Dog bite settlement calculator

Estimate your financial compensation for dog bites and animal attacks. Calculates emergency medical bills, reconstructive plastic surgery, permanent scarring multipliers, and homeowner insurance coverage.

Get a free educational estimate in less than 2 minutes.

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Free calculator

Estimate your settlement

Answer a few questions about the dog attack. Nothing you enter here is saved or sent anywhere unless you choose to submit the case-evaluation form at the end.

Step 1 of 4 Attack context
Where did the animal attack occur?

Please select where the attack occurred.

Please select the state.

Did you provoke the dog in any way?

Enter whole dollar amounts. Leave a field at $0 if it doesn't apply.

$
$
$
$
Estimated economic damages $0
Location of primary bite / scarring

Please select the primary bite location.

Was the victim a child or minor (under 18)?
Is there permanent nerve damage or loss of sensation?
0%

Your estimated fault: 0%

Your actual percentage of fault can be determined only from the facts, evidence, and applicable law. The calculator uses a simplified adjustment for educational purposes only.
Estimated dog bite settlement range
$0 – $0

This is an educational estimate based only on the numbers you entered — not a prediction of what any insurer, attorney, or court would actually pay.

Get a free case evaluation

Breakdown of your estimate

Economic damages (Medical + Revision + Wages)$0
Estimated pain, scarring & trauma (non-economic)$0
Gross estimated damages$0
Illustrative fault adjustment−$0
Estimated range$0–$0

What does this estimate mean?

This calculator provides general educational estimates. Animal attack liability depends on state strict liability statutes, provocation defenses, and homeowner policy breed exclusions. Consult an attorney for legal advice.

Animal attack law

Key factors in dog bite settlement valuation

Dog bite law varies significantly by jurisdiction. Understanding how liability and scarring damages are calculated is vital for fair recovery.

Strict liability vs. negligence rule

Over 35 states enforce strict liability statutes: the dog owner is automatically responsible for all damages if the victim was in a public place or lawfully on private property, without needing to prove the dog had ever bitten before.

Facial scarring & plastic surgery

Because facial scars cannot be concealed, settlements for facial dog bites are substantially higher than bites to covered extremities. Future plastic surgeon estimates for scar excision or laser therapy form a key component of the demand.

Homeowners insurance policy exclusions

Insurance companies pay most dog bite claims under homeowners policies. However, some insurers attempt to exclude specific breeds (e.g., Pit Bulls, Rottweilers). An experienced attorney examines policy declarations to confirm coverage.

Psychological trauma & cynophobia

Severe maulings frequently cause lasting post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), sleep night terrors, and debilitating cynophobia. Documenting therapy sessions validates these non-economic trauma damages.

Common questions

Frequently asked questions about dog bites

Filing a civil personal injury settlement claim is purely about monetary compensation paid by the owner's insurance company. Animal control quarantine decisions are separate administrative matters governed by local municipality health codes.

You are not asking your friend or relative to pay out of their own bank account; the claim is negotiated directly with their homeowners or renters insurance carrier, which they specifically pay premiums for to cover accidental liabilities.

If the tenant has no renters insurance, your attorney can investigate whether the landlord knew the tenant harbored a vicious dog with dangerous propensities, potentially establishing landlord premises liability.

Next step

Get your dog bite claim evaluated

Connect with an experienced dog bite attorney in your state. Review your compensation estimate and verify homeowner insurance coverage.

Submitting this form does not create an attorney-client relationship.

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Disclaimer: This calculator is provided for general educational and informational purposes only. It is not legal advice and does not create an attorney-client relationship. The estimate is not a guarantee of settlement value or recovery. Actual results depend on the facts of each case, applicable state law, liability, insurance coverage, injuries, medical evidence, damages, and other factors. Consider speaking with a qualified attorney about your specific situation.