A dog has bitten you, you’re dealing with medical bills, pain, and maybe even lost wages, so the last thing you want is for your injury claim to drag on forever. Unfortunately, dog bite claims often take longer than people expect. While some cases settle in a few months, others can stretch out for a year or more. Knowing what typically slows things down helps you stay patient and, more importantly, take steps to keep your case moving forward.
Why Your Claim Probably Won’t Settle Next Week
Insurance companies and lawyers don’t wake up thinking, “Let’s pay this claim today.” They have processes, checklists, and financial incentives to move slowly. The sooner you accept that most delays aren’t personal—they’re systemic—the less frustrated you’ll feel when weeks turn into months. However, you must also be aware of what delays a dog bite injury claim might experience.
The Biggest Reasons Dog Bite Claims Get Delayed
1. Your Medical Treatment Isn’t Finished Yet
Insurance adjusters won’t make a serious settlement offer until they know the full extent of your injuries. If you’re still going to physical therapy, facing possible surgery, or dealing with scarring that hasn’t fully developed, they’ll wait. They want to see your “maximum medical improvement” (MMI) before putting a dollar amount on your pain and suffering. This single factor causes the most delays.
2. Gathering Evidence Takes Time
Your attorney (or you, if you’re handling it yourself) needs police or animal control reports, witness statements, photos of the injuries and the scene, vaccination records for the dog, and proof of the owner’s prior knowledge of aggression. Some of these documents arrive quickly; others crawl in over weeks or months.
3. Figuring Out Who Actually Pays
The dog owner might rent, so the landlord’s insurance could be on the hook. The bite might have happened at a business, which would bring in commercial policies. There could be multiple insurance companies pointing fingers at each other. Until everyone agrees whose policy applies (or a judge forces the issue), nothing moves.
4. The Insurance Company Stalls on Purpose
Adjusters are measured by how little they pay out, not how fast they close files. They’ll request the duplicate records three times, “lose” faxes, reassign your claim to a new person, or go radio silent for 30–60 days at a time, which is perfectly legal, incredibly common, and maddening.
5. Local Laws and Statutes of Limitations Create Strategy
Every state has different dog-bite rules—some have strict liability, while others require proof that the owner knew the dog was dangerous. Your lawyer may deliberately slow the pace to put pressure on the insurance company under the statute of limitations, or speed things up if the deadline is approaching. These calculated moves add time that most victims don’t see coming.
6. The Dog Owner Fights Back
If the owner claims you provoked the dog, were trespassing, or assumes the risk (for example, you’re a vet tech), the case turns into a “he said, she said” battle. Depositions, interrogatories, and sometimes a full trial become necessary, and that timeline jumps from months to years.
What You Can Do to Avoid Extra Delays
You can’t control everything, but you can refuse to be the reason your own claim slows down. Finish all recommended medical treatment, show up to appointments, respond quickly when your lawyer needs something, and keep copies of every bill and record. Little things like returning a signed form the same day instead of next month actually add up.
Dog bite claims take time because they involve healing bodies, stubborn insurance companies and complicated liability questions. Most delays aren’t because someone hates you—they’re just how the system works. Stay in touch with your attorney, focus on getting better, and let the process play out. When the settlement finally comes, you’ll be glad everyone took the time to get the number right instead of rushing and leaving money on the table.
