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Yes. If you were bitten by a dog in Wisconsin and you require time off from work for the treatment of or recuperation from your injuries, then you may recover for any income that you were unable to earn during your treatment and recovery.
What’s Included in Lost Income?
Sec. 174.02(1)(a) of the Wisconsin Statutes provides that subject to certain exceptions, “the owner of a dog is liable for the full amount of damages caused by the dog injuring or causing injury to a person…” Additionally, Sec. 174.02(1)(b) provides that the dog owner must provide double damages if the dog broke the skin or caused permanent scarring or disfigurement and the dog owner had prior notice that the dog had previously bitten without provocation and broken the skin or caused permanent scarring or disfigurement.
The amount that you can recover for lost income depends on your unique situation. The insurance company with which you are trying to settle or the court hearing your case is going to want specific evidence to determine the exact value of your lost income. That said, you and your attorney should consider whether you have lost:
- Wages.
- Benefits.
- Bonuses.
- Income from being self-employed.
Additionally, you should consider whether you are likely to lose future income because of your dog bite injuries.
Your compensation for lost income should include all of your past and future lost income that you are able to prove. Evidence of lost income may include, but is not limited to:
- Medical records showing that you can’t work.
- Pay stubs, tax returns, and other paperwork showing what you earned prior to the dog bite.
- Written evidence of bonus structures and benefits.
- Expert witness testimony about the likelihood of your future lost income.
Recovering the full amount of damages that you deserve for lost income can be difficult, but it is not impossible. For more information about recovering full and fair damages for your dog bite injury, we encourage you to contact our experienced Wisconsin dog bite lawyers for a free consultation. We are available to you 24 hours a day, seven days a week—simply start a live chat or call us at 1-800-800-5678 today for more information.
