and
• pain and suffering.

What should I do if a dog bites me?

Remember, this is a personal injury case and to ensure that your rights are protected, it’s vital that you establish a paper trail of sorts to document the extent of your injuries.

To do that:

• see a doctor right away so that medical records can be made;
• take photographs of the scene where you were bitten (be sure to document any signs of fencing problems, etc.); and
• be sure to jot down the name of dog’s owner and their insurance provider.

If someone else’s dog has bitten you, call the Alaska personal injury lawyers at Barber & Associates.

We’re located in Anchorage, and have the resources and expertise to aggressively fight for your rights.

The first meeting is always free, so call us at 907-276-5858 or reach us via email.