What damages can you recover in a dog bite case in Georgia?

Have you been attacked or bitten by a dog in Georgia? Are you curious about what type of compensation you can recover? Here at the Georgia Dog Bite Lawyer, our attorney Andrew Gebhardt has over 18 years of experience handling dog bite claims and can help you recover the compensation you are owed for the injuries you sustained. After carefully reviewing your case, our attorneys will be able to discuss with you what compensation is available to you. Some of the more common damages available in Georgia dog bite cases are listed below.

Economic Damages

Economic damages are the easiest to prove in a Georgia dog bite case. These damages consist of actual monetary losses suffered by the victim, including:

• Lost income, both present and future
• Medical expenses incurred due to the dog bite, including past, present, and future
• In case of death, funeral and burial expenses
• Mental health counseling costs
• Cost of diagnostic imaging
• Cost of prescription medications
• Hospital bills
• Cost of reconstructive surgery in cases of disfigurement
• Loss of future benefits, such as a retirement account that the victim will no longer be eligible for if they are unable to work due to the attack
• Diminished earning capacity
• Costs incurred for childcare and household maintenance that would not otherwise have been incurred

Economic damages are directly tied to financial losses suffered by the victim due to the dog attack.

Non-Economic Damages

Non-economic damages are not so easily measured but can also be recovered in a dog bite case in Georgia. They are a way to recover for the different ways a victim has suffered in addition to the financial suffering recoverable as economic damages. While meeting with the Georgia Dog Bite Lawyer is the best way to determine which damages are specifically available in your case, the following are some examples of non-economic damages that are often recoverable.

• Compensation for scarring
• Pain and suffering
• Physical pain
• Mental anguish
• Emotional distress
• Diminished quality of life
• Loss of companionship

The non-economic damages available and the amount of compensation available can vary greatly between cases.

Punitive Damages

Pursuant to OCGA §51-12-5.1, Georgia does allow punitive damages in some situations. Specifically, it holds that “(p)unitive damages may be awarded only in such tort actions in which it is proven by clear and convincing evidence that the defendant’s actions showed willful misconduct, malice, fraud, wantonness, oppression, or that entire want of care which would raise the presumption of conscious indifference to consequences.”

Speaking with a knowledgeable attorney about your case is the best way to determine if you can recover punitive damages as a result of a dog attack.

Consult With The Georgia Dog Bite Lawyer

If you have been bitten or attacked by a dog and want to know what damages are available to you, contact our office to schedule a free consultation with the Georgia Dog Bite Law, Andrew Gebhardt. We are available to speak with you now.