Dogs are considered man’s best friend, but they cannot always be. Sometimes a dog owner may not have tamed or trained their dog enough resulting in aggressive behavior by the dog, which may cause an unfortunate event like a dog attack or dog bites. You may suffer from losses, including mental distress from the dog attack, but most people think they cannot get compensation for such reasons.
The law system allows the victims of dog bite cases to get compensation for all the losses incurred from the dog attack. Usually, victims are expected to reach out to a Wyoming personal injury lawyer who will be able to provide lawful advice and legal help.
Several other claims resulting from the dog attack can also be compensated with adequate evidence and a compelling defense strategy used by an experienced attorney for the claim.
Here are some of the different claims in a dog bite injury:
- Punitive damages
Since punitive damages are compensation raised on the defendant for the negligent act they had caused or allowed someone to cause negligence under their supervision, if the petitioner wants to get compensated for punitive damages from the defendant, they do not have to show evidence. Still, their attorney is expected to prove that the dog attack was allowed to happen by the defendant. For instance, the dog could have been let free despite knowing it is untrained.
- Damage to personal belongings
Due to the suddenness of the dog attack, you might have dropped certain personal belongings like electronic devices such as a mobile phone or laptop on the ground and got them damaged. You might have also got your clothes torn by the dog’s teeth during the attack, but all such damages can still be compensated via an insurance claim. All you have to do is document the injury and prove evidence.
- Medical costs
All the medical costs that you have to pay for the treatment of the dog bite can be compensated, like hospitalization fees, physiotherapy charges, and even doctor visits. You are requested to provide the medical report of the dog bite so that the insurance company can know that the injury had occurred only because of the dog and the dog owner’s negligence.
Therefore, even emotional distress and psychological suffering can be compensated. Although most insurance companies would not provide compensation for punitive damages voluntarily if sought by the victim for valid reasons, then the insurance company might consider it. Getting help from a lawyer is recommended to take you through the legal procedures smoothly.
