What To Do If You’re Bitten By A Dog
Pet ownership in the U.S. has more than tripled since the 1970s. According to the Humane Society and APPA, 83.3 million dogs live in family houses. The chance for a dog bite occurring has increased dramatically — with children being the most likely victims.
- Each year, dogs bite more than 4.5 million people in the U.S.
- Almost 1 in 5 bitten by dogs requires medical attention.
- Every year, more than 800,000 Americans receive medical attention for dog bites; at least half of them are children.
- Children are the most common victims of dog bites and are far more likely to be severely injured.
- Most dog bites affecting young children occur during everyday activities and while interacting with familiar dogs.
Source: American Veterinary Medical Association
Why do Dogs Bite?
One of the major reasons why dogs bite is that people, especially children, don’t know how to read a dog’s body language or know the proper way to respond. Since there is no guarantee that a pet’s owner has trained or socialized his or her dog, education is essential to keeping children safe from dog bites.
Teach kids to:
- Stay out of a dog’s personal space, especially when eating or sleeping.
- Avoid putting his or her face close to a dog’s face; that means no hugging or kissing.
- Recognize when a dog may be showing signs of fear or anxiety.
- Never approach a strange dog without the owner’s permission.
- Not reach through a fence or car window to pet a dog.
- Leave dogs alone when they have puppies.
Most importantly, teach kids what to do when a dog becomes unfriendly.
- Stay calm. Do not scream, turn, or run should a dog begin to act aggressive.
- Do not stare at the dog. Stand quietly with arms by the side. Raising the arms exposes the chest area.
- Should an attack occur, the child should fall to the ground and curl up in a fetal position with their arms over their head, protecting the face, chest, and throat. The safest place for a dog bite to happen is the shin or forearm
Dog Bites: Life Altering Events for Kids
Dog bites can inflict serious damage. With kids, the majority of injuries occur to the neck and face and can result in visible scars and disfigurement. Dog bites are typically life altering and very traumatic events.
Depending on the type of injury sustained, your child may need ongoing medical treatment such as physical or occupational therapy or even trauma counseling long after the dog bite occurred.
In most cases, a pet’s owner is liable for a pet’s actions, meaning that you may be entitled to receive compensation from the owner or his or her insurance company for medical bills, pain and suffering, and lost wages.
Get Legal Help
Obtaining the assistance of a personal injury attorney will help you cover all your bases.
- Ensuring the event is officially documented with reports to the local health department, local animal services, and police
- Having photos of the victim, the dog, and the scene of the attack
- Gaining professional recommendations for trauma counseling
- Negotiating a settlement or going to trial if necessary to obtain compensation for your child’s dog bite
Free Case Evaluation
At Nash & Franciskato, we understand dog bite laws and negligence factors that will help you recover compensation for your child’s injuries. Contact us for a free, no-obligation case evaluation.
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Past results afford no guarantee of future results and each case is different and is judged on its own merits.
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