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    My Child Was Bitten by a Dog While Trick-or-Treating. What Are My Legal Options in Virginia?

    children knocking at door on halloween

    A Halloween Night That Ends in the Emergency Room

    Let’s say, for example, six-year-old Ava is trick-or-treating with her dad in their Virginia Beach neighborhood. She’s dressed as a ladybug, and she’s made it about halfway down the street.

    She walks up to a house with the porch light on and pumpkins on the steps, and rings the bell. Inside, a dog barks. It’s a house they’ve never been to, and a dog they’ve never seen.

    The homeowner opens the door with a candy bowl in one hand. The dog pushes past her legs and lunges. It bites Ava on the cheek and the forearm before the owner can grab its collar.

    “I’m so sorry,” the homeowner says. “She’s never bitten anybody. She just gets worked up when the doorbell rings.”

    Ava’s dad takes her to the emergency room. The cheek wound needs stitches, and the ER doctor recommends a plastic surgeon for follow-up. The arm gets cleaned and bandaged, and she goes home on antibiotics.

    The ER reports the bite, and an animal control officer calls the next day. The dog’s rabies shots are current, so it’s confined at home for a 10-day observation period. The officer’s report notes what the homeowner said at the door, “the dog gets worked up when the doorbell rings.”

    Over the next few weeks, there are more appointments. Ava won’t walk past that house anymore. She cries when a dog barks on TV.

    Understanding Dog Bite Claims in Virginia

    Dog bites are typically covered by the owner’s homeowners or renters insurance. That matters to families like Ava’s. Making a claim doesn’t mean taking your neighbor’s savings. It means using the coverage they already pay for. In many cases, claims can be resolved by negotiating with the insurance company, without ever going to court.

    What a child’s claim can include

    • Emergency room, urgent care, and follow-up visits
    • Plastic surgery or scar revision, including procedures years later as the child grows
    • Counseling for fear of dogs, nightmares, or anxiety
    • Pain and suffering
    • Permanent scarring or disfigurement, especially on the face
    • Parents’ out-of-pocket medical costs

    There’s no average settlement for a dog bite. The value depends on the injuries, the treatment, whether scars are permanent, how the attack affects the child’s daily life, and how much insurance is available.

    Why Families Trust Our Law Firm

    For nearly 40 years, attorney Richard Serpe has helped families through some of the hardest moments of their lives, and much of that work has been on behalf of innocent children. He has been recognized by Super Lawyers since 2006, and was named Best Lawyers’ Personal Injury “Lawyer of the Year” in Norfolk for 2020 and 2027.

    Attorney Ashley Strandjord, also has extensive experience with Virginia dog bite cases. She prepares every case meticulously, digging into the facts and medical evidence to understand exactly how an injury has changed a client’s life, and she makes sure families always know what’s happening with their case.

    Dog bites to children can be complex.

    Because kids are shorter, their faces are often right at a dog’s level. Oral and maxillofacial surgeons report that children are more likely than adults to be bitten on the head, face, or neck, and more likely to need surgery in an operating room. A bite to the face can mean stitches, a plastic surgeon, and scars your child carries for years. That’s why these claims need more care than a typical Virginia personal injury case.

    Here’s how a lawyer helps protect your child’s claim.

    • Protection against insurance company tactics. Insurance adjusters may be friendly, but they are not always on your side. When you hire us, insurance companies have to go through us to get to you.
    • Future medical care. Scar revision after a dog attack, for example, may not happen for years. A lawyer can ensure your child’s future medical care is considered.
    • The “blame the child” argument needs an answer. Virginia law gives young children strong protection. A lawyer can fight back against accusation that your child was at fault.
    • Someone has to gather the evidence. That includes the animal control report, any prior complaints about the dog, witness statements from that night, and the owner’s insurance policy.
    • Settling a child’s claim has extra steps. In Virginia, a settlement for a minor is typically approved by a court, which also decides how the money is held until the child is older. A lawyer can handle that process for you.

    And you don’t need money up front. We work on a contingency fee basis, so there are no legal fees unless we win.

    Contact Our Virginia Dog Bite Lawyers

    For decades, the Law Offices of Richard J. Serpe, PC has helped dog bite victims across Virginia, including children with serious facial injuries. We know how hard it is when the dog belongs to a neighbor or someone you know.

    Attorneys Richard Serpe and Ashley Strandjord can explain your family’s options. Contact us for a free consultation today. We don’t charge legal fees unless we win your case. Call 757-233-0009, use our chat, or email us to discuss your situation.