Dog bite severity can directly affect the value of an injury claim. More serious bites often require more medical treatment, cause greater pain, and leave lasting scars or other complications. As those losses increase, the potential value of a claim may also rise.
Austin uses the Dunbar Bite Scale to classify the severity of dog bites. The city recently adopted this six-level system to clarify its policies regarding dogs that become city property through 72-hour stray holds or surrenders by their legal owners.
The Short Answer: More Severe Bites Generally Mean Higher-Value Claims
A severe dog bite will often support a higher-value injury claim than a minor bite because damages are tied to the harm the victim actually suffers. A shallow wound that heals quickly may involve limited medical expenses. A deep bite that damages muscles, nerves, or other tissue may require emergency treatment, surgery, rehabilitation, and ongoing care.
Severity is only one factor. The value of a claim can also depend on lost income, permanent impairment, emotional trauma, available insurance coverage, and whether liability can be established.
Texas recognizes both negligence and strict liability theories in certain animal injury cases. Under Texas case law, a dog owner may face negligence liability even if the dog was not previously known to be vicious when negligent handling or control caused the injury.
How Bite Severity Is Typically Classified
The Dunbar Bite Scale classifies dog bites from Level 1 through Level 6 based largely on the physical damage caused.
The levels generally progress as follows:
- Level 1: Aggressive behavior without tooth contact with the skin.
- Level 2: Teeth contact the skin but do not puncture it.
- Level 3: A single bite causes one to four relatively shallow punctures.
- Level 4: A single bite causes deeper punctures, significant bruising, or lacerations associated with the dog holding on or shaking.
- Level 5: The incident involves multiple serious Level 4 bites or attacks.
- Level 6: The victim dies.
The scale provides an objective way to describe wound severity. Austin Animal Services uses the scale to evaluate dog-on-human bites based on the severity of the injury. A bite level does not automatically determine what a civil claim is worth. Medical evidence and the full effect of the injury remain important.
Why Severity Level Affects Medical Costs, Scarring, and Pain and Suffering
Deeper wounds often require more extensive care. Treatment can include wound cleaning, stitches, antibiotics, imaging, surgery, or treatment for nerve and tendon damage. Victims may also need follow-up care for infection or scarring.
Scars can be especially important when bites affect the face, hands, arms, or other visible areas. Children may face additional concerns because scars can change as they grow.
More severe injuries can also support greater claims for pain and suffering. A victim may experience physical pain, sleep problems, anxiety around dogs, or distress caused by permanent changes in appearance.
Documenting Severity Early: Why It Matters for Your Case
Early documentation can provide clear evidence of what the bite looked like before the wound began healing. Take photographs as soon as possible and continue taking them throughout recovery.
Other useful evidence can include:
- Emergency room and physician records
- Photographs of punctures, bruising, and scarring
- Prescription and treatment records
- Medical bills
- Records of missed work
- The Austin Animal Protection bite report
- Witness statements
- Information about the dog and its owner
Medical records can also document wound depth, infection, nerve damage, and other complications that may not be obvious from photographs alone. Victims should report the bite promptly.
Talk to an Austin Dog Bite Lawyer
A serious dog bite can leave lasting physical, emotional, and financial harm. An Austin dog bite lawyer can review medical records, document the severity of the injury, investigate how the attack occurred, and determine what compensation may be available.
Contact McMinn Personal Injury Lawyers to schedule a free consultation and discuss your legal options after a dog attack.
We proudly serve clients throughout Austin, TX in Travis County, as well as Salt Lake City, UT in Salt Lake County.
McMinn Law Firm – Austin, TX Office
502 W 14th St, Austin, TX 78701
(512) 474-0222
McMinn Law Firm – Salt Lake City, UT Office
650 S 500 W Suite 290, Salt Lake City, UT 84104
(385) 462-7630
