Compensation for a Dog Bite to the Face

Dog bites can be serious injuries that often come with life-changing consequences. These wounds often lead to scarring, disfigurement, and chronic pain. In many cases, the owner of the animal could be liable when their dog attacks someone without provocation. 

While it is impossible to turn back time and undo the damage caused by an animal attack, a civil lawsuit could provide the injury victim with resources for moving forward in life. You could benefit from discussing your options with a Tacoma dog bite lawyer to learn more about compensation for a dog bite to the face.

What Types of Damages Can I Pursue?

A successful dog bite injury lawsuit could lead to different types of monetary compensation. Some of the damages that might be available to dog bite victims due to their injuries include the following:

You Could Recover the Cost of Medical Care

Your personal injury lawsuit could help you recoup the cost of your medical care. This is true if you paid out of your own pocket, or a settlement could involve satisfying the liens held by your medical team. You might be entitled to both past and future medical expenses, including care like physical therapy, surgeries, or pain management. 

Your Pain and Suffering Could be Included in Your Settlement

One of the most important aspects of a personal injury settlement involves your pain and suffering. Ultimately, you would not have to face this pain if it were not for the dog that attacked you. It is only fair to seek compensation from the animal’s owner based on the extent of this pain. While subjective, this physical and emotional pain could result in a monetary award that scales with the extent of your medical bills. 

Damages Might be Available if you Cannot Work

Some people are physically unable to work due to a dog attack. This is especially common among those dealing with vision impairment due to facial injuries. If you were forced to miss work after a dog attack, the owner could be liable for your lost income. 

In addition to your lost wages, these injuries might have a long-term impact on your ability to earn a living. If your bite injuries have limited the type of work you can do in the future, you might have a viable claim for compensation based on your diminished future earning potential. 

Scarring or Disfigurement Could Lead to a Monetary Award

Dog bites—particularly to the face—are known to cause scarring and disfigurement. Financial compensation could be available based on this permanent damage to your face. The value of a scarring claim is subjective, but our firm could show a jury that visible disfigurement has had a negative impact on your quality of life. 

Dog Attack Settlements Can Be Significant

Every dog bite case is unique. While the results of another person’s lawsuit do not guarantee a specific outcome in your own case, it can provide some valuable perspective on what these cases might be worth. Some of the most notable dog attack settlements resulted in millions of dollars in compensation for the victims. 

$5.6 Million – Florida, 2023

In May of 2023, a Florida jury awarded a high school teacher $5.6 million in compensation after being mauled by a pit bull. The victim was attacked while walking over mail to a neighbor that had been misdelivered. The jury award was against the owner of the dog as well as the woman who owned the neighboring home. 

$20 Million – California, 2016

In 2016, a victim and the surviving family members of a person killed by an escaped former police dog collected more than $20 million at trial after a fatal dog attack. The jury awarded over $13 million to a neighbor of the dog that survived the attack and $7 million to the heirs of a man who was killed by the animal. 

$1.35 Million – California, 2023

A dog attack that left a man “grossly disfigured” resulted in a jury award of $1.35 million in 2023. The victim was attacked by a sheriff’s K-9 unit, which left him with nerve damage and permanent disabilities. The attack occurred after officers tased the victim and unleashed the dog. 

How Facial Injuries Impact Financial Compensation

While any dog attack can have an impact on your life, bites to the face are especially likely to lead to lasting consequences. In fact, attacks from smaller dogs have the largest impact on a person when they occur to the face. This is primarily due to the way scarring can affect your life when it is prominent and visible. 

Facial scarring can cause a number of emotional and social issues. Many people find it difficult to face the public with facial disfigurement, while others experience a constant state of worry or dread. The financial compensation available due to scarring and disfigurement is subjective for this reason. The cost of reconstructive surgery to address this scarring could also be included in a settlement.

In fact, you could be entitled to compensation for the cost of any medical treatment required by your facial industries. In situations where you suffer nerve damage, you could require ongoing medical care to deal with chronic pain. 

Learn More About Compensation for a Dog Bite to Your Face

Holding the owner of a dangerous animal can be difficult in the aftermath of an attack. However, the guidance of seasoned legal counsel could help you secure compensation for a dog bite to the face.

The attorneys at the Jackman Law Firm understand how to maximize your recovery in these cases. We are prepared to work tirelessly in pursuit of the damages you deserve. Before you consider a settlement offer from the dog owner or their insurance company, you could benefit from discussing your options with our team. Contact us right away for a free consultation with the Jackman Law Firm.