Shane Smith here.
Today, I’d like to talk with you about dog bites, and more specifically, what you should do if you’re ever bitten by someone else’s dog.
Dogs are considered by many to be man’s best friend. Most of the time they are cute, cuddly, playful, loyal, and protective of their family. But despite all the social media feeds filled with cute dog videos and stories of loyal companions, dogs can be erratic and vicious at times and occasionally exhibit extreme levels of aggression. When this aggression is directed towards a man, woman or child, the results can be devastating.
According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) over 4.5 million dog bites occur in the United States each year. One in five of these bites require medical attention. To make this worse, the most frequent victims of dog bites are children.
Dog bites can cause infection, disfigurement, permanent disability, and psychological trauma. Like any traumatic injury, they can result in hospital stays, surgeries, lengthy rehabilitation, and time away from school and work. All these unfortunate consequences come with expensive medical bills and an added financial hit due to time away from work.
If you’re ever bitten by a dog, you need to seek medical treatment immediately, even if the injuries don’t seem serious. A dog, even a domesticated one, is still an animal and a bite wound from an animal can cause infection and disease. It is important the wound is properly cleaned and treated as soon as possible. After you see a doctor, gather as much information about the incident as you can. This includes the name and contact information of the dog’s owner, any witnesses of the attack and any relevant details about the circumstances surrounding the attack.
If you or someone you care about is ever bitten by a dog at someone’s home, place of business, or in a public place, I urge you to call our office. If the injury occurred in someone’s home, and it’s found that the owner was negligent and failed to properly restrain the dog, the owner may be held liable for any injuries. If you were in a public place and the dog owner allowed the dog to roam free or failed to properly restrain the dog, they may be held liable for injuries that occurred in the attack.
If you or someone you care about has been attacked by a dog in someone’s home, in a place of business or in a public place, please call my office right away. Our experienced personal injury attorneys know how to strategically approach these types of cases and are prepared to fight to get you a fair financial settlement for any injuries or losses sustained.
Please call our office. We will schedule a free consultation and explore your legal options. By the end of your free consultation, you will know exactly how we can help you with your claim.
Reach out to my office today at 980-246-2656.
We are happy to help in every way we can.
Shane Smith
Founding Attorney of Shane Smith Law