DOG BITE INJURIES AND WHAT TO DO

In 2007, statistics reveal 43,021,000 households, or 37.2% of all households in the United States, own, on average, 1.7 dogs.

A National Centers for Disease Control and Prevention survey indicated in excess of 4,700,000 people are bitten by a dog annually. Of those, 800,000 require medical attention. Nearly 368,000 victims require treatment at hospital emergency rooms.

If you are the victim of a dog bite attack or injury you should do at least the following:
Identify the animal that bit you so the owner or keeper can be located and the animal can be tested for rabies; contact the police or dog warden; locate and get the names, addresses and phone numbers of any witnesses including what they might be willing to say; get medical attention; get the name, address and phone number of the owner, if possible; take pictures of all of your injuries; save all damaged or blood stained clothing; and contact an experienced dog bite attorney as soon as possible.

Negligence for personal injuries resulting from a dog bite may be attributed to the dog owner, the dog handler, people who possess dogs, and possibily anyone connected to the dog. Most states have “dog bite statutes,” which hold the owner or keeper of the dog strictly liable for any damages or injuries caused by their biting pet.

Therefore, an owner or keeper who permits a dog to go free without a leash, fails to protect guests from injury by the dog or his or her dog escapes confinement or is not confined to and who later bites someone might be liable. Additionally, unless you fall within certain limited exceptions to the dog bite statute you might be able to collect money damages from the responsible party or parties.


Negligence and liability are complicated legal issues best determined by a qualified personal injury attorney.

Dog bite victims may be entitled to compensation for the following:

· Past medical treatment
· Future medical care
. Scarring
· Psychological counseling
· Medication expenses
· Pain and suffering
· Loss of wages
· Future disability
· Damage or destruction of clothing or other property
· Loss of consortium claim for a spouse

In some states, the law recognizes that people, beside the bite victim, might also suffer compensable losses. A witness related to dog bite victim (a parent for example) who witnesses the attack may have a claim for bystander emotional distress. A spouse of the victim who is incapacitated might be entitled to compensation for loss of consortium. Family members of a victim who dies from injuries caused by a dog can sue for wrongful death.

Many dog bites and attacks occur to children who sometimes receive serious injuries because of their size. Other cases may involve serious and permanent scars as well as nerve damage.

Victims of dog bites suffer trauma, pain, wage loss and a wide variety of claims dependent on their lifestyle. If you or a family member have been bitten by a dog and suffered injuries, it is recommended that you contact a qualified personal injury lawyer immediately.

Attorney Richard Hastings, for the past two and one half decades, has been helping injured clients and families collect millions of dollars in losses ranging from motor vehicle accidents to wrongful death, to medical malpractice. He is the founder of Selectcounsel, LLC, a free service that helps you find one of the best lawyers in your area and is the author of the books “How To Find A Great Lawyer” and “Understanding And Improving The Value Of Your Personal Injury Case.”
Please visit http://www.SelectCounsel.com to see how they can find you one of the best lawyers in your area for your serious injury or medical malpractice case.