According to the American Veterinary Medical Association, over 4.5 million Americans are victims of a dog attack every year. Such an alarming statistic is not surprising considering the many millions of households with a canine pet.
Even more concerning, is that around 50% of dog bite incidents involve children. A significant number of these result in severe dog bite wounds being suffered by the victims.
While all types of animal bite injuries are concerning, when it comes to dog attacks, the consequences can be quite tragic. Some of the larger breeds of dogs that are popular in the US, such as bull dogs, can easily inflict serious injuries when the dog attacks.
Fortunately, the law in New York entitles the victim of a dog bite/attack to seek compensation from the animal's owners. Even minor injuries can result in a sizable payout with the right lawyer on the case.
In the event of a dog bite incident, The Law Office of Carl Maltese in Long Island is ready to fight for the rights of victims. A free consultation can be easily arranged by talking to one of the city's top-rated lawyers. Consulting about common injuries for a slip and fall can also be done.
Common Causes of Dog Bites
Dogs of any breed can bite a person or another pet at any time. However, more often than not, there are reasons why dogs bite. When a dog attack occurs, the following are some of the contributing factors:
Breed of the dog
Poor training
Abuse
Response to a threatening situation
Competition and territorial behavior
Protectiveness over puppies or family members
Illness or injury
Fear and stress
Lack of socialization
Most Common Types of Dog Bite Injuries
While most common dog bite injuries are minor, there are cases where the attack can be so vicious that the victims end up requiring reconstructive surgery or urgent medical attention to reduce the risk of infection.
Since the severity of the dog bite injuries plays a huge role in determining the amount of compensation that the victims will receive, a personal injury lawyer must understand every type of dog bite wound.
The following are some of the most common injuries that can result from a dog bite/attack:
Puncture Wounds
A dog's teeth are its primary weapon for defending itself or attacking its target. As such, most dog bites result in the victim sustaining puncture wounds on various parts of the body, such as the head, arms, or legs.
The bigger the size of the teeth in the dog's mouth, the deeper and more severe the bite wounds will usually be. However, any time a dog's teeth puncture the skin, the victim needs to seek immediate medical attention to prevent infection.
It is also important to note that different types of dog breeds use varying bite forces when they attack. As such, breeds such as the Kangal, Cane Corso, and English Mastiff, all capable of a bite force of over 550 PSI, can inflict very deep wounds that contribute significantly to the high dog bite fatality rates around the world.
Lacerations
When a person is bitten by a dog, they may also suffer from lacerations on various parts of their skin. These can be caused by the animal bites themselves or by scratches from the dog's claws. Lacerations may also occur when the victim falls over or is dragged along the ground as is common in attacks by large dogs.
In the most severe types of these injuries, called avulsions, the soft tissues or facial features are torn away when the laceration occurs. This leaves the skin wounds and underlying tissues or muscles hanging from the body in flaps.
Extensive reconstructive surgery is often required before the victims can hope for a full recovery, which is not always a possibility. For more information, dog bite lawyers in Long Island may be able to help.
Scarring
In many cases, victims of dog attacks suffer severe injuries that can leave behind permanent scarring. If the face was the area to receive the brunt of the attack, the victim can be left disfigured, which has a huge impact on their self-esteem and enjoyment of life.
The American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) claims to have performed over 28,000 reconstructive surgeries in 2015 as a result of dog bite wounds. Advances in medical treatment techniques give victims the chance to recover from the worst of the scarring, but this is often very expensive.
Broken Bones
As mentioned before, the dog's bite force is an important factor in determining the severity of the injury. With large and strong breeds, powerful canine teeth in the dog's mouth can easily crush or shatter bones, especially in younger children and the elderly.
As such, broken bones are some of the most commonly occurring dog bite injuries. Other than being a direct result of the bite itself, victims can also break bones when they are knocked off their feet during a dog bite/attack.
Infections (Tetanus, Sepsis, and Capnocytophaga)
A dog's mouth can harbor around 600 different types of bacteria, any one of which can cause a severe infection if left untreated. While it is true that all animal bites can result in an infection at the wound site, dog and cat bites are the most common complaints from victims in the US.
In victims with a weak immune system, or those taking immunosuppressants, the infection can quickly escalate to severe sepsis or capnocytophaga, either of which can be life-threatening. If the dog bite wound is left open, there is also a risk of infection that leads to tetanus, a serious condition that requires hospitalization.
Rabies
One of the fears after being bitten by a strange dog is being infected by rabies. This used to be one of the most common causes of death from a dog attack.
The good news is that the widespread administration of rabies vaccines has largely brought the disease under control in the US.
However, if the dog bite wound is serious enough to draw blood, and there is no proof that the dog has been receiving regular rabies vaccinations, the victim should receive medication to prevent infection.
Nerve Damage
Some dog bites are deep enough to nick the nerves, which can have a serious impact on the victim's mobility. Other symptoms include loss of sensation in the extremities, strange tingling, and constant pain.
The unfortunate thing is that once it occurs, severe nerve damage may be impossible to reverse. This means all the victim can hope for is to be compensated for their suffering.
Traumatic Brain Injuries
When a victim is knocked to the ground or trips while trying to escape a vicious dog, they can easily suffer traumatic brain injuries (TBI). Elderly victims are often the ones who are most at risk of suffering TBIs after falling and hitting their heads.
Some of the symptoms of such dog bite injuries include balance issues, blurred vision, dizziness, nausea, cognitive impairments, and memory loss. Due to their tiny stature, small children are, sadly, at a high risk of suffering permanent impairment due to traumatic brain injuries.
Emotional Injuries and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
While most people focus on the immediately apparent soft tissue damage and puncture wounds caused by dog bites, there are other long-term effects of the attack that need to be considered.
It is common for victims to suffer emotional distress or experience post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) caused by the experience of being attacked by a dog.
This can have a severe impact on their ability to enjoy their lives without suffering panic attacks whenever they come close to a dog or have flashbacks of the incident.
In court, emotional injuries and PTSD can be very difficult to prove, which is why victims need to have an experienced dog bite attorney by their side when they sue for damages.
How to Prevent a Dog Bite Injury
Recovering from a serious injury caused by a dog bite/attack can be a very long and difficult journey that may never quite end for some unfortunate victims. As such, it is best to learn how to avoid dog bites when interacting with other people's pets.
It is important to remember that even familiar dogs with no history of attacking people can still bite under certain circumstances. However, dogs tend to bite after being triggered in certain ways, so people need to remember to do the following:
Do not approach a strange dog, or do so slowly
Present open hands when approaching unfamiliar dogs to seem less threatening
Avoid teasing dogs
Know how to read a dog's behavior and body language
Do not leave young children alone with a canine
Avoid direct eye contact
Ask the owner's permission before approaching a dog
Recovering Damages After Suffering Dog Bite Injuries
Victims who have suffered dog bite wounds are entitled by New York laws to seek compensation for the damages they have suffered, including medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, wrongful death, permanent disability, and loss of companionship.
These damages are divided into economic and non-economic damages and often require a good lawyer to fight for the victim's rights in court.
The actions of the victim in the aftermath of the dog attack can have a huge impact on their chances of walking away with the compensation they deserve.
As such, the following are the three most essential steps to take:
Get Details of the Dog Owner and Witnesses
Responsible pet owners know the importance of providing at least basic obedience training to stamp out any aggressive behavior from their dog and reduce the chances that it will one day bite people.
This means when domestic animals, such as dogs, attack people without being provoked, it is the owner who is held liable for damages. As such, victims need to get the name, phone number, and address of the owner before leaving the scene.
It is also important to inquire whether the dog has been vaccinated against rabies as this is one of the first questions that a doctor will ask when the victim goes for treatment.
Also, victims can take the opportunity to get the details of any eyewitnesses to the attack who will help collaborate their story if the case goes to court. Other important evidence can also be gathered, such as photographs of the injuries and the scene of the attack.
Seek Medical Attention
Regardless of the severity of the bite wounds, victims need to seek medical attention as soon as possible. Even minor dog bites can puncture the skin and lead to severe infections or even death.
It is also important to report the dog attack to animal and disease control authorities, but the hospital will usually do this as soon as the victim has been treated.
After receiving medication, victims need to make sure they obtain a detailed medical report and keep a record of all the medical treatments they receive and the bills that they pay.
Talk to a Dog Bite Attorney
Dog bite settlements can range from as little as a few thousand dollars to hundreds of thousands in damages. While the severity of the dog bites plays the most important role in determining how much money a victim walks away with, the experience of the victim's lawyer is also important. They can also explain common injuries for a workplace accident.
Some aspects of a dog bite case, such as determining the amount of liability that can be placed on the dog owner or the extent of pain and suffering the victim endured require a lot of skill to argue in court.
The Law Office of Carl Maltese Can Help
New York law can be a very intricate and complicated maze to navigate without an experienced attorney on the case.
The Law Office of Carl Maltese in Long Island has the compassion, skill, resources, and determination to ensure that victims walk away with the highest settlement possible for their dog bite injuries and other damages.
Victims can visit the law firm's website right now and schedule a free consultation with some of the best dog-bite attorneys in the city.