Dog bite injuries and insurance recovery: When you're injured by someone else's dog, homeowners or renters insurance typically covers the owner's liability. Dog bites can cause severe injuries, permanent scarring, emotional trauma, and fear of animals—especially in children. A well-documented demand letter to the owner's insurance carrier is often the first step toward fair compensation.
This guide covers how to identify the responsible party and their insurer, what facts matter most in dog bite cases, how to build a compelling demand letter, and what settlement ranges look like based on injury severity and insurance policy limits.
I handle dog bite demand letters personally. This page covers general U.S. law. If your injury occurred in California, I have California-specific guidance addressing Civil Code § 3342's strict liability statute.
Dog bite liability varies by state. Most states use one of three frameworks to determine whether a dog owner is liable for injuries caused by their dog.
Many states have strict liability statutes that hold dog owners liable if their dog bites someone, regardless of the dog's prior behavior or the owner's knowledge of aggression. Under strict liability:
In states without strict liability statutes, dog bite claims are based on negligence. The victim must prove the owner knew or should have known the dog had dangerous propensities. This is often called the "one bite rule" because prior aggression is usually required:
In both strict liability and negligence states, violating local leash, containment, or licensing ordinances can establish negligence per se:
| Liability Theory | What You Must Prove | Key Defenses |
|---|---|---|
| Strict Liability Statute | Dog bit you, owner owned dog, you were lawfully present | Provocation, trespassing, assumption of risk (vet, groomer, dog walker) |
| Negligence (One Bite Rule) | Owner knew or should have known dog was dangerous; owner failed to control dog | No prior aggression, owner had no reason to know of danger, victim's own negligence |
| Negligence Per Se | Owner violated leash/containment law; violation caused injury | Ordinance doesn't apply to this situation, violation didn't cause injury |
Dog owners and their insurers typically raise these defenses:
Dog bite claims are typically covered by the dog owner's homeowners or renters insurance. Identifying the owner and their insurer is the first step.
Dog bite cases involving child victims require extra attention to long-term impact:
| Injury Type | Treatment | Typical Range |
|---|---|---|
| Minor puncture wounds, no scarring | ER visit, antibiotics, tetanus | $5,000 - $15,000 |
| Lacerations requiring sutures | ER, suturing, minimal scarring on arms/legs | $15,000 - $40,000 |
| Deep bites requiring surgery | Surgery, wound debridement, plastic repair, visible scarring | $40,000 - $100,000 |
| Facial bites with permanent scarring | Multiple surgeries, scar revision, permanent disfigurement | $100,000 - $300,000+ |
| Severe facial injuries (children) | Reconstructive surgery, ongoing revisions, significant scarring, psychological trauma | $250,000 - $500,000+ (often policy limits) |
| Nerve damage, amputation, catastrophic injury | Loss of function, permanent disability, multiple surgeries | $500,000+ (policy limits or excess verdict) |
I personally draft and negotiate dog bite demand letters for victims injured by dogs and other animals. These cases require careful documentation of scarring, psychological impact, and dog's history to maximize recovery from homeowners and renters insurance.
It depends on your state's law:
Strict liability states: Yes. In states with strict liability dog bite statutes (California, Florida, Illinois, Michigan, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and others), the owner is liable even if the dog has never bitten anyone before and the owner had no knowledge of aggression.
Negligence ("one bite rule") states: Maybe. In states that require negligence (Texas, Virginia, Maryland, North Carolina), you must prove the owner knew or should have known the dog was dangerous. However, prior aggression can include:
Even in one-bite states, first-time bites can create liability if there's evidence of prior aggressive behavior.
Usually, yes. Most homeowners and renters insurance policies include liability coverage for dog bites, typically with limits of $100,000 to $500,000.
Exceptions and limitations:
How to verify coverage: Send demand letter to both dog owner and their insurer (if known). Owner is obligated to tender claim to their insurer. If insurer denies coverage, you may need to pursue owner personally or challenge coverage denial.
You likely have a strong claim. In most states (both strict liability and negligence), you have a claim if:
Key evidence to gather:
The fact that you were on public property and not on owner's private property actually strengthens your claim—you were clearly lawfully present and not trespassing.
Yes, but you must first identify the dog owner. Without a defendant, you cannot pursue a claim.
Steps to identify owner:
If you can identify even partial information (dog's appearance, owner's general description, vehicle make/model), animal control may be able to locate owner. Don't give up—many hit-and-run dog bite cases are successfully resolved after investigation.
Economic damages:
Non-economic damages:
Special considerations for permanent scarring: Dog bite scars, especially on visible areas like face and hands, can significantly increase settlement value. Document scarring extensively with photos, obtain plastic surgeon's evaluation, and emphasize lifetime impact on appearance and self-image.
Statute of limitations for dog bite claims varies by state:
The clock starts on the date of the dog bite. If you miss the deadline, your claim is permanently barred.
Special rules for children: Many states toll (pause) the statute of limitations for minor children until they reach age 18. Check your state's law for specific rules.
Don't wait to settle: While the statute of limitations gives you time to file a lawsuit, it's often better to send a demand letter within 6-12 months after maximum medical improvement. Waiting too long can result in lost evidence, faded memories, and difficulty negotiating with insurers.