Dog Bite Settlement Calculator and Laws by State

What a claim is worth

A dog bite claim is valued like any injury claim: medical bills and lost income, plus pain and suffering. A few factors push bite claims above a typical car accident claim with the same bills:

Scarring and disfigurement, especially on the face, hands or neck, and future scar revision surgery.
Children: claims for an injured child often include future scar treatment and counseling as the child grows.
Infection, nerve damage and lasting fear of dogs, which a counselor or doctor can document.

Use the serious or severe setting for bites that needed surgery or left a visible scar.

Strict liability or one bite

Strict liability statute (21 states): the owner is liable for the bite even if the dog had never been aggressive, usually unless you were trespassing or provoked the dog.

One-bite rule (14 states): you need to show the owner knew or should have known the dog was dangerous, or was negligent, for example by breaking a leash law.

Mixed (16): Alabama, Colorado, Georgia, Hawaii, Indiana, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Montana, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Tennessee, West Virginia apply strict liability only in some situations; see the details below.

Who pays

Most dog bite claims are paid by the owner's homeowners or renters liability coverage, up to that policy's liability limit. Some insurers exclude certain breeds or dogs with a bite history, in which case the owner is personally responsible. Enter the policy limit if you know it.

Dog bite law by state

Strict liability: Arizona, California, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Illinois, Iowa, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Utah, Washington, Wisconsin.

One-bite rule: Alaska, Arkansas, District of Columbia, Idaho, Kansas, Mississippi, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, South Dakota, Texas, Vermont, Virginia, Wyoming.

The exceptions and statute for each state are in our dog bite laws by state table.

Frequently asked questions

How much is a dog bite settlement worth?

Like other injury claims, it is driven by the medical bills, lost income, scarring and how long recovery takes. Facial scars, bites on children and injuries needing plastic surgery are valued higher. Most claims are paid by the owner's homeowners or renters insurance, so its liability limit is often the practical ceiling.

Who pays for a dog bite?

Usually the dog owner's homeowners or renters liability insurance. If the owner has no coverage, the claim is against the owner personally. In some situations a landlord or another person keeping the dog can be responsible too.

What is the one-bite rule?

In states without a strict liability statute, the owner is generally liable only if they knew or should have known the dog was dangerous, for example because it had bitten or attacked before, or if they were negligent. You can still recover by proving negligence or a leash law violation.

What is strict liability for dog bites?

Under a strict liability statute the owner is liable for a bite even if the dog never showed aggression before. 21 states have such a statute, though most exclude trespassers and people who provoked the dog, and some cover only bites rather than knockdowns.

How long do I have to file a dog bite claim?

Dog bite claims are personal injury claims, so the state's personal injury statute of limitations usually applies. See the statute of limitations by state.

Sources

Checked November 5, 2026.