Dog bites injure more than 4.5 million people in the United States annually. This is a significant concern, as both small and large dogs, regardless of age, can cause serious injuries. Those at a higher risk of severe or even fatal dog attack injuries include elderly individuals, home service providers, and children.
If you or a loved one has been injured in a dog bite incident, it’s crucial to seek legal advice. You may be entitled to recover compensation for your medical expenses, lost income, pain, suffering, and other damages from the negligent dog owner. However, proving liability can be challenging. The attorneys at Surovell Isaacs & Levy PLC are ready to help you navigate this process and pursue the most compensation possible in your case.
Infections Caused By Dog Bites
Even when dog bites seem mild but break a person’s skin, there’s always a risk of infection because dogs’ mouths are full of dangerous bacteria. When dogs haven’t been vaccinated for rabies, there’s a chance that the victim could develop rabies without prompt medical intervention. Prolonged dog bite infections can lead to the need for intravenous antibiotics, lengthy hospital stays, and regular medical checkups, resulting in even more time away from work.
Scarring and Chronic Pain Caused By Dog Bites
Many dog bites cause extensive tissue damage and some level of scarring. Children are more likely to suffer serious dog bite injuries on their faces, which can leave painful and disfiguring facial scars. Victims may need to undergo multiple reconstructive surgeries and invasive dermatological treatments to reduce the appearance of scarring. Scars can tighten the skin and make joint movement painful or difficult, requiring physical therapy. Painful scars can reduce a person’s ability to work and earn a living.
Many dog bite victims suffer ongoing chronic pain, even after the wound has healed. Infection complications, nerve damage, and damage to a person’s joints and muscles can cause chronic pain. Victims may need one or more body parts amputated because of the trauma caused by the dog attack. Fingers, toes, or even limbs may need to be amputated, and the victim may need prosthetics and ongoing rehabilitation.
Dog Mauling Incidents Resulting in Fatal Injuries
Every year, victims are killed in dog mauling incidents. Many of these incidents involve dogs not restrained in their yards and roaming the neighborhood. Children who are playing outside, mail workers, or neighbors going for a walk can become victims of dog mauling incidents in which one or more dogs attack and kill the victim.
If your loved one has been injured in a dog mauling incident in Northern Virginia, you may have the right to pursue compensation through a wrongful death lawsuit. Pursuing a claim can allow you to recover compensation for your loved one’s funeral expenses and loss of future earnings, along with the ability to hold the dog’s owner accountable for causing your loved one’s death.
Children Are More Likely to Suffer Serious Injuries from Dog Bites
Children are at a higher risk of serious dog bite injuries. Toddlers suffer dog bite injuries to their heads at a disproportionately high rate. Teenagers are more likely to suffer injuries to their upper extremities. Because children are smaller and shorter, dogs are more likely to attack them in the face, which can cause disfiguring facial injuries. Facial injuries can be painful and make it difficult for children to talk and eat. They can also hurt children’s self-esteem because the scars are so noticeable. Serious dog bite injuries can cost hundreds of thousands of dollars to treat over a child’s lifetime.
Virginia Follows the “One Bite Rule”
Recovering compensation for dog bite injuries requires the victim to prove liability or that the dog’s owner’s negligence caused the dog bite that resulted in the victim’s injuries. Virginia follows the “one bite” rule. The one-bite rule means that a dog attack victim can hold the dog’s owner strictly liable, but only if the owner knew or reasonably should have known that the dog was dangerous and had attacked someone previously.
According to VA Code Section 3.2-6540, a dangerous dog is “a canine or canine crossbreed that has bitten, attacked, or inflicted injury on a person or companion animal that is a dog or cat, or killed a companion animal that is a dog or cat.”
How to Recover Compensation After a Dog Bite
The “one bite” rule can make it challenging for victims to recover compensation because they must prove the dog was dangerous. Many dog bite injuries are caused by a dog that has never been aggressive or bitten another person or dog before that incident. However, there are some exceptions to this rule, such as when the dog’s owner is negligent in a way that contributed to the attack.
For example, if the owner knew the dog was aggressive, even if it hadn’t bitten anyone previously, they had a legal obligation to take precautions to prevent the dog from harming anyone. Suppose a dog snarled and snapped at pedestrians walking by its yard from inside a chain-linked fence. A reasonable dog owner would have taken additional precautions to prevent that dog from getting out and attacking anyone.
Additionally, suppose a dog owner failed to comply with dog safety laws. In that case, victims can hold them liable under the doctrine of “negligence per se.” for example, if the owner took the dog off a leash in a public area and the dog bites someone, the owner can hold them liable.
Contact a Dog Bite Attorney in Northern Virginia
At Surovell Isaacs & Levy PLC, we have a deep understanding of dog bite cases and how to hold negligent pet owners accountable. We are well-versed in the ongoing medical complications and pain that dog bite injuries can cause, and we are here to fight for you.
Our personal injury attorneys are not only prepared to investigate the dog bite incident that caused your injuries but also to pursue the compensation you deserve. We are here to fight for you and ensure that your rights are protected. Don’t hesitate to contact Surovell Isaacs & Levy PLC to schedule a complimentary consultation and learn more about how we can advocate for you.