The most common dog bite injuries can be painful, require long recovery times, and be costly to treat. Some of the most commonly reported injuries that occur as a result of dog bites include:
• Puncture wounds – These wounds, often caused by a dog’s teeth, tend to be deep and therefore prone to infection.
• Facial scarring requiring reconstructive surgery – These procedures are costly and not always covered by insurance. In addition, injuries to the face often cause the victim to undergo emotional trauma.
• Nerve damage – A dog bite can result in nerve damage that has lasting effects long after the cuts and abrasions heal. A dog’s jaw is very powerful and can severely damage the nerves surrounding the bite, causing the victim pain and even paralysis. Nerve damage can affect your ability to work, require extensive medical care, and be very costly.
• Emotional damages and post traumatic stress – Dog bites can leave not only physical injuries, but may cause the victim anxiety, depression or Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. The emotional trauma may be just as debilitating as the physical injuries.
• Infections such as rabies – Infections from dogs are passed on from dogs to humans through the broken skin, lacerations, or puncture wounds. Rabies can cause severe health problems and even death in humans.
• Lacerations – These are the cuts that result from contact with the dog’s teeth, nails, or from falling during a dog attack. They vary in seriousness and can cause scarring. Lacerations may transmit infections from the dog to the victim.
• Bone fractures –A person can suffer broken bones in the hands, arms, skull, and legs from a dog bite or as a result of being knocked over or otherwise attacked by a dog.
• Eye injuries – Eye injuries often require special attention and treatment to protect the eyes from permanent damage. Eye injuries from dog bites may include scratches on the eye also known as corneal abrasions, avulsions or eye tissue damage, orbital fractures, hemorrhaging, injuries as a result of blunt trauma, and loss of an eye.
According to a 2013 report from the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, more than 27,000 people in the U.S. underwent reconstructive surgery due to dog bites.
In a study of hospital admissions of people who were bitten by dogs, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services reported the following statistics on dog bites:
· 43% were treated for injuries to the skin and underlying infections of the skin and tissue;
· 22% sought treatment for wounds on their legs or arms; and
· An alarming 11% suffered injuries to their head, neck and torso.
The same study revealed that hospital admissions due to dog bites increased 86% during a ten-year period.
The injuries suffered as a result of a dog bite are painful and can be debilitating. The cost of medical care to treat dog bite injuries can quickly become unmanageable, especially when the injuries result in time lost from work. Our experienced dog bite attorneys at the Edward A Smith Law Offices understand how stressful it can be to deal with a dog bite injury. We will sit down with you to discuss your situation, and we will aggressively pursue your claims. If you or a loved one has been injured by a dog bite, contact our office to schedule a free consultation at (916) 921-6400 or toll free at 1-800-404-5400, www.autoaccident.com. Reviews can be found on Yelp and Avvo.