California Dog Bite Settlement Calculator
Dog & Owner Factors (Multipliers)
Victim & Incident Details (Comparative Fault)
Injury Details
Economic Damages & Insurance
Estimated Settlement Value
What Is a Dog Bite Settlement Calculator?
A dog bite settlement calculator is a free tool that estimates potential compensation for dog bite victims. It considers key details like:
- Medical bills
- Lost wages
- Injury severity
- Owner negligence
- Victim’s actions (like trespassing or provocation)
Unlike random online estimates, the California version is based on California Civil Code § 3342, also known as the “strict liability” dog bite statute — which means owners are usually responsible, even if the dog has never bitten before.
What Factors Go Into a Dog Bite Settlement in California?
The calculator uses a formula with economic and non-economic damages. Here’s how it breaks down:
1. Economic Damages (Hard Costs)
These are the actual, measurable losses from the attack:
| Damage Type | What It Covers |
|---|---|
| Medical Expenses | Emergency care, surgery, rehab |
| Future Medical Bills | Ongoing treatment or plastic surgery |
| Lost Wages | Missed work due to recovery |
| Future Lost Income | Reduced earning ability |
| Property Damage | Torn clothes, damaged phone, etc. |
2. Pain & Suffering (Non-Economic Damages)
These are subjective damages, calculated using multipliers based on the severity of the injury and the emotional/physical toll:
| Factor | Examples & Impact |
|---|---|
| Bite Severity | Levels 1–6 on the Dunbar Scale |
| Location of Bite | Face/head = higher multiplier |
| Injury Type | Scarring, fractures, nerve damage |
| Long-term Impact | Disability, PTSD, sleep issues |
| Quality of Life Loss | Fear of dogs, isolation, anxiety |
How Does Fault Affect Compensation?
California uses pure comparative negligence. This means your settlement can be reduced based on how much fault you share. For example:
| Situation | Reduction in Compensation |
|---|---|
| You provoked the dog | Up to 75% reduction |
| You were trespassing | Up to 90% reduction |
| Unprovoked, public area | 0% reduction (full value) |
Even if you’re partially at fault, you can still recover compensation — just less of it.
Inside the Calculator Logic (Simplified)
The calculator does more than add numbers. It uses multipliers based on:
- Dog’s history of aggression
- Owner’s negligence (e.g., off-leash)
- Breed classification (e.g., pit bulls, rottweilers)
- Victim’s age/gender
- Location of the bite incident
- Psychological trauma and more
All of this adjusts your pain and suffering estimate, then subtracts fault, then caps the total by insurance policy limits (if any).
For example:
$20,000 in medical bills × 3.5 (injury + trauma multipliers) = $70,000 in pain & suffering
Add $10,000 in lost wages = $100,000 subtotal
Minus 25% fault = $75,000
Insurance cap? If policy is $50,000, that’s all you’ll get
Why Use a Dog Bite Settlement Calculator?
- Quick estimate without contacting a lawyer
- See how different factors impact value
- Plan your next steps
- Understand negotiation range if you’re dealing with insurance
What the Calculator Can’t Do
The tool gives you a solid starting point, but not legal advice. It doesn’t replace a lawyer — and it doesn’t:
- Predict how insurers or juries will behave
- Account for pain and suffering caps (not in CA, but in other states)
- Factor in nuances like witness credibility or unclear liability
- Handle wrongful death claims, which involve higher damages
Real-Life Dog Bite Compensation in California
Here are real-world ranges of settlements in California dog bite cases:
| Severity | Typical Settlement Range |
|---|---|
| Minor bites, no scarring | $10,000 – $25,000 |
| Moderate injuries + stitches | $25,000 – $75,000 |
| Severe wounds/disfigurement | $100,000 – $300,000+ |
| Permanent disability | $500,000 – $1M+ |
| Fatal attack | $1M – $5M (wrongful death) |