The short answer is yes.
The Iowa dog bite law allows people who have been hurt by other people’s dogs to recover for “all damages.” This includes, but it is not limited to, anything that you have to pay out-of-pocket because of your dog bite injuries.
What Could Be Included?
Your out-of-pocket expenses are likely not the biggest financial losses that you will suffer because of your dog bite injury. Things such as your lost income and your medical expenses may take a greater financial toll on you and your family. However, your other out-of-pocket or miscellaneous expenses are still deserving of compensation.
These types of expenses could include, but are not limited to:
- Household help that you need, such as cleaning help.
- Transportation costs.
- Child care costs.
Of course, these must be costs or expenses that you incur as a direct result of your dog bite injury. If you paid for daycare prior to your dog bite, for example, and you are still paying for day care because you are still working, then your child’s day care expenses will not be reimbursable in an Iowa dog bite lawsuit. However, if you need daycare because you are physically unable to care for your child because of your dog bite injury, then that expense may be included in your dog bite recovery.
How Do I Get Compensated for These Out-of-Pocket Expenses?
As with other types of Iowa dog bite damages, you are going to have to advocate for your full and fair recovery. You can begin the process by talking to an experienced dog bite injury lawyer and making sure that you mention all of your costs and expenses to your attorney so that your attorney can include them in settlement negotiations. You should save receipts when possible to help prove the value of the expense.
For more information about how to protect your full and fair recovery of damages, please start a live chat with us now.