$400,000 Settlement for 10-Year-Old Girl Injured in Dog Attack

How Our Massachusetts Dog Bite Lawyers Helped a Family Secure Justice After a Preventable Incident

In April 2020, just weeks into the COVID-19 lockdown, a 10-year-old girl stepped outside with her brother for a quick break from remote learning. It was mid-morning—10:45 a.m.—and the siblings were running around the block near their home, following the routine their parents encouraged to keep them active during quarantine.

But what began as a moment of freedom and play turned into a terrifying ordeal when a neighbor’s dog escaped through a hole in a fence and attacked her on the sidewalk.

The dog knocked her to the ground and bit her multiple times—three times on her leg, once on her buttocks, and once on her mid-back. The emotional trauma of the event was profound. And while she healed physically with only relatively minor scarring, the psychological impact and fear of dogs have remained.

At the Law Offices of Mark E. Salomone, our dog bite lawyers took this case seriously from the very beginning. Our team knew that no child should suffer because of a negligent pet owner. We investigated the facts, preserved key evidence, and pursued every available avenue to hold the dog’s owner accountable. The result: a $400,000 settlement that reflects not just the medical harm, but the lasting emotional toll this traumatic attack caused.

Why Dog Bite Cases Demand a Focused Legal Strategy

Dog attacks are often traumatic, especially for young children. In Massachusetts, dog owners are held strictly liable when their pet injures someone—even if the dog has no prior history of aggression. But that doesn’t mean these cases are easy. Insurance companies often attempt to downplay emotional trauma or push back on claims involving non-disfiguring injuries. That’s why legal strategy matters.

In this case, two critical factors made the $400,000 outcome possible:

The dog’s escape was clearly preventable. A hole in the fence allowed the dog to break free and attack a child on the sidewalk—public property where the child had every right to be. This wasn’t just an accident. It was negligence by the dog’s owner.
The injuries included both physical and emotional harm. Even though the scarring was relatively minimal, the trauma of the attack was substantial. Our attorneys emphasized the psychological impact during negotiations, which helped increase the value of the claim.

How Massachusetts Law Protects Dog Bite Victims

Again, in Massachusetts, the law is clear: dog owners are strictly liable when their dog injures someone. That means the victim doesn’t have to prove the owner was negligent—only that the dog caused harm. This legal framework is outlined in Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 140, Section 155.

Here’s how it works:

If a dog causes injury or damage to a person or their property, the owner or keeper of the dog is responsible for covering the harm—regardless of whether the dog had bitten anyone before or was considered dangerous.
The law makes an exception only if the victim was trespassing, committing another tort, or provoking the dog at the time of the incident.
Importantly, when the injured person is under the age of seven, the law automatically presumes they were not trespassing or provoking the dog. It’s up to the dog owner to prove otherwise.

Massachusetts' strict liability approach provides strong legal protection for dog bite victims, especially children, and ensures that those harmed have a clear path to justice.

Compensation in Massachusetts Dog Attack Cases

Many families aren’t aware of their full legal rights after a dog bite. In Massachusetts, victims can seek compensation for:

Medical expenses (emergency treatment, follow-up care, scar treatment)
Pain and suffering
Emotional distress or PTSD
Permanent scarring or disfigurement
Loss of enjoyment of life
Future psychological care

In child cases, these factors can significantly increase the value of the claim.

Why Early Legal Action Matters in Dog Bite Cases

Timing matters after a dog attack—especially when the victim is a child. The sooner a family contacts an attorney, the better their chances of preserving critical evidence, documenting injuries, and avoiding mistakes that can weaken a claim.

Waiting too long to pursue a claim can allow insurance companies to argue that injuries weren’t serious or were caused by something else. In child cases, delays can also interfere with accessing necessary psychological evaluations or treatment, which may be critical for both healing and securing full compensation.

Dog bite claims often involve:

Identifying all applicable insurance policies (including homeowner’s, renter’s, or umbrella coverage)
Understanding leash and fencing ordinances in the city or town where the attack occurred
Working with pediatric specialists to assess long-term impact on a child’s development

By contacting a dog bite lawyer early, a family can put themselves in the best possible position to recover both financially and emotionally.

The Lasting Impact of Dog Attacks on Children

While the physical injuries in a dog bite case are often the most visible, the emotional and psychological effects—especially for children—can last far longer. In this case, our client wasn’t just injured; she was traumatized during what should have been a safe, routine break from remote learning. The attack took place in broad daylight, on a sidewalk near her home, a place she had every reason to believe was safe.

Dog attacks on children can lead to:

Ongoing anxiety or fear of animals – Many young victims develop lasting fear responses, especially toward dogs, even if they had no previous apprehension.
Sleep disturbances and nightmares – It's common for children to relive the attack through bad dreams or night terrors.
Changes in behavior or social withdrawal – Victims may become less likely to go outside, play with friends, or participate in activities they once enjoyed.
Self-consciousness or distress about scarring – Even minimal scarring can affect a child’s self-esteem, particularly as they grow older and become more aware of their appearance.
Difficulty returning to routine – For children in school or extracurricular activities, recovery can be about more than just physical healing. Missing time from school, adapting to temporary mobility limitations, or feeling different from peers can all add to the emotional burden.

In personal injury law, these non-economic damages matter. Our legal team made sure the full scope of the attack’s impact—physical, emotional, and developmental—was presented as part of the claim. This comprehensive approach helped support a $400,000 settlement that reflects not only medical costs but also the very real trauma this young girl endured.

Protecting Children After a Dog Attack

Children are the most common victims of serious dog bites. Their small size makes them more vulnerable to injury, and the trauma of the attack often runs deeper than what’s visible on the surface. As dog bite lawyers, it’s our job to advocate for children and ensure they are treated fairly by insurance companies and the legal system.

In this case, we’re proud to have helped a young girl and her family find justice and financial support during a difficult time.

If Your Child Was Bitten by a Dog, Know Your Rights

At the Law Offices of Mark E. Salomone, we don’t back down from difficult or emotional cases. We work to uncover the truth, establish liability, and push for the compensation our clients truly deserve.

If your child was bitten or attacked by a dog in Massachusetts or Connecticut, don’t wait. Contact us today for a free consultation, and let us fight for your family’s future.

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