How long does it take for a dog bite settlement?

Dog bite settlements in the United States take from two months to about a year for the final settlement. On average, it takes 405 days (13.5 months), as per law firms like Brown & Crouppen, MKP Law Group, Skinner and John Foy. After paperwork is signed, insurers typically issue funds in about 30 days. In case of minors, the disbursement extend to roughly two(02) to four(04) months for court approval. The compensation timeline varies from case to case and depends on medical stabilization or Maximum Medical Improvement (MMI), a complete demand package, insurer responsiveness, and court calendars.

This article is a comprehensive analysis of the time required to settle dog bite claims in the US. It is based on recent 2025 data from legal experts, insurance industry reports, and case studies from law firms across the United States to provide a realistic timeline.

How Long Does It Take for a Dog Bite Settlement?

Dog bite settlement follows a structured progression. The total duration is a sum of its distinct phases, each with a typical time frame. Our analysis of case data from various legal sources, including Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers and Zinda Law Group, reveals a comprehensive timeline that victims can anticipate.

The timeline settlement against dog bite is assessed at various levels in the sections below, which include:

1. Timelines based on Type of Injury
2. Timelines based on the State
3. Timeframes in each Phase of the Claim settlement

The Settlement Timeline based on Injury Types

An outline of the general framework for the different types of dog bite cases is mentioned below:

• Severe Injury (e.g., reconstructive surgery, nerve damage, significant scarring, psychological trauma): Severe injury claim settlements take 12-24+ months, i.e 1-2 years. These complex cases require a long healing period to reach MMI and often involve filing a lawsuit to secure a fair settlement from a resistant insurance company.
• Moderate Injury (e.g., deep lacerations, stitches, minor scarring): Moderate injuries take 6-12 months for settlement. The timeline is extended by the need for more extensive treatment and follow-up care to determine the full extent of scarring.
• Minor Injury (e.g., scratches, minor puncture requiring no stitches): Minor injuries are fast settled in 3-6 months. These cases often involve minimal medical treatment and clear liability, allowing for a faster negotiation process.

Phase-Wise Timeline

This timeline represents the typical pre-suit settlement process, where a resolution is reached without filing a formal lawsuit.

Phase 1: Initial Investigation & Evidence Gathering (15-60 Days)

The initial investigation and evidence gathering immediately after the dog bite lay the groundwork for your entire claim. These initial actions create the official record and preserve the evidence necessary to prove your case.

Immediately following the incident, your attorney will gather police reports, interview witnesses, document the scene, and send a letter of representation to the dog owner’s insurance company. This phase is about establishing the foundational facts of your claim.

A broad overview of the timeline in this situation is summarized below:

• First 24–48 hours: You must report the dog bite to the appropriate local authorities, such as your city’s animal control agency or the police department. The timeline begins with the immediate documentation of the scene, identification of the owner, and formal reporting. These early reports should log date, time, location, owner identity, vaccination status, and any prior bite history.
• First 1–3 weeks: The insurance claim will be opened. The carrier initiates its liability and coverage review. It requests records like statements and photographs. The verification of homeowner’s or renter’s insurance coverage also happens in this timeframe.
• Weeks 2–8: It’s at this time that the counsel gathers medical records, witness statements, photographs, prior bite history, and sends notice of representation to the insurer.

Phase 2: Medical Treatment and Reaching Maximum Medical Improvement (MMI) (4-12 Months)

This phase is almost always the longest and most unpredictable part of the dog bite settlement timeline. You will undergo all necessary medical treatment to heal. Recovery spans four weeks to twelve months, depending on procedures, follow‑ups, and any scar‑revision or therapy plans tied to the clinical course.

The timeline concludes only when you reach Maximum Medical Improvement (MMI). As legal experts at Morgan & Morgan emphasize, settling before MMI is a critical error, as the full value of future medical needs would be unknown.

What Exactly is MMI and Why Does It Control Your Timeline?

Maximum Medical Improvement (MMI) is the point at which your medical condition has stabilized, and further improvement is unlikely. It does not mean you are fully recovered, but rather that your long-term prognosis is clear. It’s only after you reach MMI that your attorney can accurately calculate dog bite settlement damages, including:

• Past Medical Bills: All costs for ER visits, hospital stays, surgeries, and medication.
• Future Medical Costs: The projected cost of future care, such as scar revision surgery, physical therapy, or pain management.
• Lost Wages and Earning Capacity: Income lost during recovery and any long-term impact on your ability to work.
• Pain and Suffering: Compensation for the physical pain, emotional distress, and diminished quality of life resulting from the attack.

Settling before reaching MMI is a catastrophic mistake. If you later discover you need another surgery or ongoing therapy, you cannot go back and ask for more money.

Phase 3: The Demand and Insurance Negotiations (60-120 Days)

Once you reach MMI, your attorney calculates all your damages. They compile a detailed demand package with medical records, bills, and proof of lost income, sending it to the insurance adjuster. The insurer typically takes 30-45 days to review and make an initial offer. This offer is often very low, and the subsequent negotiation can last another 30-60 days.

The duration of this phase depends on the complexity of the case and the insurance company’s willingness to negotiate in good faith.

Phase 4: Finalizing the Settlement (14-45 Days): 

After a settlement amount is agreed upon, the victim will sign a release agreement. From that point, it typically takes the insurance company 14 to 45 days to issue the settlement check to your attorney. The attorney then resolves any medical liens before disbursing the final funds to you.

Settlement vs. Lawsuit

The vast majority of dog bite cases, i.e over 95% are resolved through a settlement or pre-suit. However, when the insurance company refuses to make a fair offer, filing a lawsuit may be the only way. This action moves the case from the private negotiation realm into the public court system, which dramatically alters the timeline.

Lawsuit Settlement Timeline is typically 2-3 years. As noted by numerous legal experts, once a lawsuit is filed, the case is subject to court schedules, mandatory discovery processes, depositions, and pre-trial motions, adding at least a year or more to the resolution from the filing date.

Here is a consolidated, stage‑wise timeline table comparing as reported by multiple U.S. legal sources; the rightmost column lists each step, and the other columns show what each source reports for that stage.

Stage/Step	MKP Law Group (CA)	Skinner Law Firm (WV/VA)	Brown & Crouppen (MO)	John Foy & Associates (GA)	ASK LLP (national)	Stone Injury Lawyers (MA)
Initial report and investigation	Claim submitted to insurer; lawyers and adjusters begin evidence exchanges, and this phase can become the longest depending on documentation needs .	Early “getting treated and gathering information” stage; bundled with 1–2 months when injuries are minor, longer if care continues .	Reporting to authorities and investigation typically start immediately and can take a few days to several weeks depending on complexity and resources .	Initial evidence gathering roughly a week or two, followed by medical care that can last longer for moderate bites before filing .	Negotiations start only after a demand letter; insurers may take weeks to months to respond even at the outset .	Clear liability and complete documentation can prompt quicker acknowledgement; organized records expedite the early phase .	Initial report and investigation
Medical treatment and stabilization (MMI)	Wounds should heal and scarring mature before valuation; waiting for maximum medical improvement is common .	Minor cases may stabilize within the 1–2 month early window; serious care extends overall duration before demand .	Recovery “weeks to months or even longer” often dictates when the case can move forward .	Moderate dog‑bite recovery often takes several months, and treatment completion is recommended before filing .	Ongoing treatment delays negotiation; claims shouldn’t resolve until expenses are known .	Significant healing time is normal; rushing risks undervaluing future care needs .	Medical treatment and stabilization (MMI)
Demand letter and claim filing	Claim to insurer triggers contact and opens negotiation; additional proof may be requested before numbers move .	After treatment, counsel drafts a detailed demand; the insurer reviews and either offers or disputes items .	Claim filing, then reporting and investigation precede any negotiation posture .	Filing and case setup typically take several weeks once treatment ends and evidence is gathered .	Demand letter begins talks; carriers may take weeks or months to reply even with full documentation .	Strong, organized documentation can shave time off this step and encourage fairer opening offers .	Demand letter and claim filing
Negotiation window (pre‑suit	Often the longest stage; duration varies with complexity and insurer posture .	Commonly about 3–6 months after the demand is sent in typical cases .	Highly variable; depends on willingness to compromise, injury complexity, and multiple policy layers .	Frequently about 1–3 months, with many out‑of‑court settlements resolving in roughly a month in favorable cases .	Average negotiation length is 1–3 months once variables are presented, though longer is possible .	Insurers may lowball; clear evidence can prompt faster movement or immediate fair offers in some files .	Negotiation window (pre‑suit)
Decision to file suit and start litigation	If talks stall, a complaint is filed; trials are uncommon but available .	Filing suit can add months or years depending on court schedules and case demands .	Pretrial discovery and motions extend timelines; court calendars significantly affect speed .	Trials can take several months to years given crowded dockets .	Courts are busy; lawsuits introduce procedural delays and lengthen resolution .	Few bite cases reach trial, but litigation adds months or longer; appeal rights exist .	Decision to file suit and start litigation
Litigation/discovery and trial duration	Typical dog‑bite lawsuit duration is roughly nine months to a year to fully settle in many cases handled by the firm .	Expect about 6–12+ additional months after filing to reach resolution or trial in many PI matters .	Trial may take days to weeks; appeals can add significant time beyond verdict .	If tried, total duration can stretch from months into years depending on court congestion .	Court procedures and back‑and‑forth extend timelines beyond negotiation averages .	Trials take months or longer, and an appeal can be noticed within 30 days, further extending finality .	Litigation/discovery and trial duration
Overall typical total (pre‑suit)	Varies by case; many resolve pre‑suit with negotiation being the pacing factor .	Some matters resolve within a few months when injuries are minor and insurers engage promptly .	Overall span ranges from weeks to many months depending on investigation, recovery, and complexity .	Many out‑of‑court settlements conclude in about one to three months once ready, sometimes near a month in favorable files .	Once the file is “demand‑ready,” negotiations often run one to three months on average .	Total pre‑suit duration depends on the above factors; payout timing after agreement is addressed below .	Overall typical total (pre‑suit)
Post‑settlement payout timing	Compensation is disbursed after agreement or verdict and final paperwork, with timing dependent on case administration .	Payout follows settlement or judgment; timeline reflects case specifics and insurer processes even though stage lengths above dominate the total .	Funds are distributed once settlement is finalized, after which liens and other deductions are handled .	Out‑of‑court resolutions commonly wrap within about a month on the settlement side; funding follows case closeout steps .	Settlement concludes negotiations; payout schedule follows the parties’ agreement and carrier processing times .	Most insurance settlements are paid within about 30 days, and minors’ or incapacitated cases needing court approval often fund in roughly two to four months .	Post‑settlement payout timing

Timeline From State to State

State law is a major factor in deciding the compensation timeframe. The legal doctrine governing dog bites in your state dictates the burden of proof, directly impacting the investigation timeline.

Example 1: California (A Strict Liability State)

In California, under Civil Code § 3342, a dog owner is strictly liable for damages if their dog bites someone on public property or lawfully on private property. You do not need to prove the owner knew the dog was dangerous. This simplifies the liability portion of the claim, often shortening the investigation phase and leading to a settlement timeline closer to the 9-14 month average.

Example 2: Texas (A “One-Bite Rule” State)

Texas follows the “one-bite rule.” To win a settlement, you must prove the owner knew (or should have known) their dog had acted aggressively or bitten someone before. This requires a more intensive investigation to find prior reports, interview neighbors, or uncover evidence of negligence, potentially extending the pre-negotiation phase by several months and pushing the timeline toward 15-24 months.

Current Timeline in 2025

As of 2025, victims should be aware of a few key trends impacting settlement timelines. Many court systems across the U.S. are still working through backlogs created in recent years, meaning the delay caused by filing a lawsuit is more significant than ever. Furthermore, with the average claim value rising, insurance companies are investing more resources into fighting claims, potentially prolonging the negotiation phase.

As reported by the Insurance Information Institute using State Farm claim data, U.S. dog‑related injury payouts totaled about $1.57 billion in 2024, with the average cost per claim near $69,272, trends that continue to shape negotiation ranges and insurer reserving in 2025.
As summarized in the III’s topical spotlight, claim frequency and severity remain elevated, which can stiffen early counters yet also support higher ultimate settlements once damages are fully documented and policy limits are verified

Why the Dog Bite Settlement Timeline Varies

The dog bite settlement timeline varies a lot based on 3 key factors:

1. Severity of the Injury: A minor bite requiring only stitches may settle in under a year. A catastrophic injury requiring reconstructive surgery will take much longer because the MMI date is further out. Insurers heavily scrutinize high-value claims. According to the Insurance Information Institute (Triple-I), the average cost per dog bite claim soared to $64,555 in 2022, compelling insurers to contest severe injury cases more rigorously.
2. Clarity of Liability: If the dog owner’s fault is undeniable (e.g., the dog was off-leash in violation of local ordinances), the claim moves faster. If the insurer argues you provoked the dog or were trespassing, the investigation phase will be significantly prolonged.
3. The Insurance Company: Some insurance carriers are known for “deny, delay, defend” tactics, intentionally dragging out the process to pressure victims into accepting a lower settlement.

How to Speed Up the Settlement Process

While medical recovery cannot be rushed, several evidence‑driven actions can compress a dog‑bite claim’s lifecycle by reducing disputes, shortening insurer review cycles, and avoiding last‑mile funding delays. To speed up the claim settlement process, victims can follow these four steps:

Report the incident immediately

Prompt reporting to animal control or law enforcement creates a third‑party record with interviews, location details, and any prior complaints about the dog. As per multiple legal firms, animal‑control reports can motivate insurers to resolve claims rather than litigate when the file shows regulatory violations or documented prior aggression. Early reporting also helps the plaintiff’s investigation by preserving witness details and photographs during the first weeks when evidence is freshest.

Follow medical advice precisely

Since the recovery phase is the main factor that decides the settlement time period, consistent treatment is key. It will help the victim to reach maximum medical improvement soon. Skinner and MKP warn that settling before MMI risks undervaluing revision procedures or therapy, which can force additional negotiation rounds that add months compared with sending a complete, final medical package once care stabilizes.

Keep meticulous records

Insurers move faster when the victim has all the bills, medical records, wage‑loss proofs, photos, and a clear liability theory tied to state law.
Well‑organized evidence not only speeds the first offer but also narrows counters, increasing the likelihood of a 1–3 month pre‑suit resolution described by national PI guidance when liability is clear and damages are fully supported.

Hire an experienced dog‑bite lawyer

Specialized counsel understands strict liability versus negligence rules across states, which directly affects how quickly liability is conceded and whether pre‑suit settlement is realistic. Experienced lawyers sequence the case to avoid wasted cycles and can leverage discovery to move stubborn carriers, aligning with litigation timelines and tactics.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)