Regardless of the degree or severity of the attack, dog bite incidents can prove to be traumatic events. Dog Bite Lawyers know how much emotional distress and physical damage can be involved and how difficult it may be to understand the situation from a legal standpoint. Dog laws specify what constitutes a dangerous dog and stipulate the liability of pet owners as well as the rights of anyone harmed by a dog. Talking to a dog bite lawyer is the first step toward the right direction.
Dog attacks can result in injuries, ranging from cuts and bruises to broken bones, broken or damaged teeth, head trauma, and deep wounds requiring stitches or plastic surgery. In the worst cases, an aggressive dog attack can lead to death, especially when it involves a pack of violent dogs or when canine aggression is directed at a small child.
Types of Dog Bite Injuries
No matter how harmless a dog may appear, it may still attack and cause severe harm. Dog bites can lead to a wide variety of injuries.
The most common types of injuries that result from a dog attack include the following:
- Lacerations: A dog bite can cause lacerations, which are deep cuts and tears in the skin that go past the epidermis and into the bones or muscles of your body. These wounds can cause excessive bleeding. This type of injury may require stitches or even cosmetic surgery.
- Abrasions: Abrasions are superficial injuries, such as scrapes, that do not affect the epidermis. Abrasions do not cause a lot of bleeding, but they may cause temporary or permanent scarring, depending upon the severity and viciousness of the attack.
- Punctures: A dog’s teeth can pierce or puncture your skin, causing serious damage. Although these wounds can be smaller than an abrasion or laceration, they might go deep and cause severe bleeding. A puncture wound can heighten the risk of infection, so you need to seek medical treatment right away.
- Facial injuries: Facial injuries can be catastrophic. Children are particularly susceptible to facial injuries, since their short height means their faces are closer to a dog’s. Any injuries to the face may require extensive cosmetic surgery, especially if the victim has been mauled.
- Amputations: A dog bite can result in amputation if the bite impacts the bones, nerves, and tendons. A victim of a dog bite could lose an arm, hand, finger, leg, foot, or toe due to an attack.
- Nerve Damage: A dog’s powerful jaw and sharp teeth may cause nerve damage, which can range from temporary loss of function to permanent damage that includes paralysis.
- Infections: It is estimated that 10-15% of dog bites can lead to infections. Infections are caused by the bacteria in the dog’s mouth, or from bacteria on your skin. You should be aware of the signs of a serious infection due to a dog bite — this includes redness, swelling, pain, and pus.
Extensive bleeding, infections, or other medical complications may be fatal when a dog bite occurs. A dog bite that results in loss of life for the victim can have a significant impact on the victim’s family. If your loved one passed away as a result of a dog attack, you may be able to pursue a wrongful death claim with the help of dog bite lawyers.
Contact a lawyer
Dog bite accident cases are a matter of strict liability. If a dog attacks and injures someone, the owner is responsible, whether they knew the dog was dangerous or not. If you have been attacked by a dog or other animal, contact a dog bite lawyer as soon as possible. The sooner you call, the sooner a lawyer can track down the owner and get you the compensation you deserve. Owners of dogs who attack must be held liable for the damages that they cause to innocent individuals.
