Dogs that are kept as pets in Connecticut, and throughout the U.S., may bite or attack for any number of reasons. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 4.5 million people suffer dog bite injuries in the U.S. each year. Of these, approximately one out of every five requires medical treatment. With few exceptions, Connecticut state law generally holds dog owners liable for the losses resulting from such injuries. To ensure that they receive the help that they need, it can be important for dog bite victims to understand what type of compensation they may be entitled to.
Under Connecticut state law, victims may be awarded compensatory damages when liability is proven in dog bite, and other, personal injury cases. These damages are meant to make the victims as close as possible to whole, and to provide them with financial compensation for losses resulting from their injuries. In general, there are two categories of damages that dog attack victims may be entitled to – economic and noneconomic losses.
Generally, economic damages are those that are awarded for actual monetary losses due to the victims’ injuries. Lost wages, loss of earning capacity and loss of future earnings can all be considered by civil jury members when determining economic damages awards. Additionally, medical expenses are also commonly compensated economic losses. However, in most cases, victims are not entitled to expenses that were covered by their personal health insurance.
Noneconomic damages, on the other hand, are compensatory amounts that are awarded for nonmonetary harm resulting from injuries. The types of losses that may be compensated through noneconomic damages include both physical and emotional pain and suffering, as well as the reduced ability to enjoy life’s pleasures. Often, the length of time the victims were, or will be, disabled by their injuries is taken into consideration when determining the amounts of such awards.
Like most personal injury cases, there are a number of factors that can be taken into consideration in dog attack claims. As such, it may be of benefit for those who have experienced such situations to discuss their situation with a legal professional to learn more about their options.
