How Pain and Suffering Is Calculated in a Canoga Park Dog Bite Lawsuit

A dog bite in Canoga Park is more than just a physical injury. Beyond the immediate pain, stitches, and risk of infection, victims often face lasting emotional trauma, permanent scarring, and a sudden fear of animals that can disrupt their daily lives. While medical bills and lost wages are straightforward to calculate, the most significant part of a dog bite claim is often the compensation for these profound human losses, legally known as “pain and suffering.”

But how do you put a dollar value on fear, anxiety, or a scar that will last a lifetime? At Walch Law, we help dog bite victims in the San Fernando Valley understand and prove the full extent of their damages. This guide explains how pain and suffering is calculated in California and the factors that influence the value of your claim. Our consultations are always free and confidential, and you pay no fees unless we win a recovery for you.

California Dog Bite Law: Strict Liability

California has a “strict liability” dog bite statute (Civil Code § 3342). This means that a dog’s owner is legally responsible for the injuries their dog causes, even if the dog has never bitten anyone before or shown any signs of aggression. You do not have to prove the owner was negligent.

However, California also uses a “comparative negligence” rule. If you are found partially at fault for the incident (for example, by provoking the dog), your compensation may be reduced by your percentage of fault. A successful claim allows you to recover two main types of damages:

• Economic Damages: Tangible financial losses like medical bills, future scar revision surgery, lost wages, and therapy costs.
• Non-Economic Damages: Intangible losses that compensate for the human impact of the injury. This is what we call “pain and suffering.”

What Does “Pain and Suffering” Include in a Dog Bite Case?

Pain and suffering is a broad legal term that covers all the non-financial ways an injury has affected your life. For a dog bite victim in Canoga Park, this can include a wide range of harms:

• Physical Pain: The initial pain of the bite, the discomfort of medical procedures (like debridement or stitches), and any chronic pain from nerve damage.
• Disfigurement and Scarring: The physical change in your appearance from scars, which can lead to embarrassment and self-consciousness, especially if the scars are on your face, hands, or arms.
• Emotional Distress: This is a major component and includes anxiety, fear of dogs (cynophobia), panic attacks when near animals, depression, and symptoms of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), such as nightmares or flashbacks.
• Loss of Enjoyment of Life: The inability to participate in hobbies or activities you once loved, from playing with your own pets to hiking in local parks like the Sepulveda Basin Wildlife Reserve.
• Inconvenience: The hassle of attending frequent medical appointments, wound care, and therapy sessions.
• Humiliation: The embarrassment associated with visible scars or having to explain the circumstances of the attack.
• Child-Specific Trauma: For children, the psychological impact can be even more severe, leading to developmental setbacks, school avoidance, and a lifelong fear of animals.

How Insurers and Lawyers Value Pain and Suffering

There is no simple calculator for pain and suffering. Instead, insurance adjusters and attorneys use several methods to arrive at a reasonable figure, which serves as a starting point for negotiations.

• The Multiplier Method: This is the most common approach. The total amount of your economic damages (medical bills and lost wages) is multiplied by a number, typically between 1.5 and 5. The multiplier is determined by the severity of the injury. A minor bite with no scarring might get a 1.5x multiplier, while a severe facial bite requiring plastic surgery and causing diagnosed PTSD could warrant a multiplier of 5 or even higher.
• The Per-Diem Method: This method assigns a daily dollar amount (e.g., $100-$250 per day) for the period of time you are recovering from your injuries. It is calculated from the date of the bite until the date your doctor says you have reached “maximum medical improvement.” This is less common for injuries with long-term or permanent effects.
• Anchoring by Evidence: Ultimately, any number must be justified by evidence. A skilled lawyer doesn’t just pick a multiplier; they build a compelling story using photos, medical reports, therapy notes, and powerful “before and after” testimony to show an insurer or jury exactly how the bite has changed your life.

Factors That Increase or Decrease a Dog Bite Settlement in LA County

The final settlement amount is influenced by specific details that strengthen or weaken your claim.

Factors That Can Increase Value:

• Severity and Permanence of Scarring: Visible scars on the face, neck, or hands are valued more highly than scars easily hidden by clothing.
• Need for Extensive Medical Treatment: Multiple surgeries, skin grafts, scar revision procedures, or prophylactic treatment for rabies or infection demonstrate a more serious injury.
• Diagnosed Psychological Trauma: A formal diagnosis of PTSD from a therapist or psychologist carries much more weight than simply saying you are “scared of dogs.”
• Impact on Daily Life: Evidence that you can no longer work your normal job, had to give up a sport, or avoid social situations (like going to the beach) because of your scars.
• Clear Owner Fault: Evidence that the owner violated local leash laws in Canoga Park or had prior complaints filed with Los Angeles Animal Services.

Factors That Can Decrease Value:

• Allegations of Provocation or Trespassing: Any evidence suggesting you provoked the dog or were unlawfully on the owner’s property can reduce your claim.
• Minimal Scarring or Quick Recovery: If the wound heals well with little to no visible scarring, the pain and suffering value will be lower.
• Gaps in Medical Treatment: Failing to follow up with doctors or therapists can be used by an insurer to argue your injuries were not as severe as you claim.
• Lack of Documentation: No photos of the injury, no therapy records, and inconsistent statements weaken your negotiating position.

Checklist: How to Maximize Your Canoga Park Dog Bite Pain and Suffering Proof

• Take clear, well-lit photos of the injuries immediately after the attack and throughout the healing process.
• Obtain a copy of the incident report from Los Angeles Animal Services.
• Get a referral to a plastic surgeon to evaluate the scarring and recommend future treatment options.
• Seek therapy to address any anxiety or PTSD and get your therapist’s notes.
• Keep a simple daily journal documenting your pain levels, sleep disturbances, and activities you cannot do.
• Get written statements from witnesses, family, or friends about the attack and the changes they’ve seen in you.
• Preserve the clothing you were wearing during the attack.
• Keep receipts for all related expenses, including scar creams, makeup for camouflage, and therapy co-pays.

What to Do Next– Find the Best Canoga Park Dog Bite Law Firm for You

The moments after a dog bite are critical. Report the bite to Los Angeles Animal Services, seek immediate medical attention, and do not give a recorded statement to the owner’s insurance company before speaking with an attorney. The insurance company’s goal is to minimize your claim.

At Walch Law, our goal is to maximize it. We know how to gather the right evidence and present a powerful case to ensure you are compensated for every aspect of your suffering. Contact us today for a free, confidential consultation to learn how we can help you and your family. 1-844-999-5342