Though you may love all different types of animals, you likely know that everyone should give those animals their deserved space and approach with caution. Even seemingly harmless pets can sometimes have adverse reactions to strangers or due to other circumstances, and a serious incident could occur. Of course, even if you do remember to proceed with caution, you may still end up as the victim of a dog bite if the animal’s owner acted negligently.
No matter the type of dog involved in the incident, serious injuries could easily occur. If you suffered such injuries, you may want to pursue compensation for medical expenses and other damages that you have suffered. However, rather than moving forward with a full lawsuit, you may wonder about coming to a settlement.
Settlements
Settlements commonly take place before personal injury cases turn into full-blown litigation. Whether taking this route fits your circumstances depends on the specific nature of your incident and how you want to approach your case. Either way, you certainly want to ensure that you gain the proper restitution for the damages suffered.
Types of damages
You may have the ability to seek compensation for two specific types of damages. Those types include:
- Special damages – These damages involve the economic losses you suffered as a direct result of the dog attack. Additionally, you can easily quantify these damages as they typically come in as the medical costs associated with the treatment of your injuries and similar financial difficulties, such as lost wages. If you can produce evidence of these losses, such as medical bills, you may more easily bolster your side of the case.
- General damages – Non-economic damages fall into the category of general damages. Because these damages tend to have a more personal nature, individuals cannot typically quantify them in a simple manner. As a result, you may believe that certain outcomes of the incident, such as your pain and suffering, may entitle you to a specific amount of compensation, but the defendant may not believe that the situation warrants the amount you desire.
Coming to terms for the settlement amount you find most agreeable may prove difficult. If the other party feels unwilling to meet your terms or you do not wish to compromise on certain points, settling may not be a plausible route. In such cases, you do have the option of pursuing litigation in hopes of gaining your desired and much-needed compensation.
