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Dogs are an important part of our lives, but they can bite and scratch without warning. Dog bites, as well as the infections they can cause, are a depressing fact of life. An estimated five million Americans are bitten by dogs each year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. About 20% of dog bites result in infections that necessitate medical attention. Even when it comes to dog bites, no two cases are alike. These incidents occur far too frequently for the media to pay attention to them or even discuss them. You should know what kind of injuries you might have if you’ve been bitten by a dog and plan to sue for them if you do. Help your case succeed by working with an experienced canine bite personal injury lawyer on your side.
Injuries caused by dog bites can take many forms and have many different outcomes. In the event that you have been injured by a dog bite and are pursuing legal action against the dog’s owners, knowing what kind of injury you have will help you present your case in court and obtain the monetary compensation you are entitled to.
To help you prepare your case, we’ve listed some of the most common injuries caused by dogs, as well as suggestions on how to treat them.
1. Lacerations
Having your skin torn open by a laceration is extremely dangerous. By penetrating your skin, they gain access to your muscles, bones, nerves, and blood vessels. There is a lot of bleeding from these wounds, which have a jumbled, squiggly pattern. Your doctor may recommend surgery to repair the laceration, and sutures will almost certainly be used. Do not attempt to treat dog bite wounds yourself with medical tape; instead, seek immediate medical attention if you are bitten by a dog. Infection isolation may be necessary if the situation worsens.
2. Abrasions
Abrasions and scrapes are superficial wounds that only go deeper if they are extremely serious. When someone is bitten by a dog, the skin may not bleed excessively, but serious injuries may leave scars. Even if you believe your injuries are minor, you should see a doctor as soon as possible to rule out any more serious issues or infections. If you’ve been bitten by a dog, make sure to treat any bite abrasions right away to prevent infection. It’s possible your medical records will be required as proof in court.
3. Punctures
A dog bite puncture wound does not appear to be as bad as other kinds of injuries. People tend to ignore them unless they’re causing them significant discomfort, and then they’ll address them. Puncture wounds have the potential to be deadly, and that is a fact. If you were bitten by a dog, the infection rate is higher. If the infection spreads, it could be fatal. In the event of a long-term nerve injury, your life may be drastically altered. They have the potential to spread diseases like rabies, blood poisoning, and tetanus, all of which are extremely dangerous and even lethal when contracted.
4. Infections
Dog bites are infected in about 15% of cases. Viruses and infections in dogs can begin with bacteria on the dog’s teeth or tongue, but bacterial colonies on your skin can also penetrate a wound and cause an infection. Keep your wounds clean to prevent infection. Look for redness, swelling, pus, and discomfort, as these could all be signs of infection. The infected area may feel warmer in some cases. If you notice any of these signs or symptoms, call your doctor right away. A prescription for antibiotics should be available from your doctor, and these should help fight the infection.
5. Rabies
Dog saliva is capable of spreading rabies. In addition, the saliva of animals such as raccoons, bats, skunks, and foxes will aid in the spread of the virus. If bitten by a dog or another mammal that has rabies, treatment must begin within 48 hours of the bite. No one who was treated for rabies within 48 hours of becoming ill has ever died. Even though only a small number of people in the United States contract rabies each year, the disease is deadly if left untreated.
Unless the dog has rabies, animal control seizes and quarantines it at the owner’s residence. The dog must remain quarantined and report its death while in quarantine (for observation, or to see if it dies during the quarantine period). If the animal dies, a rabies test is run on its brain. A quarantine violation can result in jail time, and that is well-known to the public. If someone is hiding the dog while evading quarantine orders, they will face the same penalties.
Assuming the dog survives, the victim receives no further rabies treatment. Immediately begin rabies treatment if the patient has been bitten and is displaying symptoms. Anxiety, headaches, fever, and itchy skin are all symptoms of the disease. Rabies is almost always fatal, but if treated, victims can express their wishes until the end of their lives if they are not sedated. The disease’s incubation period ranges from two to eight weeks, but it’s more common between two and four weeks after exposure, and it occurs only very rarely for longer than a year after exposure.
Those who fail to vaccinate their dogs against rabies and their dog bites another person may be held liable for their injuries and financial costs. If the victim was infected with rabies, the consequences could be severe. There are major losses in life stress even for victims who only need rabies treatment. The victim will have to deal with the discomfort of long and tedious therapy and worry about possible death from rabies sickness.
The victim will be under a lot of stress and have to pay for a rabies treatment if they violate quarantine rules or hide a dog to avoid inspection.
6. Tetanus
Dog bites can result in tetanus, despite its rarity. If someone has skin flora or has picked it up from the environment, this is more likely to occur. To reduce your risk, ask your doctor to perform a tetanus screening and administer a tetanus vaccination. If a dog bite didn’t result in an infection, but you’re worried you’ve contracted tetanus, look out for these signs:
- Aches in the jaw
- Muscle jerks that are not controlled by the brain
- Stiffness that is accompanied by discomfort
- Migraine/Craziness/Twitching
- A high temperature
- A Fast and Furious Breathing Pattern
7. Crushing Injuries
Big dogs usually inflict crushing injuries during a fight. If attacked by a large dog, you run the risk of your bones being broken or fracturing as well as your muscles and soft tissues being damaged. Many dogs will maul the heads of infants, which is a disgrace. Dog bite deaths in infants account for about 13% of all dog bite deaths.
8. Avulsion
Avulsion is the medical term for when a dog tears away your skin or tissue instead of ripping it. Avulsion injuries, such as those caused by a dog biting you in the ear, are known as avulsion injuries. These wounds are colossal in scope. For these procedures, plastic surgery is needed, which can lead to long-term scarring or other undesirable outcomes for the patient..
9. Scarring
If you’ve had an injury like an avulsion, a laceration, or serious abrasions, you’re likely to have scars. Laser therapy or skin grafts may be used by your doctors to lessen the long-term effects of scarring. Speaking with an Edmonds personal injury lawyer may help you receive compensation for your suffering if you find it difficult to go out in public with visible scarring.
10. Nerve Damage
If the bite has gotten close enough to your nerves, it could cause damage. Depending on the severity of your injury, you may never be able to walk normally again, use your hands normally, or even breathe normally. Nerve damage can result in permanent paralysis in the worst-case scenario.
11. Emotional Effects
After a dog bite, you’re naturally concerned about your well-being. You want to know that your child, loved one, or yourself will receive the best care possible in order to get the best treatment available. A common misconception is that after dealing with the physical effects of a dog bite, things will go back to normal in your life. However, dealing with the emotional fallout can be a lot more difficult. Dog attacks and bites, on the other hand, are traumatic events that can leave victims traumatized for years. There are numerous types of mental illness, ranging from anxiety and depression to PTSD and bipolar disorder (PTSD).
A dog bite lawsuit may include pain and suffering as well as actual physical injury. Obtain the assistance of an experienced dog bite personal injury attorney Edmonds to help you prevail in your legal battle.
What Should You Do If You Are Bitten by a Dog?
- Treat if Minor- If the problem is minor, you can handle it by yourself. Follow the steps of basic first aid in the event of an emergency. If there is bleeding, clean it up and apply pressure with a bandage. To avoid infection, make sure all dirt and debris from the incision is removed completely before going home.
- If the injury is severe or deep, seek medical attention right away. This procedure must be carried out by a medical professional. We may also require a tetanus shot and other treatments depending on the type of poisoning.
- Contact an Edmonds dog bite attorney to discuss your legal options. Dog bite lawsuits are notoriously difficult to win, which is why you should contact a lawyer as soon as possible. To learn about your legal options if you’ve been injured by a dog bite, contact an Edmonds personal injury lawyer’s office for a free consultation. The best dog bite lawyer is necessary for one simple reason: When it comes to getting paid, it can make all the difference. It’s possible that you have no idea what your future medical expenses will be. Some scars entitle you to additional compensation, which you may not be aware of. Medical treatments deemed “cosmetic” by your insurance company may be denied coverage in the future. Find out more about the Washington State Dog Bite Lawsuits by visiting this page.
If you have significant problems from a dog attack and were hurt by puncture wounds in the city of Mountlake Terrace, please contact us at any time. In addition to prosecuting, our lawyers will help you pursue your legal rights. Call Elsner Law Firm at 206-447-1425.
