Dog bite injuries have several serious consequences. For example, pain and suffering, disfigurement, and permanent injury are all common consequences of dog attacks. One additional serious consequence of a dog bite is financial impact. Dog bite victims often find themselves faced with expensive medical bills that they can’t pay, which only adds to the other stresses associated with a dog attack. Fortunately, as a dog bite victim, you may be entitled to financial compensation for your injuries. In this article, we analyze the financial impact of dog bites.
Common Dog Bite Expenses
As noted above, dog bite injuries can result in a number of expenses, including:
Medical Expenses: Medical bills are one of the biggest challenges associated with dog bite injuries in New York. Following a dog bite, the resulting medical expenses can quickly add up, leaving victims unsure of where to turn. A dog bite can require multiple types of medical treatment, including evaluation, medication, rehabilitation, and even surgery—all of which can be extraordinarily expensive.
Lost Wages: Lost wages are another serious financial consequence of dog bite injures in New York. Following a serious dog attack, victims are often unable to work, resulting in lost income. Not only does this make it difficult to meet the routine costs of daily life, but it also makes it difficult—if not impossible—to pay medical bills incurred in the attack.
Mental Health Care: Finally, although dog bites can be physically debilitating, they can also take a heavy mental toll on victims. In fact, the mental trauma caused by a dog attack can be just as serious as the resulting physical effects. Sometimes, this mental trauma requires victims to seek therapy, further increasing the costs associated with the attack.
Average Dog Bite Settlement Amounts
In 2022 alone, insurance companies in the United States paid out $1 billion for dog bite claims. In other words, dog bites are quite common in this country, and they result in billions of dollars in damage to victims each year. In addition, the average claim payout in 2022 for dog bite injuries was around $64,000. Of course, every dog attack case is different, so the value of your dog bite claim could be worth less or more depending on the circumstances. Factors that courts and insurance companies consider when paying out dog bite claims include the severity of injuries, the breed of the dog, the likelihood of a full recovery, and other factors.
Generally, the more severe your injuries, the higher the settlement you may be able to expect. However, for an accurate assessment of the value of your case, you should contact an experienced New York dog bite attorney.
Contact a New York Dog Bite Attorney
If you have been injured by a dog in New York City, you need a knowledgeable and experienced dog bite attorney in your corner. At Bornstein & Emanuel, P.C., we understand the many ways that dog attacks affect our clients. Therefore, when you come to us for assistance with your dog bite case, we will work diligently on your behalf to obtain fair financial compensation for your injuries. Please contact us to schedule an initial consultation with an experienced New York City dog bite attorney.
