Whether a dog is vicious prior to an attack or not, the victim of a bite can seek damages in a civil lawsuit. An injured plaintiff may be able to recover economic, non-economic, and punitive damages. Economic damages can cover the cost of emergency medical services and follow-up care as well as lost wages from being unable to work. Non-economic damages, on the other hand, may be awarded to offset a claimant’s pain and suffering and emotional trauma. Punitive damages are more difficult to obtain. The plaintiff must be able to show that the owner of the dog either knew about its dangerous tendencies or was reckless in caring for and restraining it.