How Insurance Companies Handle Dog Bites and What You Can Do to Pursue a Claim

Dog bites can happen quickly, but the aftermath often lasts much longer. Victims often deal with medical bills, scarring, lost wages, and emotional distress. While many people assume the dog owner’s insurance company will simply pay for the damages, the process is rarely that straightforward. Insurers often look for ways to limit what they pay, and victims may feel unprepared for the tactics used against them.

The good news is that there are steps you can take to protect yourself. Understanding how insurance companies typically handle these claims is the first step toward building a stronger case and seeking fair compensation for your damages.

How Insurance Coverage for Dog Bites Usually Works

In many situations, a dog bite may fall under the dog owner’s homeowners or renters insurance policy. These policies often include liability coverage if a pet injures someone, but the verbiage is not the same in every policy.

Coverage limits may range from tens of thousands to several hundred thousand dollars. While that may sound like a large amount, serious dog bite injuries may exceed those limits when medical treatment, reconstructive surgery, and lost income are considered. In some cases, an insurance company may only pay up to the policy maximum, leaving victims to explore other legal options to cover everything they lost.

Some insurers also exclude specific breeds from coverage or increase premiums for owners with certain types of dogs. If the policy excludes the breed involved in the attack, coverage may not apply at all. That can make the process more complicated.

Tactics Insurance Companies May Use

Insurance companies are skilled at minimizing payouts. While every claim is different, victims may encounter specific strategies designed to reduce the value of their case including:

• Offering a fast, low settlement before the full extent of injuries is known.
• Asserting that the victim provoked the dog or that the victim trespassed.
• Disputing medical treatment as excessive or unnecessary.
• Suggesting that scars or emotional harm are less serious than claimed.
• Making multiple requests for the same documentation in hopes that the victim gives up.

These tactics may be discouraging, especially while you’re still recovering from the physical and emotional effects of a dog attack.

Challenges Victims Often Face

Beyond insurer tactics, dog bite victims may face other obstacles. Medical treatment may be ongoing, and it may take some time to fully understand the impact of your injury.

Victims may also struggle with the emotional effects of a dog bite. Anxiety, fear of dogs, or lasting trauma may interfere with daily life. Unfortunately, insurers can downplay these non-physical damages, even though they can be just as real as medical bills.

Long-Term Consequences of Dog Bites

One reason quick settlements may not be in a victim’s best interest is that dog bite injuries sometimes aren’t obvious right away. Examples include:

• Reconstructive surgery: Deep bites may leave scars that require cosmetic or reconstructive surgery months or even years later.
• Nerve damage: Severe bites may affect muscles, tendons, or nerves, creating ongoing pain or loss of movement.
• Infections: Even with proper care, many wounds become infected and require hospitalization or extended treatment.
• Risk of Rabies: Some dogs are not vaccinated against rabies, and they can transmit this to their victim. Rabies is often a lethal condition unless the victim undergoes immediate treatment, that is quite painful. Just the possibility of being exposed is anxiety inducing in itself, but it also starts the clock ticking to make sure the treatment is started within the window of opportunity.
• Emotional trauma: Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), nightmares, and a lasting fear of dogs may affect victims long after the physical wounds heal.

These long-term effects may be expensive and difficult to manage. If a victim accepts an early settlement that only covers immediate medical bills, they may be left without support for future care. This is one reason why legal guidance is so important in dog bite cases.

Steps Victims May Want to Take

While the process can feel overwhelming, there are ways victims can protect their rights and strengthen their claim:

• Seek medical care immediately, even for what looks like a minor bite. This reduces the risk of infection, rabies, or other conditions that require prompt medical treatment. It also ensures that proper documentation will be made of the necessary treatment.
• Report the incident to local authorities so there is an official record, and a determination can be made whether the dog was properly vaccinated.
• Take photos of injuries, torn clothing, and the scene of the attack.
• Collect contact information from any witnesses.
• Keep track of all medical expenses, lost wages, and related costs.
• Avoid giving detailed statements to the insurance company without speaking to an attorney first.

These steps may help create the documentation needed to counter insurance tactics and present a stronger case for your claim.

How Attorneys Can Help Strengthen Your Claim

Dog bite cases may appear straightforward, but insurance companies often make them anything but. Having an attorney involved may help you understand the value of your claim and push back when insurers attempt to minimize it.

Attorneys can:

• Review insurance policies to confirm coverage and limits.
• Gather medical evidence showing the full scope of injuries.
• Consult with doctors, therapists, or other professionals who can explain long-term consequences.
• Handle communication with the insurance company to prevent victims from being pressured into low settlements.
• Negotiate or litigate when necessary to pursue fair compensation.

In short, legal guidance may shift the balance of power. Instead of facing a well-funded insurance company alone, victims have someone advocating for their best interests.

Why Acting Quickly Matters

Time matters in these cases. Evidence like photos of injuries, medical records, and witness statements may be harder to obtain as time passes. Reporting deadlines may also affect the ability to bring a claim. Speaking with an attorney sooner rather than later may give victims a better chance to preserve important information and avoid mistakes that could harm their case.

Moving Forward After a Dog Bite

Recovering from a dog bite may involve more than just physical healing. Victims often face financial stress, ongoing medical treatment, and emotional scars that linger long after the accident. Insurance companies may try to downplay those struggles, but you have options. By understanding how insurers operate and taking steps to protect your rights, you may be in a stronger position to pursue the compensation you need to move on and recover.

Dog bite cases can be intimidating, but you do not have to face them on your own. Arthur Law Firm can guide you through the process and help protect your interests. If you or someone you love was seriously injured by an unprovoked dog bite, contact us right away at (419)782-9881 for a free consultation to discuss your legal options.