Average Dog Bite Settlement Amount in Georgia

How much compensation you get for a dog bite settlement in Georgia varies based on the unique circumstances of each situation and the severity of your injuries. Based on our own settlement data on this page, the average dog bite settlement is between $50,000 to $130,000.

$130,000 Dog Bite Settlement – Child Bitten in Roswell, GA

A child in Roswell, Georgia, was bitten by a dog that was off the leash. The bite left permanent scarring on the child’s leg. The insurance company’s initial offer was $75,000, but after hiring Kalka Law Group, the settlement reached $130,000.

$125,000 Dog Bite Settlement – Dog Attack in Atlanta, GA

In Atlanta, a dog that was off the leash at a park bit an individual on the leg, causing permanent scarring. The insurance company’s opening offer was $20,000, but the case was ultimately settled for $125,000.

$50,000 Dog Bite Settlement – Dog Attack in Acworth, GA

In Acworth, a dog off the leash attacked a victim, leaving permanent scarring on the leg. The insurance company initially offered $25,000, but the settlement was resolved for $50,000.

When people search for Georgia dog bite settlement amounts, they want straight talk about what actually drives value in a Georgia case. At Kalka Law Group, we focus on two questions. First, can we prove the owner’s responsibility under Georgia law. Second, can we fully document the harm, including scarring, medical treatment, and long-term effects.

What To Do Immediately After A Dog Bite

These steps protect both your health and your case.

  • Call 9-1-1.
  • Get the owner’s name, address, and contact information, and ask whether the dog is current on rabies shots.
  • Seek medical attention right away, and follow your treatment plan.
  • Photograph your injuries, your clothing, and the location. Keep taking photos as the wounds heal.
  • Report the incident to animal control when appropriate.
  • Ask nearby neighbors if their doorbell or security cameras captured the dog off its leash, or the incident.
  • Keep a brief journal of pain levels, sleep issues, missed activities, and work limitations.

How Georgia Law Actually Works

Georgia uses a modified one-bite framework (O.C.G.A. § 4-8-21), but local leash and restraint rules often determine liability. If a county or city requires leashes, and a dog is off leash, that ordinance violation can establish negligence per se. In other words, the violation itself can supply the negligence element your claim needs.

Prior aggression also matters. You do not need a prior bite if the owner knew, or should have known, that the dog had dangerous tendencies. Documented lunging, snapping, or other aggressive behavior can meet that standard.

Fences are another key factor. If a homeowner had a proper, locked fence and the dog escaped for the first time, liability can be harder to prove. If the fence was broken and the owner knew, or if the dog had escaped before, the owner’s responsibility becomes stronger.

Georgia law also recognizes injuries caused by aggressive dogs that do not involve a bite. If a dog with known dangerous tendencies knocks someone down and causes injury, that event can still support a claim when the legal elements are met.

Who Pays, And Common Insurance Issues

Most claims resolve through a homeowner’s or renters’ policy. Some renters’ insurance policies exclude certain breeds, although many do not.

If there is no applicable insurance, you can still pursue the dog owner personally.

You typically cannot make a first-party claim under your own homeowners policy for injuries caused by someone else’s dog.

Evidence That Moves Settlement Numbers

We build value with clear proof of what happened and why it should not have happened.

  • Neighbor doorbell or security video, including Ring footage that shows the dog off-leash, or captures the incident.
  • Eyewitness statements with names and phone numbers.
  • Animal control records that document complaints or prior issues.
  • Veterinary records obtained in litigation that confirm prior bites, or aggressive behavior.
  • Medical records tracking treatment, infection risk, nerve or tendon involvement, and long-term consequences.
  • A plastic surgeon’s estimate for potential scar revision when scarring is present.

What Drives Georgia Dog Bite Settlement Amounts

There is no fixed chart in Georgia. Value turns on proof of fault and proof of harm.

  • Wound severity: depth, tearing, number of lacerations, infection, and nerve damage.
  • Scarring: length, texture, color, and whether the scar can be improved.
  • Location and visibility: facial scars, or scars that change clothing choices and public comfort, often carry higher non-economic damages.
  • Skin type and keloid risk: some people are more prone to keloid or hypertrophic scarring, which can be difficult to treat.
  • Age of the victim: a child with a lasting scar will live with it longer, which can increase value.
  • Clear liability facts: leash law violations (ex. O.C.G.A. § 51-2-7), failure to secure the dog, prior bites, or documented aggression.

Pain And Suffering After a Dog Bite

Pain and suffering can follow the medical story. Pain and suffering is considered a non-economic damage or “general damage”. The longer and more invasive the treatment, the higher the likelihood of non-economic damages. Persistent pain, sleep disruption, and functional limits at work or home belong in the damages narrative, as do the cosmetic and psychological effects of scarring.

Comparative Fault And How It Reduces Recovery

Georgia uses comparative negligence. Settlement value can be reduced if the evidence shows the injured person shared fault. Common examples include:

  • Taunting a dog, or reaching over a fence.
  • Approaching and petting a strange dog without asking the owner.
  • Ignoring posted warnings that a reasonable person would follow.

These facts usually do not end a case, but they can lower the final number based on the percentage of responsibility assigned.

Delivery Drivers, Postal Workers, And Gig Couriers

We frequently see incidents involving delivery professionals. Employees of companies such as UPS and FedEx usually have a workers compensation claim, and they also have a separate claim against the dog owner. The workers compensation claim does not take away the separate personal injury claim. Many gig workers are independent contractors, so they may not have workers compensation, but they can still pursue a claim against the owner.

The 2-Year Deadline

Georgia’s general statute of limitations for dog bite injuries is two years. Waiting can make it harder to locate video, identify witnesses, or document how a scar evolves. Early action protects your rights, and your case value.

The Bottom Line

Georgia dog bite settlement amounts depend on clear proof of responsibility and clear proof of harm. Leash law violations, failure to secure the dog, prior bites, and documented aggression move liability in your favor. Deep wounds, visible or permanent scars, keloid risk, and long-term effects increase damages. To get more examples of personal injury settlements, or you were injured by a dog in Georgia, contact Kalka Law Group. We will secure the evidence, apply the local ordinances, and present the full story of your injuries so you can pursue the result you deserve.

Note: This article is not legal advice. Consult a lawyer.