Dog Bite Injuries

Every year, nearly 5 million people are victims of dog bites, tragically most are children. In a ten year period, the number of dogs rose by 2%, while the number of dog bites increased by 33%. About 1000 dog bite victims arrive in hospital emergency rooms per day for treatment. Dog bite losses exceed $1 billion per year, with $345 million paid by homeowner insurance policies.

Dog Bites. Why Does This Happen?

There are many reasons why a dog bites. Dogs bite out of fear or to protect their territory. Some owners teach their dogs that biting is an acceptable form of play behavior, and every year a number of newborn infants die when they are bitten by dogs that see them as “prey”. A dog bite can be a traumatic event that results in serious injury. Often a dog bite will result in permanent scarring and nerve damage. There are several common sense methods of preventing dog bites, but sometimes and attack is unavoidable.

What Should I do if I am attacked?

Try to identify the dog that bit you and see if you can get the address to the house at which the dog bite occurred. If it’s a stray, you could end up having to get rabies treatments, which is very painful. However, if the dog belongs to someone you may not have to get the treatments and you may also be eligible for a personal injury lawsuit claim against the owner.

Get medical attention as soon as possible after a dog bite and follow all physician instructions relating to your care. Get medical attention quickly because any delay in getting attention could affect your eligibility for a claim.

After receiving medical attention, focus on finding out as much as you can about the dog and their owner, including whether or not the owner has insurance.

Contact The Joel Bieber Firm to determine your legal rights as a dog bite victim.

What am I Entitled to if I am a Dog Bite Victim?

It is impossible to state an “average” settlement for a dog bite victim, however damages in a dog bite case include…

• medical bills
• lost wages
• pain and suffering
• future plastic surgery costs
• physiological counseling, if necessary

How Do I Protect My Children From a Dog Bite Injury?

You protect your children from many things. You can also protect them from being a dog bite victim by teaching them the following lessons:

• Never Chase or Tease a dog
• Stay away from strange dogs that you do not know
• Never approach a dog that is eating or drinking
• Never approach a dog that is chained or pinned
• Never take a toy from a dog
• Never disturb a sleeping dog

If you or a loved one is the victim of a dog bite, contact the Joel Bieber Firm today.
Let us, help you.