What Compensation is Available to Victims of Dog Bites in Pennsylvania?

Dog attacks can lead to substantial costs for victims and their families. As a result, if you are facing the consequences of a vicious dog attack in Pennsylvania, it will be important to speak with an Allentown dog bite lawyer about your legal rights. Dog owners (and other parties) can be held liable for victims’ and families’ costs in many cases—and hiring an experienced lawyer is the first step toward seeking the financial compensation you deserve.

Understanding the Value of Your Dog Bite Case in Pennsylvania

When you hire an Allentown dog bite lawyer to represent you, one of your lawyer’s main priorities will be to assess the value of your dog bite claim. The value of your claim is unique to you, and understanding how much you may be able to recover will allow you to make an informed decision about whether to take legal action.

While the value of every victim’s and family’s claim is unique, all dog bite cases generally involve the same types of losses. In legal terms, these losses fall into two broad categories: (i) economic losses and (ii) non-economic losses.

Economic Losses in Pennsylvania Dog Bite Cases

Economic losses are those that have a direct impact on your bank account. This can involve either money going out or money not coming in, and it covers both losses you have already incurred and losses that you will incur in the future. Typical economic losses in Pennsylvania dog bite cases include:

Medical Expenses

Dog bites can cause severe lacerations and puncture wounds, soft tissue damage, nerve damage, bone fractures, and other forms of internal trauma. In some cases, they can also lead to serious infections. Treatment for all of these medical issues can be expensive, and if you or your loved one needs emergency surgery, your medical costs could skyrocket.

Regardless of whether you have health insurance, you are entitled to just compensation for all of these costs if you have a dog bite claim under Pennsylvania law. In dog bite cases, victims and their families can seek just compensation for physical therapy, occupational therapy, psychological therapy, and other ongoing needs as well.

Other Out-of-Pocket Costs

Along with medical bills, dog bites can also leave victims and their families facing a variety of other out-of-pocket costs. Some of the most common costs include prescription medications (for pain and fighting infections), medical supplies (for treating dog bite wounds), and transportation to and from the doctor’s office or hospital.

These are also costs that victims and their families can seek to recover with the help of an experienced Allentown dog bite lawyer. When working with your lawyer, it will be essential to make sure you have a clear understanding of the out-of-pocket costs you are likely to incur in the future.

Lost Income and Benefits

Pennsylvania law also entitles dog bite victims to financial compensation for economic losses resulting from their inability to work. If you need to take time off from work during your recovery, you are entitled to just compensation for your lost income and benefits (or tips, commissions or any other form of compensation you receive) while you stay home.  

Lost Future Earning Capacity

If you need to take time off from work in the future, you are entitled to just compensation for your lost future earning capacity as well. Dog bite victims and their families can also seek just compensation for lost future earnings resulting from: (i) disabilities that prevent them from working at all; and, (ii) disabilities that limit their job prospects, limit the number of hours they can work, or otherwise limit their ability to earn a living.

Non-Economic Losses in Pennsylvania Dog Bite Cases

Non-economic losses are those that impact dog bite victims’ day-to-day lives in ways unrelated to their financial stability. In cases involving severe traumatic injuries and serious infections, victims’ non-economic losses can be substantial. Typical non-economic losses in Pennsylvania dog bite cases include:

Pain, Suffering, and Emotional Trauma

Dog attacks can leave victims facing severe pain, suffering, and emotional trauma. While these physical and psychological effects can impact victims’ lives in different ways, it is not unusual for victims of serious attacks to face months—if not years—of daily reminders of what happened.

Permanent Scarring and Disfigurement

Severe lacerations and puncture wounds from dog attacks can also leave victims with permanent scarring and disfigurement. Similar to pain, suffering, and emotional trauma, victims who have claims for permanent scarring and disfigurement are entitled to compensation above and beyond the costs of their medical treatment.

Loss of Consortium, Companionship, and Society

Living with the trauma of a serious dog attack can also impact victims’ relationships with their spouses, other family members, friends, and neighbors. In legal terms, these are referred to as loss of consortium, companionship and society. If depression, anxiety, fear, embarrassment or any other effects of a dog attack leave a victim unable to spend meaningful time with their friends or loved ones, these are also non-economic losses that the victim can—and should—seek to recover.

Loss of Enjoyment of Life

Finally, the physical and psychological effects of a serious dog attack can also lead to a loss of enjoyment of life. Whether a victim is physically disabled, emotionally traumatized or lives in fear of going outside, these are serious consequences for which financial compensation is available. While it isn’t possible to “add up” the monetary value of these losses, there are clear methodologies for calculating just compensation for all types of non-economic losses under Pennsylvania law.

Schedule a Free, No-Obligation Consultation with an Allentown Dog Bite Lawyer Today

If you need to know more about seeking financial compensation after a dog attack in Pennsylvania, we strongly encourage you to get in touch. We can explain everything you need to know and help you make informed decisions about your next steps. To schedule a free, no-obligation consultation with an experienced Allentown dog bite lawyer, call 888-777-7098 or tell us how we can get in touch online today.