Man attacked by dog while walking in neighborhood – $280,000 Settlement

Plaintiff was walking for exercise in his neighborhood. As he passed a neighbor’s house, an unleashed dog came through the neighbor’s front yard and into the street and attacked him. The dog bit and ripped the left calf of his leg. Then, the dog bit his left hand, ripping through the skin, breaking the bone of, and dislocating the bone in the left middle finger. He was transported to the nearest emergency department where surgery was performed to repair the left hand. His left leg wound was treated, and drain tubes and dressings were applied. At maximum medical recovery, he does not have complete range of motion of the left middle finger. There is significant scarring of the leg and hand. Recovery has been excellent. The dog owner was convicted of violating confinement law. There was no evidence of a prior vicious dog.

[15-T-026]

Type of action: Personal injury – dog bite
Injuries alleged: Left leg wound and left hand wound with open fracture dislocation of the proximal interphalangeal joint; displaced finger; multiple lacerations of the left leg with deep laceration with multiple compartment involvement; permanent loss of range of motion in the left middle finger
Date resolved: Jan. 26, 2015
Special damages: $56,104.75
Demand: $500,000
First offer: $125,000
Verdict or settlement: Settlement
Amount: $280,000
Attorney for plaintiff: Ronald W. Williams, Danville
Plaintiff’s experts: Martinsville Memorial Hospital, Bone and Joint Center of Martinsville
Insurance carrier: Farm Bureau