Arizona Dog Bite Settlement Calculator & Compensation

What Is the Arizona Dog Bite Settlement Calculator?

The Arizona Dog Bite Settlement Calculator is an interactive tool designed to estimate the value of your dog bite injury claim under Arizona law. It uses real legal and medical criteria like:

• Medical expenses (past and future)
• Lost wages
• Bite severity (Dunbar Scale)
• Owner negligence
• Psychological trauma
• Comparative fault (e.g., trespassing or provocation)

Important: This calculator offers a rough estimate. It’s not a substitute for legal advice.

Understanding Arizona Dog Bite Law

Arizona follows a strict liability statute (A.R.S. § 11-1025). That means:

If a dog bites someone in a public place or while they’re lawfully on private property, the owner is liable — regardless of the dog’s past behavior.

But there’s more. Arizona also follows pure comparative negligence (A.R.S. § 12-2505), which reduces your compensation by your percentage of fault. For example:

• If you’re 30% at fault, your settlement is reduced by 30%.
• If you’re 100% at fault, you recover nothing.

How the Settlement Calculator Works

The tool uses a formula combining economic damages (medical bills, lost wages, property damage) and non-economic damages (pain, scarring, trauma), then adjusts for fault and insurance policy caps.

Step-by-Step Breakdown:

1. Input economic damages:
   • Past medical bills
   • Future treatment
   • Lost wages
   • Property damage
2. Evaluate pain & suffering:
   • Bite severity (Level 1 to 6, per the Dunbar Scale)
   • Injury location (e.g., face vs. arm)
   • Type of injury (e.g., scarring or nerve damage)
   • Physical or psychological impacts
3. Adjust for multipliers:
   • Age of the victim
   • Breed type (e.g., pit bull vs. standard breed)
   • Dog’s prior bite history
   • Owner negligence (e.g., off-leash)
   • Gender (minor influence, per some studies)
4. Account for fault:
   • Were you trespassing?
   • Did you provoke the dog?
5. Apply policy cap (if any):
   • If the dog owner’s homeowner’s insurance has a limit, your settlement can’t exceed it — even if your damages are higher.

Key Factors That Influence Your Settlement

Let’s break down what matters most — and why.

Medical Expenses

The more you’ve spent (and will spend), the higher the economic damages. These are concrete, provable losses.

Bite Severity

The Dunbar Scale (Levels 1–6) directly impacts your pain & suffering multiplier. For example:

• Level 1: No skin contact — low multiplier
• Level 5: Multiple deep punctures — high multiplier
• Level 6: Fatality — maximum damages

Location of Injury

Facial bites usually result in higher settlements due to scarring, disfigurement, and long-term psychological impact.

Dog’s History & Breed

A known vicious dog or a “dangerous breed” like a Rottweiler increases the owner’s liability. It boosts the multiplier for pain & suffering.

Owner Negligence

Was the dog off-leash in a public space? Did it escape due to a broken fence? If so, that negligence adds weight to your claim.

Victim Fault

Trespassing or provoking the dog can dramatically reduce your payout — even if your injuries are severe.

Example: Arizona Dog Bite Compensation Estimate

Let’s say:

• Medical expenses: $6,000
• Bite level: 4 (deep punctures)
• Owner was negligent (dog off-leash)
• You were not trespassing or provoking
• You experienced PTSD

Using the calculator, your total could be:

• Economic damages: $6,000
• Pain & suffering: ~$24,000
• Total (before fault): ~$30,000
• Final payout (after adjustments): Depends on your fault % and insurance cap

Try it yourself using the Arizona Dog Bite Settlement Calculator on this page.

Why Use a Calculator Instead of Guesswork?

Dog bite settlements aren’t one-size-fits-all. This calculator gives you a data-driven estimate based on Arizona law — not a random guess.

It helps you:

• Understand the value of your claim
• Prepare for insurance negotiations
• Decide if hiring a lawyer makes sense

Disclaimer

This calculator is for educational use only. It does not provide legal advice, nor does it create an attorney-client relationship. For a real evaluation, consult a qualified Arizona personal injury attorney

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