Atkinson Law recovered $100,000 in this 2025 Smithfield dog bite case.
A two-year-old child was bitten on the face by a neighbor’s German Shepherd in Smithfield, Virginia. The dog had a known history of aggression, yet the owners routinely allowed it off-leash in an unfenced front yard. The child approached to pet the dog, which bit her face without warning — narrowly missing her eye.
The child was treated at a local emergency room and required ongoing plastic surgery evaluation, including expert opinion regarding future scarring.
After suit was filed, the insurance carrier increased its offer from $50,000 to $100,000. The settlement was structured through an annuity for the child’s benefit and approved by the court.