What tips should I keep in mind?

Report the bite to animal control and get the dog's vaccination records. Photograph all injuries immediately and during each stage of healing. Dog owner's homeowner insurance typically covers bite claims up to $100K-$300K.

Dog Bite Claim Calculator

Estimate the potential claim value for a dog bite injury based on medical treatment, scarring, and liability.

Medical Treatment Costs ($)(ER, surgery, antibiotics, tetanus)

Plastic Surgery / Scar Treatment ($)(Cosmetic procedures for scarring)

Lost Wages ($)

Scarring Level(Permanent visible scarring increases value)

Victim is a Child?(Children typically receive higher settlements)

Results

Visualization

How It Works

Dog bite claims in most states follow strict liability rules, meaning the dog owner is liable regardless of whether they knew the dog was dangerous. Claim values are heavily influenced by scarring severity and location, especially for children and visible areas like the face.

The Formula

Claim = Medical Costs + Lost Wages + (Medical x Scarring Multiplier)

Variables

Medical Costs — Emergency care, surgery, antibiotics, and cosmetic treatment
Scarring Multiplier — Pain factor based on scarring severity (1.5x-5x, +1 for child)
Lost Wages — Income missed during recovery

Example

An adult with $8,000 medical costs, $2,000 lost wages, and moderate scarring (3x): Pain & suffering = $24,000, Total claim = $34,000.

Tips

Report the bite to animal control and get the dog's vaccination records.
Photograph all injuries immediately and during each stage of healing.
Dog owner's homeowner insurance typically covers bite claims up to $100K-$300K.
Many states have strict liability for dog bites -- no "one free bite" rule.
Emotional trauma (PTSD, fear of dogs) can increase non-economic damages.