Dogs are known for their loyalty, devotion and protectiveness—but when a dog attacks a human, they can inflict serious damage. If you’ve been bitten by someone else’s dog, seek medical treatment and legal advice as soon as possible.
Here are some of the most common dog bite injuries and complications:
- Scarring and disfigurement: Depending on the severity of the bite, dog bites can cause significant scarring and disfigurement. Deep puncture wounds and tears are most likely to leave behind permanent damage.
- Head, neck and eye injuries: Children are most likely to be bitten on the head, neck and face. The younger the victim, the more likely they’ll suffer permanent or fatal injuries.
- Broken bones: Broken bones can occur when large dogs knock a person to the ground. This is more common when the victim is older, since we lose bone density as we age, but everyone is at risk of breaking bones in a fall.
- Nerve and tissue damage: In addition to scarring and disfigurement, deep bites and tears can cause severe nerve and tissue damage. This can result in a lack of sensation in the affected area or contribute to chronic pain throughout the victim’s life.
- Emotional trauma: People who are attacked by dogs may develop emotional trauma, such as anxiety, depression and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). They may have difficulty being around dogs and require significant therapy to overcome the trauma.
- Sepsis and other infections: Finally, dog bite injuries frequently result in infections, including sepsis. Dogs’ mouths are full of harmful bacteria, which can infect the puncture site and enter the bloodstream. In severe cases, infections can be fatal.
The more severe your dog bite, the more you need a good personal injury lawyer on your side. Reach out to the qualified Sarasota, FL personal injury lawyers at Goldman, Babboni, Fernandez, Murphy & Walsh today for a consultation.