Dirty Tricks Insurance Adjusters Use in Dog
Bite Injury Claims (And How to Beat Them)

If you or your family has been the victim of a dog bite, you might anticipate the dog owner’s insurance company to fill this gap and at least pay compensation for your medical bills, the emotional trauma you have suffered and other damages. That’s not the way it works, sadly.

Insurance companies are money makers, and as such, their primary objective is to make sure less money goes out than what comes in — they don’t want you to win your personal injury case.

Insurance companies that employ adjusters whose sole job is to investigate and settle dog bite cases frequently employ questionable methods to de-value or deny your dog bite claim. In this article you’ll learn the insurance adjuster’s dirty tricks about handling dog bite injury claims, and you’ll also learn how to protect your rights and get the maximum compensation for yourself.

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What Makes Dog Bite Claims Different

Dog bite incidents fall under the personal injury and premises liability laws. And while a lot of states (such as California) have what are called “strict liability” laws that make dog owners responsible even when the animal has not displayed dangerousness in the past.

The insurance industry still deploys its bag of tricks and technicalities.
These claims often involve:

Homeowners or renters insurance policies

Emotional trauma( harder to measure, though.)

Children as victims, This complicates damage assessments.

If you are aware of the most frequent tricks, you can be better poised to push back.

Its Pressuring You to Give a Recorded Statement.

Adjusters often will request a recorded statement saying it’s “routine” or “necessary.” In truth, they're looking for:

Inconsistencies in your story

Admissions of fault

Statements that downplay your injuries

Something as simple and innocent as “I’m feeling better today”
could even be turned against you later.

Claiming the Dog Was Provoked

One of the most popular tricks in their quiver is to say that you provoked the dog, which in some states can reduce or even eliminate your right to compensation. They may argue that:

You were trespassing on the dog owner’s property

You were “teasing” or “threatening” the dog

Dog was guarding owner or property

How to Protect Yourself

Record in detail what occurred before, during, and after the attack.

Obtain witness statements as early as you can.

Do not confess or speculate about your responsibility during conversations with the insurance company.

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Requesting a Recorded Statement
(So That It Can Be Used Against You Later)

Adjusters will be calling you sooner than later but for some reason they will have the audacity to “ask” for a recorded statement and say “oh I’m just doing this since that is our standard operating procedure.”
They’ll ask questions like:

“You didn’t do anything to spook the dog did you?”

“Did you see where you were going?”

“Have you had trouble with dogs in the past?”

How to Protect Yourself

Politely decline. You do not have to give a recorded statement to the at-fault party’s insurance company.

Let a personal injury lawyer manage all correspondence for you.

Never accept to speak unprepared when hurt or emotional or unready.

Requesting a Recorded Statement
(So That It Can Be Used Against You Later)

“You didn’t do anything to spook the dog did you?”

“Did you see where you were going?”

“Have you had trouble with dogs in the past?”

How to Protect Yourself

Politely decline. You do not have to give a recorded statement to the at-fault party’s insurance company.

Let a personal injury lawyer manage all correspondence for you.

Never accept to speak unprepared when hurt or emotional or unready.

Reducing the Severity of Your Injuries

Gather evidence: photos, police reports, witness contact information, dashcam footage

Never admit fault at the scene or to the adjuster

Permit legal counsel to conduct all liability talks and correspondence

Dragging Out the Process

Insurers will go out of their way to minimize your injuries, particularly anytime:

You didn’t head to the ER right away
You have minimal visible wounds
You haven’t required surgery or been hospitalized
They might also claim that your injuries were already there or were purely cosmetic in nature (i.e., scarring).

How to Protect Yourself

Seek immediate medical attention even for a minor bite.

Commit to all the treatment, therapy and psychological support.

Photograph your injuries as they progress.

Record psychological symptoms — such as anxiety, PTSD, nightmares.

Putting Pressure on You to Settle
Fast (for Less Than You Deserve)

You may be presented with a fast settlement shortly after the bite. The adjuster may say something along the lines of: “Let’s just take care of this so you can get on with your life. What they will not tell you is that when you sign, you’re signing away any future claims even if your situation deteriorates.

How to Protect Yourself

If you don’t have an attorney, don’t sign any settlement offer without reviewing it.

Wait until you have finished treatment and know the full extent of your injuries.

Think about the long term costs: emotional trauma, therapy, future surgery or scar revision.

Create Delays and Drag You
through to Break You

Adjusters may Ignore emails or phone calls.

Request documents you've already submitted

“Lose” paperwork

Report: they are waiting for approvals or probes
It's intentional to work you up, to intimidate you and have you settle for less just to get out of the situation.

How to Protect Yourself

Document thoroughly for all contacts.

Establishing deadlines and consistently following up.

Collaborate with an attorney who can keep them accountable and expedite the process.

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Blaming the Victim or Other People

“Your kid wouldn’t have been playing with the dog.”

“The gate was open, who is responsible for that?

“The dog was leashed you must’ve surprised it.

This is especially alarming when the victim is a child or elder.

How to Protect Yourself

Take immediate photographs of the scene, the dog and your injuries.

Collect contact info from witnesses.

Get a copy of the animal control report and the police report (if at all filed).

Using Social Media Against You

Adjusters (and their investigators) frequently scan your social media in search of pictures and posts that could contradict your claims.

For instance, if you say you have emotional distress, but post a picture of yourself grinning at a family event, they can argue that you are exaggerating your pain.

How to Protect Yourself

Wait a bit before sharing anything on the attack or the progress of your recovery.

Secure your accounts, then secure them again; however, don’t assume that they’re truly safe.

Ask friends and family not to tag you, or post news about your injury case as they may lead to trouble.

Your First and Best Line of Defense: Retain a Capable Dog Bite Lawyer

Why You Need A Dog Bite Injury Lawyer

You don’t have to take on the insurance company by yourself. A dog bite injury lawyer can:

Handle all communication with adjusters

Collect medical records, expert testimony, and evidence.

Compute 100% Damages – None of this 1/3 or 1/4 shit that lawyers want to talk about –Work in Pain, Suffering, long term sequelae etc.

Aggressively pursue their maximum benefits — even if that leads to trial

Dog bite injury claims are frequently more intricate than they seem, and insurance companies will pull out all the stops just so they won't have to give the compensation you are entitled to. Don’t allow their tactics to intimidate or manipulate you.

Understand your rights, document everything and consult a legal professional.

If you or someone close to you was bit by a dog, please call our firm immediately to set up a free consultation. We handle the insurance company so you don’t have to.

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Note: This guide is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice.

FOUNDER & TRIAL ATTORNEY

Meet Shawn Mangoli

“Shawn Mangoli, the founder of Beverly Hills Injury Firm, is a distinguished trial attorney specializing in personal injury law. With a decade of experience in civil litigation, Shawn has successfully championed the rights of those injured due to negligence, securing numerous multi-million-dollar settlements and verdicts. Recognized consistently by Super Lawyers and a respected member of the Consumer Attorneys Association of Los Angeles and American Attorneys for Justice, Shawn’s commitment to justice is profound and unwavering.”

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