Dog Bite Injuries

Michigan dog bite injury lawyers must have a detailed knowledge and understanding of these types of injuries suffered by dog bite victims and their treatmen. This is essential to understanding the affect of the injuries on the client and is essential to achieving the best possible settlement or jury verdict for the injured client.

Dog bites may result in one or more of the following physical injuries: abrasions, lacerations, punctures, tissue loss and avulsion, crush injuries, fractured bones, sprain / strain injuries, scars, and infections such as rabies. Depending on the circumstances of the dog bite, the injured person may have legal rights to be compensated for his or her injury, including money damages for pain and suffering, scarring, disability, medical bills, and lost wages. The dog owner is usually found to be strictly liable for the damages resulting from the dog bite.

Victims of dog bite injuries to the face, especially children, should be examined for nerve damage and facial fractures. The physician's first priority is to protect the victim from infection. Proper wound management is required to reduce the risk of developing wound infection. It is important to find out when and if the victim had a tetanus shot. Such a shot may be administered if required or the date of the last shot cannot be determined. The dog may be known to be rabid. If so, the victim is treated preventatively for rabies.

Because dogs can develop a tremendous force when biting, x-ray studies might be necessary to determine underlying bone and joint injury. Fractured bones must be set. Nerve injuries must be repaired. Depending on the type of bite, the wounds may be closed. If the damage is not extensive, the wounds may be closed with tape or sutures.

Dog bite wounds that bleed will inevitably result in scars. The question is whether they will be disfiguring, disabling or painful. Some types of skin produce keloid scars (i.e., scar tissue grows out of control, frequently producing raised, disfiguring scars). Small scars may fade away. Otherwise, scars may be improved but never removed. Treatment includes dermabrasion, pressure scar modification, surgical excision of scar and make-up.

Besides physical injuries, a dog bite victim often also suffers from psychological injuries. After a horrible event, a person may not feel or behave normally for a significant amount of time. He or she may feel depressed, nervous or fearful -- may cry, take dangerous risks or not get along with friends and family. There are many possible symptoms and classifications of this problem. "Post traumatic stress disorder" is one such classification.

One of the most painful effects of a dog bite can be the resulting morbid fear of dogs. The emotional reactions of children who are the victims of, or witnesses to, dog attacks include fear, depression, withdrawal and anger. Some children and adolescents will have prolonged problems after a traumatic event. These potentially chronic conditions include depression and prolonged grief.

These problems can occur immediately or sometime after the tragic event. Many such children will develop post-traumatic stress. PTSD may resolve without treatment, but some form of therapy by a mental health professional is often required in order for healing to occur.

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