Level 5 Dog Bite Claims in Arizona

A level 5 dog bite is the second-worst possible type of dog bite. It occurs when a dog bites its victim (or victims) multiple times, leaving deep puncture wounds that are more than half as deep as the dog’s canines.

A level 5 dog bite is a serious injury that typically requires medical treatment.

If you or a loved one has experienced a serious dog bite injury in Arizona, such as a level 5 dog bite, please call Stone Rose Law at (480) 631-3025 or use our contact form to schedule a free consultation.

What is a Level 5 Dog Bite?

As the second-worst kind of dog bite incident under the Dunbar Scale, a Level 5 dog bite has the following characteristics:

• Multiple bites, multiple attacks, or both.
  
• More than one victim may be involved.
  
• In a single attack, at least two of the bites will have puncture wounds deeper than half the length of the dog’s teeth (the characteristic of a Level 4 bite).
  
• In a multiple attack situation, each attack will include at least one Level 4 bite.

In addition to a bite with deep wounds, the following injuries can also occur at Level 5:

• Lacerations from the dog shaking its head vigorously as it bites
  
• Deep bruising
  
• Possible broken bones if the bite is in the hands or feet
  
• Possible nerve damage
  
• Possible scarring
  
• Possible fatal injury to a child if the bite was on the head or neck

What makes a Level 5 dog bite more serious than a Level 4 is that a Level 5 dog bite incident involves multiple Level 4 bites, either in a single or multiple attacks.

What are the Consequences of a Level 5 Dog Bite?

A Level 5 dog bite is effectively a mauling attack that can produce the following effects:

• A need for immediate medical treatment after the attack, often including emergency care.
  
• An inpatient hospital stay to receive intensive medical care, including reconstructive or life-saving surgery.
  
• Injuries often leave permanent scarring or disfigurement.
  
• After leaving the hospital, outpatient treatment often requires long-term physical or rehabilitative therapy.
  
• Emotional trauma, mental anguish, and anxiety are also common long-term effects.

In some cases, involving vulnerable individuals like the elderly or small children, a Level 5 dog bite incident can prove fatal; this increases the Dunbar Bite rating to Level 6.

level 5 dog bite settlement amount

How Much is a Level 5 Dog Bite Claim Worth?

Dog bite claims are like most personal injury claims in that they usually settle out of court. An experienced personal injury lawyer can help ensure all relevant factors that affect dog bite settlements are considered when calculating your dog bite compensation amount.

A Level 5 dog bite claim will often settle for an average of $30,000 to $75,000, but depending on the severity of the injury, this amount can increase significantly. 

A Level 6 claim (injury resulting in death) that arises from a Level 5 incident can be the basis for a wrongful death claim, which can amount to settlements or jury awards in six-figure sums or even a million dollars or more.

How to Maximize Your Level 5 Dog Bite Settlement Payout

To get the most from a Level 5 dog bite settlement, hiring an experienced Arizona dog bite attorney can make a meaningful impact. Your attorney can help you take all the necessary actions to present the strongest negotiating position with the dog owner’s insurance company or the owner’s lawyer.

Some specific steps you can take after being bitten by a dog include:

• Get medical attention immediately, and follow your doctor’s recommendations.
  
• Report the incident to local animal control authorities.
  
• Keep copies of all our medical treatment records and medical expenses, as well as any property damage costs related to the dog bite incident.
  
• Take pictures of your wounds. If possible, take a photo of the dog that attacked you, and of the scene of the attack.
  
• Get the dog owner’s contact information and contact information for the owner’s insurer.
  
• If anyone witnessed the dog bite incident, get that person’s name and contact information.
  
• If you are contacted by the dog owner’s insurance carrier, do not accept a settlement offer without consulting with your personal injury attorney. Initial settlement offers are usually lower than the full amount of compensation you deserve.

Compensation for a Level 5 Dog Bite Claim

The compensation you can receive as a result of a Level 5 dog attack is the same as in most personal injury claims:

• Economic damages
  
• Non-economic damages
  
• Possible punitive damages

Economic Damages

Economic damages address the direct harm you receive from dog bite injuries. Examples of economic damages include:

• Costs for medical treatment, including emergency room visits, ambulance costs, inpatient and outpatient treatment, required therapy, prescription medications, surgery, and mental health services
  
• Lost wages because of time lost from work
  
• Costs for any related property damage from the attack

Economic damages are provable by providing evidence of what you have paid or can expect to have to pay in the future, or in terms of lost income by evidence of days lost from your employment. There is no limit to how much you can recover in direct damages.

Non-Economic Damages

Non-economic damages are more subjective than economic damages. Examples include:

• Compensation for pain and suffering
  
• Compensation for mental anguish and emotional distress, anxiety, and depression, including post-traumatic stress disorder
  
• The effects on your life of permanent scarring or disfigurement, including functional effects like loss of mobility or range of motion in joints
  
• Compensation for loss of companionship, loss of guidance, or loss of consortium

In a court case, the jury usually decides the value to assign to non-economic damages. In settlements with insurance companies, non-economic damages in the settlement payout are usually calculated as a multiple of your direct damages.

Punitive Damages

Punitive damages are available in vicious dog attack cases where the dog owner’s behavior in connection with the dog bite incident is egregious. This usually means intentional conduct, like setting the dog upon you in a deliberate attack or the attack being the result of a criminal offense committed by the owner.

Although Level 5 dog attacks often involve dogs with known dangerous propensities, like a history of biting people and being hard for the dog owner to control, a dog’s aggressive behavior is not necessarily enough to warrant seeking punitive damages, but it can factor into calculating non-economic damages.

Have You Been a Dog Bite Victim in Arizona?

Stone Rose Law represents victims of all kinds of dog bite cases, from Level 1 to Level 6 on the Dunbar Scale. Our experienced personal injury lawyers will make sure that you receive maximum compensation for your injuries by giving you expert legal advice and assistance from start to finish:

• We will evaluate the facts of your case and help you gather evidence to support your legal claim.
  
• We will negotiate with insurance companies and defense attorneys for fair compensation and ensure that you are not taken advantage of.
  
• If necessary, we will take your Level 5 dog bite claim to court in a personal injury dog bite lawsuit and aggressively pursue your legal claim for physical injuries, lost wages, medical bills, emotional distress, and possible punitive damages.

To learn more about severe dog bites and what compensation you can recover from them, call our Stone Rose Law dog bite lawyers at (480) 631-3025 to speak with a personal injury attorney and to schedule an initial free consultation.