DOG BITES

Every year, more than 800,000 Americans seek medical help for dog bites; half are children. Twenty percent of those children are seriously injured on the head or face. Kids between the ages of five and nine are at the highest risk for dog bite injuries, and boys are at higher risk than girls.

There is a unique trauma and stress felt by the victim of a dog attack, which adds to the usual injuries of medical expenses, lost wages and the like. Those who witness the event also experience a traumatic event that may be compensable. Dog owners are liable for any injuries caused by their pet. There is no need to prove the owner was at fault. If the owner was negligent - by failing to warn of an aggressive animal, or by failing to control the dog - then the owner has additional legal liabilities.

Violations of leash laws should also be considered. If you or a loved one has been bitten by a dog, you may be entitled to monetary compensation including costs of medical treatment, as well as pain and suffering and possibly, punitive damages.

Please contact our firm for a free initial consultation.

RESOURCES

For further information:

American Family Physicians Organization: Prevention and Treatment of Dog Bites