English 
Spanish You can sue for emotional distress after a dog bite. This is in addition to any other losses you suffered due to the bite, including medical bills and pain and suffering. You can consult with an attorney at any time to learn more about your rights.
A dog bite lawyer from KJT Law Group can manage your case, giving you time to focus on getting treatment for your injuries. We offer free, no-obligation case reviews where you can learn more.
You Can Sue for Emotional Distress After a Dog Bite
According to Cleveland Clinic, everyone experiences emotional stress. This can be due to pressures from work, familial obligations, and personal losses.
However, if your emotional stress or distress stems from a dog bite, then the negative emotions you are experiencing were avoidable. Unlike going to work or school, you did not need to get bitten by that dog, and if the dog’s owner had been more responsible, you would not have suffered.
How Much You Can Recover Depends on Your Symptoms
Everyone reacts to trauma differently. Everyone, however, regardless of their mental constitution, should seek medical attention after a dog bite. Not only does this lay the groundwork for their personal injury case, but it also prevents certain conditions, such as:
- Changes in sleep, eating, or sexual habits
- Unexplained aches and pains
- Headaches and dizziness
- Trouble regulating your mood
- Unexplained memory lapses or difficulty concentrating
What Is Emotional Distress Compensation for a Dog Attack?
As noted, the amount you can get for emotional distress in a dog bite lawsuit depends on:
- How serious your symptoms are
- The cost and extent of your medical expenses
- How long the symptoms are expected to last
- How the symptoms have affected your life
Your personal injury lawyer can use evidence, like your personal testimony and records from a mental health specialist, to determine a fair amount to request.
You Can Sue and Recover These Non-Economic Damages in Your Dog Bite Case
Emotional distress is a type of non-economic damage. Any bodily or mental injury you sustained because of the dog attack will count towards the total non-economic damages you can collect, including:
- Physical pain and suffering
- Reduced quality of life
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Loss of consortium
- Disabling injuries
- Scarring or disfigurement
- Punitive damages (depending on the extent of the other party’s negligence)
You might not have to sue following a dog bite. Your workers compensation lawyer could resolve your personal injury claim through negotiations with the liable insurance company, recovering the damages you need without needing to represent you at trial.
You Have a Limited Time to Sue for Emotional Distress After a Dog Bite
You have the right to sue a negligent dog owner for mental or emotional anguish, but only for a limited time.
Every state has its own deadline (or statute of limitations), governing when a personal injury survivor can begin a legal case. In California, for instance, this limit is two years, per CCP § 335.1, but this deadline can be shorter or longer in other states.
How Long Do Dog Bite Lawsuits Take?
Everyone’s case is different. Some cases, such as when the cause of your emotional distress is obvious, may settle relatively quickly. Other cases, such as when the dog owner denies liability, may take longer.
The important thing to realize is that while you have financial recovery options, you must act within a specific deadline to uphold them.
Our Dog Bite Attorneys Can Recover Damages on Your Behalf
Pursuing dog bite damages can be challenging for someone who is still coping with the physical and mental consequences of a traumatic event. A dog bite injury attorney can seek emotional distress and other non-economic damages by:
- Navigating liability in your dog bite injury case
- Determining the financial worth of your mental and emotional suffering
- Dealing with the insurance company and the other involved parties
- Negotiating a fair settlement
- Fighting hard for fair compensation, so you can focus on getting treatment
- Keep you educated and informed about the case and your rights
- Guiding you through the legal process and everything it entails
How to Find a Dog Bite Lawyer
Consulting with an attorney after a dog bite is a good way to protect your interests if you are considering suing for emotional distress and other damages. Finding the right law firm for you, however, can be a challenge. Here are a few tips:
- Review the websites of local personal injury firms, comparing their services and styles.
- Make sure the firm you pick has experience with dog bite cases.
- If the firm offers free case reviews, take advantage of this service to see what its lawyers think of your situation.
- Schedule an in-person meeting with a lawyer so you can determine how friendly they are and whether you can get along with them for the duration of your case.
- Brainstorm questions you want to ask of the lawyers ahead of your first meeting.
- Ask specifically about their fee agreement and ask to see the contract before signing anything.
- Only hire an attorney who treats you with patience, respect, professionalism, honesty, and kindness.
KJT Law Group checks all of these boxes. We’re committed to handling your dog bite case with care, dignity, and compassion, putting you in a solid position to recover damages.
Consult With Our Attorneys After a Dog Bite
At KJT Law Group, we want you to know that you can sue for non-economic damages like emotional distress or pain and suffering after a dog bite. Call us at (818) 507-8525 for a free consultation. We want to secure the maximum compensation you deserve.
