What Is the Average Settlement for a Dog Bite Case in Louisiana?

Dog bite incidents occur far more frequently than many people realize, affecting millions of Americans each year. From 2011 to 2021, a total of 468 deaths from being bitten or struck by a dog occurred in the United States, averaging 43 deaths per year.

When you become a dog bite victim in Louisiana, working with experienced dog bite attorneys becomes essential to protect your rights and secure fair compensation.

Average Dog Bite Settlement Amounts in Louisiana

Dog bite settlement amounts in Louisiana typically range from $10,000 to $100,000 for most cases, though severe injuries can result in settlements exceeding $500,000.

Common dog bite injuries include:

• Minor injuries: Superficial wounds, scratches, and small punctures typically result in settlements ranging from $3,000 to $15,000.
• Moderate injuries: Deep lacerations requiring stitches, infections, and scarring often settle between $15,000 and $50,000.
• Severe injuries: Crushing injuries, bone fractures, nerve damage, and permanent scarring can result in settlements exceeding $100,000.
• Catastrophic injuries: Loss of limbs, facial disfigurement, traumatic brain injuries, and life-threatening infections may result in settlements of $500,000 or more.

Key Factors That Determine Dog Bite Settlement Amounts

Multiple elements work together to determine how much compensation you can recover after a dog attack. Louisiana law considers both economic losses, like medical bills, and non-economic damages, such as pain and suffering, when calculating fair compensation for dog bite victims.

Injury Severity and Medical Expenses

The severity of dog bite injuries, which is often influenced by the size, breed, and bite strength of the dog, is the single most significant factor affecting settlement values. More serious injuries may result in more severe emotional and psychological trauma and can affect your daily life significantly, which increases the non-economic damage value.

Medical treatment costs form the foundation of economic damages in dog bite cases. These include:

• Costs for emergency room visits, hospitalization, and immediate medical attention.
• Expenses for surgery (reconstructive or plastic), physical therapy, and psychological counseling for emotional trauma/PTSD.
• Estimates for any anticipated ongoing and future medical care.

Lost Wages and Earning Capacity

Dog bite victims frequently miss work during recovery, resulting in lost income that must be compensated. Your settlement should include:

• Days, weeks, or months of work missed during initial recovery.
• Permanent limitations that affect your ability to perform your job or advance in your career.
• Self-employed individuals may lose significant revenue during recovery periods.

More severe dog bite injuries requiring extensive medical treatment can prevent victims from working for extended periods or even permanently affect their ability to earn income.

Pain and Suffering and Emotional Distress

Non-economic damages often represent the most significant component of dog bite settlement amounts. These compensate for:

• Physical pain during recovery and treatment
• Emotional trauma from the attack
• Anxiety and fear of dogs following the incident
• Depression resulting from permanent scarring or disfigurement
• Loss of enjoyment of life activities
• Post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms

Facial injuries can increase settlement values by approximately 45%, child victims by 35%, and nerve damage by 50%. These multipliers reflect the profound impact these injuries have on quality of life.

Dog Owner's Liability and Insurance Coverage

Louisiana requires proof that the dog owner acted negligently or failed to prevent foreseeable harm. Under Louisiana Civil Code Article 2321, the dog owner is responsible for damages caused by their dog if they knew the dog had a history of similar behavior or should have known through reasonable care that the dog was capable of causing injuries.

Insurance coverage significantly impacts settlement amounts:

• Homeowner's insurance policies typically provide coverage for dog bite claims
• Policy limits usually range from $100,000 to $500,000
• Some policies exclude certain dog breeds considered dangerous
• Renter's insurance may also cover dog bite liability

In most cases, the homeowner's insurance policy covers dog bite settlements, and the policy limit may play a significant role in determining the maximum settlement amount.

Evidence and Documentation

Strong evidence significantly increases settlement value by making it difficult for insurance companies to deny or undervalue claims. Critical evidence includes:

• Documenting all dog bite injuries, medical costs (bills/receipts), and lost wages (employment records).
• Photographs of wounds, statements from witnesses, and official animal control reports.
• Documentation of the dog's prior aggressive behavior.

When you have significant evidence showing the dog owner was at fault and strong evidence of the damages you suffered, insurers are more likely to be willing to compromise and reach a fair settlement.

Louisiana Dog Bite Laws

Louisiana's legal framework for dog bite cases differs from many other states, requiring victims to understand specific statutes and liability rules. These laws determine when and how you can hold a dog owner responsible for injuries their animal caused.

Strict Liability with Limitations

Louisiana applies a modified strict liability approach to dog bite cases under Louisiana Civil Code Article 2321. The owner is liable for damages if it can be shown they knew or should have known the animal was dangerous, the damage was preventable, and they failed to use reasonable care. Crucially, the owner of a dog is strictly liable for injuries that they could have prevented and which were not caused by the victim's provocation.

Dangerous Dog Classifications

Louisiana Revised Statute 14:102.14 defines a "dangerous dog" as one that, if unprovoked: on two occasions within 36 months requires a defensive action to prevent injury off the owner's property; bites a person causing injury; or on two occasions within 36 months injures a domestic animal off the owner's property. Owners of classified dogs face strict requirements for secure confinement, leashing, posting warnings, and notification of the dog's status.

Comparative Negligence

Louisiana uses comparative negligence principles for dog bite cases. If the injured person is found partially at fault for the attack, such as through provocation, trespassing, or ignoring warnings, the total damages they can recover will be reduced proportionally to their percentage of fault.

Statute of Limitations

According to Louisiana Civil Code Article 3493.1, there is a two-year statute of limitations for personal injury lawsuits in Louisiana, including dog bite cases. If you file your claim after two years from the date of injury, you may lose your right to compensation entirely.

How to File Your Dog Bite Claim

Here are the steps to take after a dog bite:

1. Seek immediate medical attention: Document your injuries with professional medical care.
2. Report to animal control: File an official report, creating a record of the attack.
3. Gather evidence: Collect photographs, witness information, and medical records.
4. Consult a dog bite lawyer: Experienced personal injury attorneys can evaluate your case.
5. File an insurance claim: Submit your claim to the dog owner's homeowners' insurance.
6. Negotiate a settlement: Work with insurance companies dealing with your claim.
7. File a lawsuit if necessary: Take legal action if fair compensation cannot be reached.

Get Fair Compensation for Your Dog Bite Injuries with Rice & Kendig

Dog bite cases involve complex legal, medical, and insurance issues. Rice & Kendig has the experience to help you recover the compensation you deserve. Our dog bite injury attorneys work on a contingency fee basis, meaning you pay nothing unless we win your case. Don't let insurance companies minimize your claim. Contact us today for your free consultation to discuss your legal options and start the process of holding negligent dog owners accountable.