Whose insurance pays for a dog bite?

Usually the owner’s homeowners or renters insurance. Most policies include liability coverage for dog bites unless the breed is specifically excluded. If the owner doesn’t have insurance, recovery depends on their personal assets.

Does it matter if the dog has bitten someone before?

Yes — especially in "one bite rule" states, where prior aggression is the entire case. Even in strict-liability states, prior incidents increase the damages and may support a punitive-damages argument.

The owner says I provoked the dog. Does that kill my case?

It depends on what "provoked" actually means. Walking past, reaching to pet (with permission), or being a child are usually not provocation. Trespassing, hitting the dog, or reaching into a fenced yard usually are. Most states reduce rather than eliminate recovery for partial provocation.

Is my state a strict liability state?

About 35 states are strict liability for dog bites — including California, Florida, Illinois, Pennsylvania, and others. The rest still follow some version of the "one bite" rule. The intake will tell you which rule applies to you.

Practice area · Dog bites

What is your dog bite case worth?

Owner’s insurance usually pays. Your state’s liability rule decides whether you even have to prove they were negligent.

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How the estimate works

01
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02
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We weigh liability, treatment, jurisdiction, and insurance to sketch a realistic value range.
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What drives the value of a dog bite case

Dog-bite cases are won less often in court than at the homeowners-insurance negotiation table. Most owners carry coverage that pays bite claims as part of their policy — between $100,000 and $300,000 is typical. The question is usually not whether there’s coverage, but whether your state requires you to prove the owner did anything wrong.

Your state’s liability rule: About 35 states are "strict liability" — the owner pays regardless of fault. The rest follow some version of the "one bite" rule, which requires showing the owner knew or should have known the dog was dangerous.
Severity of the bite: A puncture that heals cleanly is one tier. Lacerations requiring reconstruction, nerve damage, or permanent scarring move the case up substantially — especially on the face or for children.
Owner’s insurance coverage: Homeowners and renters policies usually include dog-bite coverage. Some carriers exclude specific breeds; some have separate dog-bite limits below the main policy.
The dog’s prior history: A documented prior incident — even just a complaint to animal control — is gold in a "one bite" state and increases damages everywhere.
Whether you provoked the dog: Most states reduce or bar recovery if you were trespassing or provoked the animal. Walking past on a public sidewalk is not provocation. Reaching into a fence is.
Disfigurement and scarring: Visible scarring carries its own damages component beyond medical bills, and is one of the largest drivers in higher-value cases.

Realistic settlement ranges

Realistic bands for cases with insurance and clear liability. Without coverage, the practical value drops to whatever the owner can pay.

Minor bite

$5,000 – $30,000

Puncture or laceration that heals without lasting visible damage; minor medical treatment.

Significant injury

$25,000 – $100,000

Lacerations requiring stitches, cosmetic scarring, multiple bite sites, or psychological treatment for fear of dogs.

Severe

$100,000 – $500,000+

Nerve damage, reconstruction surgery, permanent disfigurement, or bites to children — typically maxing out homeowners-policy limits.

Catastrophic

$500,000+

Mauling, facial reconstruction, or fatality — often requires reaching beyond the homeowners policy into the owner’s assets.

Common questions

What people ask before they call.

Whose insurance pays for a dog bite?: Usually the owner’s homeowners or renters insurance. Most policies include liability coverage for dog bites unless the breed is specifically excluded. If the owner doesn’t have insurance, recovery depends on their personal assets.
Does it matter if the dog has bitten someone before?: Yes — especially in "one bite rule" states, where prior aggression is the entire case. Even in strict-liability states, prior incidents increase the damages and may support a punitive-damages argument.
The owner says I provoked the dog. Does that kill my case?: It depends on what "provoked" actually means. Walking past, reaching to pet (with permission), or being a child are usually not provocation. Trespassing, hitting the dog, or reaching into a fenced yard usually are. Most states reduce rather than eliminate recovery for partial provocation.
Is my state a strict liability state?: About 35 states are strict liability for dog bites — including California, Florida, Illinois, Pennsylvania, and others. The rest still follow some version of the "one bite" rule. The intake will tell you which rule applies to you.

More tools and reading on cases like yours.

Worried about a deadline? See the statute of limitations in your state.

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Get a free dog bite case estimate

Tell us what happened

Our AI analyzes

A vetted attorney calls

What drives the value of a dog bite case

Realistic settlement ranges

Common questions

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