Connecticut Dog Bite Settlement Calculator & Compensation

Why Use a Dog Bite Settlement Calculator?

Dog bite cases can get complicated fast. Insurance adjusters don’t always play fair. Lawyers might speak in legalese. The Connecticut Dog Bite Settlement Calculator helps victims get a clear, data-driven estimate based on:

• Injury severity
• Medical costs
• Lost wages
• Pain and suffering
• Dog owner’s negligence
• Victim’s age and fault
• Insurance policy limits

Think of it as a smart tool that translates legal factors into dollars.

How Connecticut Dog Bite Law Works

Connecticut uses a strict liability rule under C.G.S. § 22-357. That means:

If a dog bites you, the owner is responsible—even if the dog never showed aggression before.

But there’s a catch:
Connecticut also follows modified comparative fault (C.G.S. § 52-572h). If you are 51% or more at fault, you can’t recover any damages. For example:

• Were you trespassing?
• Did you provoke the dog?
• Are you a child under 7? (You’re presumed not at fault.)

These things matter—and the calculator factors them in.

What the Calculator Considers

1. Dog & Owner Behavior

• Prior Aggression
  Was this a first-time bite, or has the dog bitten before?
• Owner Negligence
  Was the dog loose? Did the owner ignore leash laws?

These increase the multiplier that adjusts your non-economic damages (pain, suffering, trauma).

2. Victim’s Actions (Fault Reductions)

• Trespassing or Provocation
  If you were breaking the law or provoking the dog, your claim may be reduced—or even denied.
• Age of the Victim
  Children under 7 are legally presumed blameless. Older kids and adults may share some fault.

3. Injury Details

• Severity of the Bite (Dunbar Scale)
  Level 1 = No skin broken.
  Level 6 = Fatal attack.
  The worse the injury, the higher the pain and suffering value.
• Injury Location
  A bite to the face carries a higher multiplier than one on the leg.
• Type of Injury
  Scarring, nerve damage, or disability adds to the payout.
• Psychological Impact
  PTSD or severe anxiety can significantly raise compensation.

4. Economic Damages (The Hard Numbers)

You’ll enter:

• Medical bills (past and future)
• Lost wages (past and future)
• Property damage (like torn clothes or phones)

These are added as your baseline economic losses.

5. Insurance Policy Limits

If the dog owner has insurance, it might cap the payout. For example:
If your calculated damages total $500,000 but the owner’s policy only covers $300,000—you’ll only get $300,000.

The calculator alerts you when this happens.

How the Calculator Actually Works

The logic is based on this formula:

Total Settlement = (Economic Damages + Pain & Suffering) – Fault Reductions

Pain & Suffering is scaled up using multipliers based on:

• Dog’s history
• Owner’s negligence
• Victim’s age/gender
• Bite severity
• Psychological/physical impact

Then, comparative fault is applied:

• If you’re 25% at fault, your payout is reduced by 25%.
• If you’re 51% or more at fault, you get nothing.

Real-World Example

Scenario:

• $10,000 medical bills
• Dog had a prior bite
• Owner let dog run loose
• Victim was 12 years old
• Bite caused scarring to the face
• Victim developed anxiety
• No provocation or trespassing
• Insurance cap: $300,000

Estimated settlement:
The calculator may show over $150,000–$250,000, depending on how the emotional trauma and injury type are weighted.

Calculate Dog Bite Settlement Compensation by State with Our Free Calculator