What Is the Dunbar Dog Bite Scale and How Can It Affect Your Case?

Not all dog bites in Nashville are alike. Some leave no mark at all; others cause life-altering injuries. The Dunbar Dog Bite Scale helps evaluate the seriousness of a dog bite using a six-level system. Animal behaviorists, veterinarians, and animal control agencies regularly use this system to assess how dangerous a dog’s behavior is.

Overview of the Dunbar Dog Bite Scale

The Dunbar scale is based on a six-level system that ranges from harmless aggression to fatal attacks.

Level 1: Aggression Without Contact

The dog snaps, lunges, or growls but makes no skin contact. No injury occurs, but the behavior signals a dog that may have aggressive propensities.

Level 2: Skin Contact Without Puncture

The dog’s teeth touch the skin but do not break it. Minor scratches or redness may result from the contact.

Level 3: Shallow Punctures From a Single Bite

Here, a bite causes one to four punctures, half the length of the dog’s canine teeth or less; the victim suffers a penetrating wound.

Level 4: Deep Punctures From a Single Bite

One bite causes one to four punctures, with at least one puncture deeper than half the length of the dog’s canines. Here, deep bruising and tearing are common. The dog may have bit down hard and/or shaken its head.

Level 5: Multiple Bites With Deep Punctures

The dog inflicts multiple Level 4 bites in a single attack or attacks multiple times. These bites can cause severe and disfiguring injuries.

Level 6: Fatal Attack

The victim dies from the attack. Level 6 attacks may give rise to wrongful death claims by surviving family members.

Do Insurers and Courts Use the Dunbar Scale?

The Dunbar Scale is a behavioral assessment tool, not a legal standard. Insurance adjusters may consider bite severity when valuing a claim. But Tennessee doesn’t require courts or insurers to apply the Dunbar system. However, it regularly shows up in dog bite cases.

For example, animal control reports may classify a bite using the scale, and those reports become evidence. Alternatively, expert witnesses may reference it when testifying about the severity of an attack or a dog’s dangerous propensities. A documented Level 4 or Level 5 bite tells a powerful story about what happened, and an experienced attorney can use that classification to support a demand for full compensation.

What Compensation Can I Recover After a Dog Bite?

Under the state’s dog bite statute (TN Code § 44-8-413), an owner is strictly liable when their dog injures someone in a public place or lawfully on private property other than the owner’s.

If you have a valid claim, you may recover compensation for:

• Medical bills, including emergency care and reconstructive surgery
• Future medical treatment and scar revision
• Lost wages and reduced earning capacity
• Pain and suffering
• Emotional distress, including fear of dogs and PTSD
• Permanent scarring and disfigurement

If you or your child suffered a dog bite in Tennessee, you have rights. Contact Selvidge Injury Law today to schedule a free consultation with a proven Nashville injury attorney to learn more about your legal options.