A List of Serious Injuries a Dog Bite Victim May Sustain

A dog bite can change the life of a person instantly. The physical pain is immediate, but the emotional and financial consequences often linger far longer.

Many victims are left with lasting injuries that affect how they work and feel about their safety. These incidents are deeply personal and often traumatic.

Dog attacks are not uncommon in Houston, and several incidents have received public attention in recent years.

The impact on the victim can be devastating, whether the attack occurs in a neighborhood or a public park.

Working with an experienced dog bite lawyer in Houston can help victims understand their rights and pursue the compensation they may need to recover.

What are the Common Injuries From Dog Bites?

There are several types of wounds that you might have to face in case a dog bites you. Bit the most common injuries from dog bites are as follows:

Deep Puncture Wounds

A dog can bite with enough strength to go through very deeply into the skin, muscles, and even the bones.

In this case, the victims will not only be in excruciating pain, but also will be at a high risk of getting an infection.

Usually, patients will need to get immediate treatment in an ER, a cleaned wound, and sometimes stitches.

If no measures are taken on time, the infection may quickly spread, causing complications.

Nerve Damage

As a result of a bite damaging neural components that are below the skin, the consequences can last for a long time or even for a lifetime.

The victim can complain about being numb or having that eerie feeling in the hand all the time, or even sharp pain that is unbearable for them. The damage to the nerves has the potential to reduce the range of body movements.

In conductors and the like, limbs can become useless for functions more extensive than walking or standing. The process of healing may require physical therapy, drugs, or operations.

Bone Fractures

A large or aggressive dog can powerfully press and crack a bone in one bite. With a single bite, the fingers, wrists, legs, and to some extent, the arms are the most exposed, especially among children and the elderly.

Bone fractures caused by a bite are generally time-consuming and extensive, as the whole bone will get involved.

In cases where surgical treatment is the only solution, the ailment may still persist, although function and alignment are restored.

Disfigurement and Scarring

Scars from dog bites can be both physically and emotionally distressing. Injuries to the face, neck, or hands may result in visible as well as permanent marks.

Children are especially affected. It is because scarring at a young age can impact their self-esteem and social experiences.

Reconstructive surgeries may reduce the appearance of scarring. However, several victims continue to feel the emotional effects long after the wound has healed.

Risk of Infection and Disease

Infections are a serious concern following a dog bite. There is a risk of transmitting diseases such as rabies if the dog has not been properly vaccinated.

Other common infections include Pasteurella, MRSA, and tetanus. These infections can spread rapidly and may lead to life-threatening complications.

Legal liability may arise if the dog owner failed to take reasonable precautions to prevent such injuries.

Emotional and Psychological Trauma

The trauma from a dog attack often goes beyond the physical wound. Many victims experience anxiety, fear of dogs, nightmares, and post-traumatic stress.

Children may develop long-term emotional issues that require therapy and parental support. Emotional distress is a valid part of legal claims involving animal attacks.

It is because the psychological consequences can deeply affect a person’s quality of life.

What to Know About Dog Bite Injury Claims and Canine Injury Lawsuits?

Now that you are aware of what the common injuries from dog bites are, you might want to know about the lawsuit! A dog bite injury lawyer gets justice for their clients by:

• Holding the dog’s owner accountable 
• Recovering fair compensation based on their economic and non-economic damages

Whether you settle a personal injury claim or file a lawsuit and go to trial, dog bite compensation includes the same expenses and financial losses.

A personal injury lawyer for dog bites can assess your damages, document them, and negotiate a fair settlement with the insurance companies.

The potentially recoverable damages could include:

• Your medical bills to date
• Estimated future care and support costs
• Income losses, present and future
• Reduced ability to work and earn for lasting injuries
• Miscellaneous expenses with receipts
• Pain and suffering damages

Typically, the statute of limitations in California allows dog bite victims to file a personal injury or wrongful death lawsuit within two years from the incident as per CCP § 335.1.

You must be aware of this time limit. With that being said, we highly suggest you approach your case long before the statutory limitation is approaching.

Should you decide to engage the services of a personal injury attorney, you should consider doing it as early as possible once your dog bite injury has somewhat recovered.

The Role of Dog Bite Lawyers

A dog bite lawyer’s main function is to fight for a client who has been bitten by a dog; he does this by ensuring that the clients understand how to get through the process with the aim of compensating the injured parties.

This involves gathering facts about the incident, collecting evidence and communicating with insurance companies through negotiation, or even filing a lawsuit on the client’s behalf in case the negotiations are unsuccessful.

Legal Representation

Lawyers whose focus is dog bites can serve as a shield for the injured party and see to it that the very basic rights that the law grants them are fully preserved in the entire legal procedure.

It is these professionals who are the most familiar with the contents of laws and the strategies to use, such as those concerning a dog’s dangerousness and the issue of injury to which the dog is related.

Investigation and Evidence Gathering

One of a lawyer’s fundamental tasks is the thorough investigation of the dog bite incident. This includes the collection of, for example, witness statements, the patient’s medical records, and the victim’s injury and the biting scene from the photos taken.

Negotiation with Insurance Companies

The attorney representing the victim of a dog bite will be in charge of the negotiations with the insurance company pertaining to the dog owner so that the victim gets a fair settlement.

This can involve going after overlapping compensation as well as medical expenses, lost wages, and compensation for pain, suffering, and emotional distress.

Litigation

In the case where both parties cannot reach an agreement, a dog bite lawyer is left with no other option but to initiate a lawsuit against the owner on behalf of the client.

The lawyer will be responsible for preparing the case for the court, sorting and presenting evidence, and also presenting the arguments, optimizing them for the court of law.

Helping with Claims

Dog bite attorneys can provide clients with support in case they want to make a claim for compensation. You can do this in the following ways:

• Offering legal advice.
• Assisting in the filing of necessary documents.
• The representation of the client during any of the meetings or hearings.

Advocacy for the Injured Party

Legal representative’s job is to become a real voice for the client, taking care of his/her interests, and ensuring they obtain full and proper recompense for the damages they have endured.

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