Everyone should be afraid of a dog bite. The trauma that comes with a dog bite is overwhelming for the victim.
This is because a dog bite can lead to severe physical injuries and emotional distress.
However, as a dog bite victim, you could seek assistance when filing a dog bite lawsuit from an experienced attorney if you are eligible for compensation.
As such, it is essential to note that there are three main types of payment that you could receive if you unluckily sustain a dog bite.
These compensations could include economic, non-economic, and punitive compensation.
This article explores the three compensation types mentioned above.
- Economic compensation.
When you suffer a dog bite injury, you might be eligible for economic compensation to sort out your financial expenses related to the injuries. Some of the economic compensation may include;
- Medical expenses
When bitten by a dog, it is essential that you get medical attention immediately. This medical attention could include surgery, emergency care, and hospitalization.
When the bite is severe and requires intensive treatment and care, medical expenses could pile up, and if you are not financially stable, it could sound like trouble for you.
Therefore, when you sustain a dog bite, you could be compensated for your medical expenses, including what you spent on therapy sessions, hospital bills, and physician visits.
- Lost wages
When the dog bite injury is severe, it can be challenging to work and be as productive as you were.
Additionally, you might be forced to take some time off to seek medical attention and recover from the bite. As such, you could qualify for compensation for your lost wages.
- Property damage
When a dog bite leads to the destruction of property, such as broken eyewear, you might be compensated for the cost you incurred repairing or replacing the items.
- Non-economic compensation
These refer to losses that do not have a direct financial cost. Non-economic compensations are common in cases involving injuries and may include the following;
- Pain and suffering
When bitten by a dog, you will undoubtedly experience physical pain and emotional distress like anxiety and depression. However, determining compensation for pain and suffering is challenging.
Therefore, you need to show the extent of the injuries and prove their impacts on your life.
- Loss of enjoyment
Compensation for loss of enjoyment acknowledges that an injury has a massive effect on your quality of life and ability to participate in activities that bring joy to your life, like sports, traveling, and hanging out with friends.
- Punitive compensation
Punitive damages, also referred to as exemplary damages, are awarded to the victim as a punishment to the defendant when they are found to have caused the injuries willingly.
In a dog bite claim, you may be awarded punitive compensation when the dog owner is deemed negligent or reckless.
For instance, when the dog owner is aware of it and still fails to act responsibly in preventing the dog from biting you, you might be in line for punitive compensation.
In summation, dog bite injuries bring about severe physical, emotional, and financial damage to the victim. Luckily, dog victims could be eligible for compensation to help them finance their injury treatments.
The compensation may come in three primary forms that include economic, non-economic, and punitive, with economic compensation covering medical expenses, lost wages, and property damages.
Alternatively, non-economic compensation recognizes losses without direct financial cost to the victim and may include pain and suffering.
In comparison, punitive compensation is awarded as a punishment for the defendant’s negligence and recklessness.
Therefore, if you are a dog bite victim, getting help from an experienced dog bite attorney will help you get the compensation you deserve.