Dog Bite Pre-Settlement Loans

Key Takeaways

• 4.5 million people each year sustain injuries when bitten by dogs.
• You have the right to sue the owner and, perhaps, the owner of the property where the dog attacked you.
• Laws regarding proving liability in dog bite cases differ from state to state.
• Money to pay bills and other expenses while awaiting settlement or verdict in a dog bite case is available through pre-settlement funding.

How much funding can I get on my dog-bite claim?

When you apply for pre-settlement funding, the funding company obtains information about your dog bite claim from the lawyer who represents you. It evaluates the strength of the claim and likelihood of it resulting in a settlement or judgment in your favor by looking at the evidence available to prove liability of the owner of the dog and other parties, such as the owner of property where the attack occurred.

The funding company also looks at the injuries that you sustained in the attack, their severity, and whether there will be any ongoing disability that may impair your ability to work in the future. The amount of the cash advance is a portion of the value a company puts on the settlement or judgment. For example, many funding companies limit their cash advance to only 15% of the value of your claim, but LawsuitLoans.io offers up to 50% of the anticipated value.

What are the approval criteria for dog-bite lawsuit loans?

Most of the information a lawsuit funding company needs to evaluate your application for a cash advance against the anticipated settlement or judgment in a dog bite lawsuit will be obtained through the attorney representing you in the case. Included among the criteria used to make a decision whether to approve your dog bite case for legal funding are the following:

• Existence of evidence proving liability: A police report made immediately after the attack, statements from people who witnessed it, and surveillance videos are some of the forms of evidence that prove that an attack took place.
• Damages: Medical records and statements from treating physicians help to prove the extent and severity of the injuries caused by the attack. Employment and school records establish the amount of time lost from work or school as a result of the injuries.
• Availability of liability insurance: A funding company recovers its cash advance and interest it earns from settlement of the claim and not from payments made by the plaintiff or from assets the plaintiff owns and pledges as collateral. The fact that the dog owner and other parties, such as the owner of the building where the dog was kept, have liability insurance providing coverage to pay the claim reduces the funding company’s risk of not recovering the money owed to it.

Other criteria that must be met to qualify for a lawsuit loan include the following:

• You must have a lawyer representing you in the dog bite lawsuit.
• A lawsuit must be pending against the dog’s owner, property owner, and other parties responsible for the attack.
• The settlement company must approve the claim for funding based on its strength and value.

Most of the information and documentation required to conduct an evaluation of the lawsuit to determine eligibility for funding obtained from the attorney representing you. 

Upon approval of the dog bite claim for funding, the settlement company provides you and your lawyer with a written agreement containing the terms of the lawsuit loan. Once you and your lawyer sign it, the cash advance is processed within 24 hours.

Benefits of dog-bite lawsuit funding

The obvious benefit of lawsuit funding when you have a lawsuit pending for injuries caused when a dog attacked you is quick access to money to pay medical bills and other expenses while awaiting a settlement. A benefit that may not be as obvious has to do with a strategy used by insurance companies to take advantage of a dog-bite victim’s financial struggles by delaying settlement negotiations. The goal is to force the plaintiff to settle quickly for less than the true value of the claim.

Lawsuit funding gives you the money you need to relieve financial pressure and give your lawyer the time needed to obtain a fair settlement or take the case to trial to get the money compensation that you deserve.

Other benefits of lawsuit funding that you get by applying at LawsuitLoans.io include:

• Fast application and underwriting process to get you a quick approval.
• Funding of the cash advance in as little as 24 hours after you and your lawyer sign the funding agreement.
• Rates as low as 2.5% simple interest per month and funding for up to 50% of the anticipated value of the settlement.
• No credit check or employment verification required. Non-recourse funding means that you cannot be held personally liable for repayment in the unlikely event that the claim does not end in a settlement or verdict in your favor.

Don’t be at the mercy of an insurance company. Get the money you need from a personal injury loan for your dog-bite claim or other type of personal injury case with lawsuit funding from LawsuitLoans.io.

How much is my dog-bite claim worth?

• How much you may receive for injuries suffered when bitten by a dog depend on several factors, including:
• The type and severity of the injuries inflicted by the dog. Deep lacerations that require sutures may cause scarring. Scarring on areas of the body normally covered by clothing would not add as much to the value of a claim as scars on the face, arms or legs.
• Injuries that are disabling and impair the future ability of a dog bite victim from working and earning a living increase the value of a claim.
• Disabling injuries with long-term effects add more to the value of your case than disabling injuries that are expected to heal over time.

An important factor to consider in determining the value of your dog bite claim is the degree of fault that you bear in causing the attack. Expect the settlement offer to be less if you teased or approached the dog before the attack.

Dog-bite lawsuit liability

Holding a dog owner or property owner liable in a dog bite case depends on the law of the state where the attack occurs. Some states have strict liability laws making the owner liable when their dog bites another person. Other states hold owners responsible only when it is proven that they were aware of their dog’s aggressive tendencies. Proving that the dog bit someone before is one way to prove awareness by the owner.

Common injuries from dog bites

A puncture wound is a common minor injury resulting from a dog bite, but more severe injuries frequently occur depending on the size and strength of the dog relative to the size of the victim. Common injuries in addition to puncture wounds include:

• Broken bones.
• Lacerations, scratches and abrasions.
• Injuries to the eyes, face and head.
• Traumatic brain injury.
• Nerve damage.

Emotional harm, including post-traumatic stress disorder, are common in victims of dog bites.

Homeowners insurance and dog-bite claims

Most homeowner and renter insurance policies provide liability coverage to protect the owner of a dog for claims made by victims bitten by the animal. Some insurance companies refuse to provide coverage for homes with certain breeds of dogs, such as German shepherds and pit bulls.

An insurance company provides a lawyer to defend the homeowner or renter and pays any settlement or verdict up to the policy’s coverage limits. The existence of insurance coverage gives a dog bite victim security knowing there is a source of funds to pay compensation.

Dog bite lawsuit loan FAQs

The following are two of the questions LawsuitLoans.io frequently answers:

• How much do lawsuit loans cost? The cost of your lawsuit loan depends on how much you receive as a cash advance and how long it takes before it is repaid from the settlement. Simple interest charged each month starts as low as 2.5%. Find out how much a lawsuit loan will cost for your dog bite claim by calling LawsuitLoans.io at (866) 594-1343 or by applying online.
• Do I qualify for a loan on my dog bite lawsuit? If you have an attorney representing you in a pending dog-bite lawsuit, then it may qualify for funding depending on the likelihood of a settlement or judgment in your favor and the anticipated value of the claim.

Learn more about lawsuit loans and get answers to any questions you have by calling LawsuitLoans.io at (866) 594-1343.

Conclusion

Dog bites are a common occurrence that can inflict serious injuries on victims. If you have been bitten by a dog, notify the owner and police right away and get medical treatment for the injuries.

If financial struggles caused by the injuries have put you in need of money while waiting for a settlement or judgment in the lawsuit, a lawsuit loan may be the solution. Contact LawsuitLoans.io or apply online today to learn how you can receive a cash advance that is paid from the settlement or judgment in the case.