It is easy to overlook the severity of a dog bite, but dog bites can lead to some significant and life-threatening injuries that cost large sums of money to treat. You may need to seek medical treatment from the hospital, see specialists, or go through ongoing treatment protocols to deal with an infection.
Whether a strange dog at a dog park or a neighbor’s dog in the yard bites you, you could be entitled to compensation. Contact the office of a Los Angeles Bandini Canyon Park dog bite lawyer by calling Pintas & Mullins Law Firm at (800) 816-0755. You can schedule a free consultation with a member of our legal team who can answer any questions you have and provide guidance as to your possible next steps. There is no charge for the consultation or a commitment to pursuing legal action as a result of the meeting.
Common Injuries from Dogs Bites
Dog bites are known to cause common injuries, due to teeth and the force of the bite. These injuries include:
- Cuts
- Bruises
- Broken bones
- Nerve damage
- Scarring
- Disfigurement
- Secondary infection
There are dozens of different injuries that you can get from a dog bite. In most cases, there is more than one type of injury prevalent. For instance, you may experience a cut, broken bone, and an infection from the same dog bite incident. If you or a loved one is injured by a dog, you could be entitled to compensation.
Prevalence of Dog Bites
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimated that 38% of American households own one or more dogs. This is a large number of dogs that could potentially cause harm. According to Canine Journal, 4.5 million dog bites happen each year in the United States. A significant number of these incidents require medical care. Since not all dog bites are reported, especially minor ones or bites from family pets, the actual number of dog bites that occur each year is likely higher.
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Now What
After a dog bite, it is always a good idea to seek medical attention, even if the bite seems minor. Dog mouths harbor a lot of bacteria, so even small cuts and wounds can lead to more serious infections later. In the event that you decide to pursue legal action later, as is your right, you can use the medical records as evidence to support the severity of your case.
If there is medical debt mounting or your recovery time is longer than you expect, it might be time to go ahead and seek legal counsel. You do not need to suffer life-changing injuries to sue someone because of a dog bite. According to California Statute § 335.1, the statute of limitations is two years from the date of the dog bite, just like other personal injuries.
Call Pintas & Mullins Law Firm to discuss how a Los Angeles Bandini Canyon Park dog bite lawyer can help you claim the compensation you deserve while you take the time you need to recover fully.
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Financial Impacts of Dog Bite Accidents
The financial impacts of dog bite accidents are often higher than most people would think, including:
- Hospital bills
- Ongoing medical treatment
- Plastic or cosmetic surgery
- Pain and suffering
- Therapy or rehabilitation
There might be other expenses, aside from those featured on this list, that you may suffer. A dog bite can be a very expensive injury to overcome. In some cases, secondary complications, such as antibiotic-resistant infections, could be more serious than the initial damage from the bite itself. Depending on the breed, the amount of damage to your body could be more significant. Broken bones can take more than a year to treat.
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Possible Recoverable Compensation
According to the Scientific World Journal, nearly half of the dog bite cases admitted through the Emergency Department were situations where a dog bit the patient 3 to 4 days earlier but the dog bite wound is now infected. In a large number of cases, the patients were prescribed an antibiotic such as coamoxicillin. The study’s authors note that patients with dog bites on the hand maintained an increased risk of infections and complications.
This is all to note that recovering from a dog bite is not as simple as applying a bandage to the wound with some antibiotic ointment from home. In many cases, hospital treatment is required and more expensive, ongoing medical treatment could be important due to complications. You could potentially seek possible compensation for these medical bills, pain and suffering, lost wages when you could not work due to your injury, and pain and suffering.
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Settlement vs. Trial
It is possible that your lawyer will work to reach a settlement with the dog’s owner as opposed to taking them all the way through the process of a courtroom trial. In some cases, a fair settlement can be reached quickly. This would save you the time and expense of a courtroom trial, as well as reduce the risk of uncertainty. If the defendant accepts a settlement, you know that the case is over and that you will receive compensation related to your injuries.
However, this is not always possible. There is a chance that you will need to go to court to receive a fair amount of compensation related to your injuries. This is okay, as your dog bite lawyer has experience trying similar dog bite cases and is prepared to represent you throughout the process. Your lawyer can make the process as seamless and comfortable as possible.
Contact Us Today
If you or a loved one has been injured by a dog bite, contact the office of a Los Angeles Bandini Canyon Park dog bite lawyer by calling Pintas & Mullins Law Firm at (800) 816-0755. You can schedule a free consultation with a member of our team to discuss what happened and get answers to your questions about the legal system. It is possible that you may have a case and be entitled to compensation from the dog’s owner related to your injuries.
Call or text (800) 816-0755 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form