Most online tools give a number based on simplified inputs (bite severity, treatment, time off work). That can be directionally helpful, but it can also ignore local realities that affect settlement value, such as:
- Was the bite captured on security/video (common around apartment complexes and neighborhood common areas)?
- Were there witnesses from nearby parks, schools, or busier streets?
- Did your treatment reflect an escalating injury (infection, nerve involvement, repeated wound care)?
- Did the owner respond in a way that supports fault (reported incident, prior knowledge, or inconsistent statements)?
If the tool assumes a “clean liability” scenario, it may overestimate what insurers will offer when fault or causation is disputed.


