Dogs are man’s best friend. Unfortunately, this common phrase is not always true (especially for victims of dog bites and other dog attacks). In the tragic case that you or a loved one are dealing with the aftermath of a dog attack, it’s important to understand the details of your case. Doing so can help you understand your legal options, and lead you down the right path to get the treatment and compensation that you both need and deserve:
Common Causes of Dog Bites
There are many reasons a dog might react negatively to a person, and end up biting them. When you’re the victim of a dog bite, having a dog bite lawyer on your side can drastically increase your chances of receiving an ample settlement. However, there are five scenarios, in particular, that are well-known for leading to damaging and dangerous dog bites:
Rough Play
Unfortunately, some people fail to play with their dogs in a proper, respectful manner. While it may seem as though a dog enjoys it, the rough play puts both you and the dog in danger. If you accidentally injure or frighten a dog during this rough play, the dog will be much more likely to act out and bite you, for example.
Hazardous Environment
The environment where a dog exists is key to its behavior, and the safety of the people around said dog. If you’re interacting with a dog in a hazardous place, you may be at a much higher risk of a dog bite injury for this reason. Dogs with a history of biting are often kept out of public spaces, and if you are bitten by a dog with a known history of biting, your dog bite case will be much more foolproof.
Poor Training
Dogs are complex creatures, and they need strong social training and positive interactions to remain friendly and secure. If you interact with a dog that has been poorly trained, that negligence on the owner’s behalf could end up with you being bitten. This is one of the core cases that can be made during a dog bite lawsuit, in fact.
Instinctive Reaction
Dogs are driven by instinct, much more so than human beings are. With this in mind, you must avoid interactions with dogs where an adverse reaction might occur. Be sure to back away if the dog gives you any signs of feeling scared, startled, threatened, or violently confused. Doing so will help you avoid scenarios where a dog is afraid or confused enough to actually bite you.
Injuries, Pain, and Sickness
When someone is injured, sick, or in pain, they are more likely to become emotionally unstable or violent. This is the same for dogs. For this reason, being incredibly careful around dogs when they are injured, in pain, or sick, is crucial. Doing so will protect you from dog bites, and help you ensure that the dog has the space and time it needs to properly recover. Adults with children should keep this in mind especially.
Common Injuries Caused by Dog Bites
Next, it’s crucial that you understand the common injuries that are caused by dog bites. While there are other injuries that can be sustained from dog attacks, these are the ones that are most frequently involved with dog bite lawsuits:
Broken Bones
Many people underestimate just how strong a dog’s jaws can be. In reality, they are powerful enough to break an adult human’s bones. For this reason, severe dog bites often lead to broken bones, fractures, and other such injuries.
Scars
Even if the damage from a dog bite is not incredibly severe right out of the gate, the injuries can lead to long-term scarring and physical effects. Repairing this type of scarring is often a main motivator for people who bring lawsuits forward after being bitten by a dog.
Rabies
While much rarer than it used to be, there are still instances of dogs contracting rabies. This is much more likely if a dog has not received the proper vaccines and immunizations. If you’re infected with rabies due to a dog bite, you have a solid legal case set up against the owner of said dog.
Nerve Damage
With especially intense dog bites, nerves will often be damaged alongside skin and bone. Nerve damage is not only extremely painful but incredibly expensive to treat. For this reason, having financial compensation to help you deal with the aftermath of a dog bite is crucial for victims of nerve damage.
Emotional Effects
While many people love dogs, some are absolutely terrified of them, and becoming the victim of a dog attack will lead to adverse and sometimes life-long emotional after effects. For this reason, people will sometimes look for financial compensation post-attack to help them with therapy, and other emotional health support.
Puncture Wounds
Lastly, puncture wounds are a common type of injury sustained during dog bite attacks. These wounds can take a while to heal and are prone to infection (especially if the dog that bit you is not well taken care of). Getting immediate medical attention in the aftermath of a dog bite is crucial, and can help you minimize the impact of your dog bite injuries.