When you are bitten by an out-of-control dog, you may be entitled to compensation for any medical expenses you will need to pay for in response to the accident. However, economic damages are not always the only factor, and there are various non-economic damages that you might also be entitled to compensation for.

Disability or Disfigurement

After you have been bitten by a dog, you might suffer from a disfigurement. For example, the dog might bite you on your face and you might have a very visible scar as a result. Or, the dog bite might lead to a permanent disability.

Pain and Suffering

You may be entitled to compensation for pain and suffering as a result of the dog bite. While there is no specific rule for determining damages for pain and suffering, a judge or insurance adjuster might use the multiplier method when calculating damages.

There will usually be a figure assigned that is between 1.5 and 5. This figure is based on the severity of your injuries, whether you are suffering from a permanent impairment, and how long you are expected to continue to suffer. For example, if the bite attack is so extreme that you are expected to be in pain for several months, your compensation would be greater.

Loss of Enjoyment of Life

Depending on the severity of your injuries, you might file seek compensation for "loss of enjoyment of life." You may also be entitled to compensation for your mental health if you develop a fear of dogs after the encounter.

Why Your Damages Might Be Limited

Depending on the jurisdiction in which you are filing your claim, there might be limitations on how much you may be compensated for non-economic damages. Even if your damages are under the statutory cap, the damages must be reasonable when taking into account the type of injuries that you have suffered.

The defense might argue that you did not suffer the damages that you are claiming. However, a personal injury attorney will help you understand the evidence that you will need to present to be able to successfully seek compensation for your injuries.

If you try to settle your personal injury case out of court with an insurance provider, they will usually try to downplay non-economic damages. Therefore, you will need an experienced lawyer who will fight hard to make sure that you receive the compensation you deserve.

For more information on what you may be entitled to, contact a personal injury lawyer.