Hawaii Dog Bite Settlement Calculator & Compensation

Fast Facts: Hawaii Dog Bite Laws

• Hawaii follows the “one-bite rule” (HRS § 663-9): You must show the dog’s owner knew or should have known the dog was dangerous, or was negligent (like ignoring leash laws).
• Comparative fault applies (HRS § 663-31): If you were 51% or more at fault, you can’t recover damages.
• Pain and suffering is capped at $375,000 in most cases (HRS § 663-8.7).

What Is the Hawaii Dog Bite Settlement Calculator?

Our interactive Hawaii Dog Bite Settlement Calculator helps you estimate your potential compensation based on:

• Liability (Was the owner negligent?)
• Your fault (Were you trespassing or provoking?)
• Injury severity
• Medical costs
• Lost wages
• Insurance policy limits

This tool combines legal factors with economic and non-economic damages to give a customized estimate of your case value.

How Compensation Works: Economic vs. Non-Economic Damages

Economic Damages (Straightforward Costs)

These are real, documented financial losses, like:

• Medical expenses (ER visits, surgery, medication)
• Future medical care
• Lost wages
• Lost future income
• Property damage (e.g., damaged clothing, broken phone)

Non-Economic Damages (Pain & Suffering)

These are harder to put a price on:

• Physical pain
• Emotional trauma
• PTSD or anxiety
• Disfigurement or permanent disability

Our calculator uses a severity multiplier system to estimate this value — with a legal cap of $375,000.

Key Factors That Affect Your Settlement in Hawaii

Let’s break down what the calculator considers — and why it matters under Hawaiian law.

1. Liability: Can You Prove the Owner Was at Fault?

To recover damages in Hawaii, you must show the dog owner was negligent or knew the dog was dangerous. The calculator asks about:

• Prior dog behavior (e.g., previous bites or snapping)
• Owner’s actions (e.g., off-leash in public, broken gate)

If there’s no prior incident and no negligence, your claim might not qualify.

2. Victim’s Responsibility: Were You at Fault?

Hawaii uses modified comparative fault:

• If you’re 51% or more at fault → no payout
• If you’re less than 51% at fault → your settlement is reduced by your fault percentage

The calculator asks:

• Were you trespassing?
• Did you provoke the dog?

3. Injury Severity

This is where most of the compensation comes in. The calculator considers:

• Bite severity (Dunbar scale: 1–6)
• Injury location (e.g., face vs. leg)
• Type of injury (e.g., nerve damage, fracture, scarring)
• Long-term effects (e.g., permanent disability)
• Mental trauma (e.g., PTSD)

4. Victim Profile

Additional multipliers apply based on:

• Age (young children and elderly tend to receive higher damages)
• Gender (minor increase for female victims due to potential scarring implications)

5. Economic Inputs

You’ll enter real dollar amounts for:

• Past and future medical bills
• Lost wages
• Property damage
• Insurance policy limits

The calculator crunches these numbers to produce your estimated total settlement.

Example Scenarios

Example 1: Minor Bite, No Negligence

• Adult bitten on hand
• No prior dog aggression
• No leash law violation
• Medical bills: $2,000
  → Result: Very low or no settlement — liability not met.

Example 2: Severe Bite, Owner At Fault

• Child bitten in face
• Dog was off-leash and had prior bite history
• PTSD diagnosed
• Medical + future costs: $20,000
  → Result: High six-figure estimate, possibly capped by insurance or pain/suffering limit.

Settlement Cap & Insurance Limits

• Pain and Suffering Cap: No matter how serious, Hawaii caps non-economic damages at $375,000.
• Insurance Limits: If the dog owner’s policy only covers $100,000, you may only recover up to that — even if your damages are higher.

The calculator flags both of these issues automatically.

Warnings the Calculator Might Show

• “Liability Not Met”: If there’s no owner negligence or known dog aggression, your case might not qualify.
• “51% Bar Rule”: If you’re mostly at fault, you can’t recover any damages in Hawaii.
• “Insurance Cap Reached”: Your potential payout may be lower than your damages if the owner’s policy is limited.

Using the Calculator: Step-by-Step

1. Start with liability: Was the dog known to be dangerous? Was the owner careless?
2. Answer victim-related questions: Were you trespassing? Did you provoke the dog?
3. Enter injury and trauma details: Be honest about physical and emotional harm.
4. Input your actual costs: Medical bills, wages, and property damage.
5. Check results: Review economic damages, pain and suffering, reductions, and final estimate.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is this calculator legally accurate?

It’s based on real Hawaii statutes like HRS § 663-9 and HRS § 663-31, but it’s not legal advice. For actual cases, talk to a Hawaii personal injury lawyer.

What if the dog never bit anyone before?

That makes the case harder to win. You need to prove negligence — like violating leash laws or letting the dog escape.

Can I still sue if I was partly at fault?

Yes, if your fault is under 51%. Your payout will just be reduced proportionally.

What’s the average Hawaii dog bite settlement?

It varies widely, but most serious injury cases range between $25,000 and $300,000, depending on the factors above.