Average Dog Bite Settlement Amount in Ontario

How Much Can You Expect to Settle for a Dog Bite Claim in Ontario

In Ontario, there is no official average dog bite settlement amount, and the value of a claim varies depending on several factors, including the severity of the injuries, scarring or disfigurement, psychological distress, current and future medical costs, loss of income, rehabilitation needs, liability issues, and the evidence supporting the victim’s losses. As a rough point of reference, many Ontario dog bite claims fall in the $15,000 to $90,000 range, while settlements overall can range from about $10,000 to over $500,000 depending on the facts.

Some sources cite an average dog bite settlement amount of $97,517.86, roughly in line with U.S. averages around $97,500, but those figures are only general benchmarks and not a guarantee of what any Ontario claim will be worth.

Under the Dog Owners’ Liability Act (DOLA) in Ontario, the owner of a dog is responsible for any damages caused by a bite or attack from his or her dog. A victim does not need to prove that the dog had bitten someone before or that the owner knew the dog was dangerous.

For dog bite victims in Ontario who want to understand what compensation may be available and how to protect their rights, this guide explains what affects settlement amounts, how liability works under Ontario law, what to do right after a bite, the deadlines for making a claim, how the settlement process works, and how legal help can strengthen a claim. The physical, emotional and financial impact of a dog bite attack is unique in every personal injury case, and age is one factor in valuation: claims involving an elderly victim, moderate to severe injuries, or life-altering harm may settle higher, with severe cases sometimes exceeding $500,000.

What Determines the Dog Bite Settlement Amount

In Ontario, there is no amount that is predetermined for a dog bite claim. Some published legal guides to settling your case in Ontario give ranges for the settlements, but they aren’t guaranteed averages or set figures. Individual claims must be assessed on their own merits based on the victim’s physical injuries, psychological trauma, damages, evidence and circumstances.

A bite that does not cause permanent injuries may be worth very much less than if it does cause permanent injuries. Minor injuries typically settle for $10,000 to $30,000, while moderate injuries can settle between $30,000 and $75,000. Permanent injuries may raise claim value when the injury prevents a person from working normally and leads to long term effects, surgery, scarring, damage to nerves, or reduced earning capacity.

A settlement could provide a dog bite victim with economic and non-economic damages, with current and future losses included, such as:

• Pain and suffering,
• The inability to regenerate or restore former health,
• Medical and rehabilitation costs,
• Psychological injuries and emotional distress,
• Past and future loss of income,
• Reduced earning capacity,
• The cost of future treatment or care,
• Other reasonable out-of-pocket expenses, including medication and travel,
• Personal property damage.

The objective, therefore, is not to find an average payout but to try to calculate the total effect on the person involved in the attack from a dog bite.

To learn more about these claims, please visit Grillo Law’s Dog Bites and Attacks resource.

Will I Need to Go to Court to Receive a Settlement?

No, having to attend court to obtain a dog bite settlement is not a requirement. In Ontario, most dog bite cases settle before trial as part of a sometimes complicated legal process between the injured party, their attorney, the dog owner and the insurance company involved.

A settlement can be reached prior to or after filing a lawsuit. The outcome of a case can be influenced by the quality of evidence, the severity of injuries, disputed liability, the dog owner’s insurance coverage that often affects negotiations and the final payout, and if a fair settlement can be reached.

Where there is a disagreement and court proceedings may be necessary, this could involve:

• What happened during the dog attack;
• Whether the victim provoked the dog or the victim’s level of responsibility for the incident;
• The extent and/or nature of the wounds;
• Money lost or future health costs; or
• The amount of dog bite settlement that is appropriate.

The Dog Owners’ Liability Act of Ontario makes the dog owner responsible for damages resulting from a bite or attack regardless of owner’s negligence, but compensation may still be reduced if the injured party’s own conduct contributed to the incident, and liability issues may differ if the person was unlawfully on private property or otherwise trespassing.

It is important to take into account the need for continuous treatment, permanent scarring, psychological injuries, future care requirements and other ongoing consequences of the dog attack when considering accepting an agreement, after a careful review of the strength of the evidence and the future consequences of the injuries.

Immediate Steps After A Dog Bite

If bitten by a dog, follow these steps to protect your health and your potential claim: get medical help, find out the dog’s name and contact information, report the attack, and keep as much evidence as possible. Your actions can help preserve your health and provide documentation that can help establish liability, injuries, damages, and compensation in a dog bite claim.

Important steps include:

1. Seek medical treatment. Dog bites may result in puncture wounds, infections, nerve damage, scars and other injuries, and some wounds require stitches. Prompt care is crucial.
2. Photograph your injuries. Have pictures taken immediately after the attack and during the healing process.
3. Find the dog’s handler. Get their name, address and telephone number, and insurance information if they have one. The person in control could also be a dog walker, and liability is not limited to the legal owner alone.
4. Document the scene. Take photos of any of the following: fences, gates, leashes, warning signs or other conditions.
5. Collect witness information. Get the names and witness contact information of anyone who saw the attack.
6. Report the incident. Call an animal-control officer and/or police or emergency services if needed. This helps create an official record of where the attack happened, especially in a public place. Keep records. Keep medical bills/receipts, employment records, pay stubs, and proof of lost income.

Secure photos, records, and witness details as soon as possible to help build a strong case.

Victims should also not post information about their personal injury claim on social media platforms, as information on the internet may be used in connection to their personal injury claim.

Deadlines for Dog Bite Claims in Ontario

In most cases, a dog bite injury claim is subject to the 2 year limitation period, but not from the date of the accident as in many cases the claim is only discovered after a period of time. Exceptions may apply and injured parties should seek legal advice at the earliest opportunity.

Generally, Section 4 of Ontario’s Limitations Act, 2002 prohibits the commencement of a court proceeding past the second anniversary of the date of discovery of the claim.

The time allowed under the Act’s discoverability provisions may be based on the knowledge of, or reasonably should have been known by the injured party that the:

• There was some damage or loss;
• It was caused or contributed to by someone else’s act or omission;
• The person who is responsible for the incident could be identified; and
• A court action would be suitable means to obtain a remedy.

There may also be exceptions to limitation periods such as those that are based on minors or those that are based on persons who are legally unable to start a proceeding. If the injured person is a child, limitation and settlement issues can differ, and the age of the victim may affect how the claim is handled and valued.

Waiting may make it more difficult to get evidence for a dog bite case, even if the two year limitation has not yet passed. Injuries heal, surveillance tapes are erased, witnesses can be hard to find, and memories can fade. Early action can assist in maintaining evidence to recover compensation.

Contact Grillo Law to Maximize Your Compensation

In dog attack cases, an experienced lawyer or legal team can evaluate the injuries and losses, gather evidence, identify potentially responsible parties, and act on your behalf in dealings with insurers through investigation and negotiation for compensation that reflects the full impact of the attack.

Under Ontario law, an “owner” can include a person who possesses or harbours the dog, and multiple owners may be jointly and severally liable for damages. Depending on the facts, liability may also extend beyond the defendant owner to others who had control of the dog, including in everyday situations such as a visit with friends. Identifying the correct parties can therefore be an important part of building a dog bite claim.

If you or a loved one suffered injuries in a dog bite or dog attack in Toronto or elsewhere in Ontario, connect with Grillo Law for a free consultation. Our personal injury lawyers can review your case, assess the merits of the claim and the factors affecting your potential dog bite settlement amount, help protect you from settling too early, and explain your legal options while pursuing compensation for the full impact of injuries left after an attack.