Individuals who sustain dog bite injuries in Connecticut may be able to recover compensation for their losses. Connecticut operates under a strict liability system for dog bite incidents, which means a dog owner will be held liable for any injuries caused by their dog biting somebody else. This is true so long as the victim was not trespassing or provoking the dog. Here, we want to discuss the types of damages that are typically available for a successful dog bite claim.

Economic Damages After a Dog Bite in Connecticut

After a dog bite occurs, victims could experience a wide range of financial hardships caused by the aftermath. Economic damages are often referred to as general damages, and these are designed to provide compensation for calculable losses dog bite victims have already incurred or will likely incur as a result of the incident. Some of the most common economic damages associated with dog bites in Connecticut include coverage of:

• Emergency medical expenses
• Follow-up hospital or doctor visits
• Surgical expenses
• Rehabilitation or physical therapy costs
• Prescription or over-the-counter medications
• Household out-of-pocket losses
• Lost income if a victim is unable to work for a period of time

As we mentioned, these damages are relatively calculable by gathering receipts, invoices, or bills that the victim receives in the aftermath. An attorney can use this data to adequately calculate the economic losses and include that in a demand letter.

Non-Economic Damages After a Dog Bite in Connecticut

Non-economic damages are a bit different than the economic losses mentioned above. These are often referred to as special damages, and they revolve around more immeasurable types of losses dog bite victims in Connecticut will likely incur. These types of losses include compensation for a dog bite victim’s:

• Physical pain and suffering
• Emotional and symbological pain and suffering
• Loss of enjoyment of life
• Scarring and disfigurement

There are various acceptable calculation methods for non-economic damages, including the multiplier method. Using this method, an attorney will obtain the total economic damages and then multiply that by a set number (usually a number ranging from 1.5 to 5). For example, if a dog bite victim sustains $20,000 worth of economic damages, a multiplier of “three” could be used to reach a non-economic damage total of $60,000.

Another calculation method involves assigning a specific dollar value to each day a person is expected to experience pain and suffering due to the dog bite incident. An attorney would then multiply this daily dollar value by the total number of days to obtain the non-economic total.

Do You Need a Dog Bite Lawyer?

We strongly encourage dog bite victims to work with a skilled attorney as soon as possible. Dog bite injury claims can be complicated, even if you are just dealing with insurance carriers. Insurance carriers have one goal in mind, and that is to limit how much compensation they pay you, but an attorney can help you handle the negotiation process. A dog bite injury lawyer will offer a free consultation to help guide you toward the best path for recovering compensation.