When you are pursuing a claim for a dog bite injury, you may be entitled to two types of damages in a dog bite attack, economic damages and non-economic or emotional damages. Economic damages are tangible and easily calculated such as medical bills and lost wages.
Non-economic damages, or "pain and suffering," accounts for the emotional trauma of the attack as well as the future damage from your injuries. There is no exact formula for calculating pain and suffering damages from a dog bite.
How We Determine Pain and Suffering for Dog Bite
When working with an attorney, he or she will take into consideration several factors such as the following.
- Are you no longer able to perform certain normal activities because of the injury?
- Did you suffer mental trauma such as Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) from the attack?
- Are there any long-lasting or permanent repercussions from the attack (disfigurement, impairment, etc.)?
- Has your family had to change their lifestyle around to accommodate your recovery?
- Did the attack prevent you from returning to work because you worked with or near dogs on a regular basis?
All of these factors add up to determine how much a fair amount of compensation would be for your pain and suffering. Your attorney may also look at similar cases that have already been resolved to determine an average or baseline for pain and suffering damages.
Remember that not all dog bite cases will warrant pain and suffering damages, and they are not necessarily included in a first offer settlement. To ensure you are getting the due amount of compensation, you will need to work with an Atlanta dog bite attorney.
An Atlanta Dog Bite Attorney Can Help Secure a Fair Settlement
Calculating pain and suffering damages for a dog bite is a task best left to an experienced attorney. The Law Office of Jason R. Schultz, P.C. helps dog bite victims file their claims and fight for all of the damages they have incurred through the ordeal. Contact our office today and schedule a FREE consultation to discuss your legal options: 404-474-0804.