Absolutely not. Never sign anything until you speak to an experienced Pennsylvania dog bite attorney. Insurance companies often offer less money than they think the claim is worth, especially if they know the dog bite victim is not represented by an attorney. A lawyer can look closely at the evidence of your case and determine how much it is really worth. Before you know that number, don’t settle your claim.

As an example, there was a case that was worth more than $100,000 that was settled between the injured party and the insurance company for $15,000. Unfortunately, the injured party only contacted me after he had already reached a settlement and there was nothing I could do. Always contact an injury attorney before reaching any type of agreement with anyone else.

All dog bite cases are different. The best way to find out how much your case is worth is to share the details of your dog attack and injury with an experienced attorney. Once you have hired me as your attorney, I will closely analyze all of the evidence in your case, including medical bills and wage documentation, before placing a value on your claim.

Generally speaking, the worth of a dog bite case depends upon a number of factors, including the insurance coverage of the at-fault party, whether the party was 100% at fault, how strong the evidence in the case is, and where the dog bite took place geographically.

When calculating damages, your dog bite attorney will consider the following factors:

• Past medical bills
• Future medical bills
• Lost wages
• Loss of earning capacity
• Permanent injuries and deformities
• Pain and suffering

The Dunbar Dog Bite Scale, created by renowned dog behaviorist Dr. Ian Dunbar, is a method used to classify the severity of dog bites. The scale categorizes dog bites into six levels based on the severity of the injury and the circumstances surrounding the bite. Here’s a brief overview of each level:

1. Level 1: Obnoxious or aggressive behavior but no skin contact by teeth.
2. Level 2: Skin-contact by teeth but no skin-puncture. No bleeding.
3. Level 3: One to four punctures from a single bite with no puncture deeper than half the length of the dog’s canine teeth. No tearing or slashing.
4. Level 4: One to four punctures from a single bite with at least one puncture deeper than half the length of the dog’s canine teeth. May also include minor tearing or slashing.
5. Level 5: Multiple bites at Level 4 or above.
6. Level 6: Any bite resulting in death of a human.

This scale helps veterinarians, animal behaviorists, and dog trainers assess the seriousness of a dog bite incident and determine appropriate measures for prevention and rehabilitation.