Dog Bites

Injuries Sustained in a Dog Bite Attack

Category: Dog Bites |

Dog bites pose a serious problem in the United States from both a medical and legal perspective. Medically, dog bites can be difficult to treat, especially in cases where it’s unknown whether or not the animal was up to date on its vaccinations. Legally, the thousands of cases that tie up the courts each year show that this is a growing problem, forcing more and more victims to seek damages in a lawsuit. Even though cases of dog bites are still rare in comparison to the other types of personal injury lawsuits , it’s still important to know what to do in the event you are attacked by a dog. The dog bite attack attorneys at Abrahamson & Uiterwyk provide free case evaluations with no obligation – call 1-800-538-4878 today. Immediately Following a Dog Bite While these same suggestions apply to any animal attack, dog bites are most common and that will be the focus here. The first priority in dealing with a dog bite should be to treat the wounds. Failing to treat the wounds promptly can increase your risk of further injury, infection, or, in rare cases, death. Accordingly , the bite should be treated as soon as possible with first aid, because it’s unlikely that you will be able to receive immediate medical care. To treat a dog bite with first aid, Web MD suggests that you first stop the bleeding by placing a clean towel over the wound and lightly press to help the bleeding clot. Once the bite no longer bleeds, it’s important to clean the wound. Keeping the wound elevated, use soap and warm water to clean it. Next, apply an antibiotic ointment to the wound to protect against infection and wrap the area with a sterile bandage or cloth. The dressing should be changed daily. Even after you have treated the bite with the first aid procedure, it’s still important to seek professional medical care. Your doctor will likely have questions and they will be similar to those an attorney may ask, if the incident leads to legal action against the dog’s owner. Be as prepared as possible to answer the following questions: Who owns the dog? Is the dog up to date on its shots, including rabies and tetanus vaccinations? Was the dog provoked to bite you? Do you have any pre-existing medical conditions? While a question about your medical history may not be legally relevant, your doctor will need this information to help you. People with liver disease, diabetes, and autoimmune diseases are at a greater risk of serious infection from animal bites. The doctor will conduct a deeper examination of the wound. He’ll be looking for damage to the muscles, tendons, and bones, which may pose greater obstacles to recovery. Next, your doctor will clean the wound. Even though you may have already treated the wound at home, there could still be debris, other foreign objects, or dead skin in the open wound. Whether or not the wound is sutured varies on a case by case situation, because closing the wound can raise the risk of infection. If the bite is in a visible area, such as the face, suturing the wound can minimize the development of permanent scars. Depending on the severity of the wound, you may require plastic surgery, after you have recovered from the injury. Seeking Damages from the Dog’s Owner After you’ve been treated, your next concern will probably be to seek compensation from the dog’s owner and, for that, you may choose to hire a lawyer. It’s important to seek out an attorney who has previous experience in dealing with dog bite cases, due to the specific legalities that are involved in these types of cases, reports FindLaw. The attorney will ask you to make a very detailed account of the incident, including asking you to provide the name and contact information for the animal’s owner. Additionally, you should also provide details for any witnesses of the dog attack. The owner’s liability is determined by state laws, so this will vary depending on the state in which the dog bite occurred. In some states, the law places a burden of “strict liability” on the owner, meaning that the pet owner is responsible, even if he took reasonable precautions to protect others from the animal or if the owner had no reason to suspect that the dog would bite. Conversely, some other states only hold the owner liable, if he or she knew in advance that the dog had aggressive tendencies, or had reason to suspect “dangerous propensities” in the animal. If it was reasonable to suspect the dog could cause harm to people, the pet owner can be held liable for damages. An attorney representing a dog bite victim may name others in a lawsuit in addition to the owner of the animal. Depending on the circumstances surrounding the dog bite, there may be third-party entities who are also liable. For instance, animal keepers are often named as co-defendants in cases where the owner had placed the dog in another’s care. This can include a kennel, a grooming facility, or an individual hired as a pet sitter. Under certain circumstances, the liability of an animal keeper may also extend to parents, if the owner or caretaker of the animal was a minor. Since the minor can’t be held legally liable, the liability can be extended to the parents of the minor. This is true, whether or not the parents have had direct contact with the animal. In other circumstances, Property owners and landlords may also be held liable for dog bites, if the attack occurred on the property. Additionally, property owners who knowingly permit a tenant to keep a dangerous dog may be liable, if that animal does bite another person. Dog bites can cause serious and sometimes fatal injuries. For that reason, immediate medical care is necessary. Since treatment can be intensive and costly, it can be just as important to seek damages from the owner of...

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Why Dog Bites are So Common and How to Avoid Them. From a Lawyer for Dog Bites

Category: Child Injury |

According to insurers and medical facilities, dog bite claims and hospitalizations are on the rise across the country. Why are these preventable tragedies increasing, and what can you do to avoid becoming a victim? Read on to find out. Top reasons for dog bites Strangers approaching the dog. In many situations, this is unavoidable, such as when a postal worker or delivery person must come onto private property in making their rounds. In other circumstances, guests are seriously injured in dog attacks by someone’s pet that is poorly trained or simply out of control.   If a protective dog isn’t used to seeing a person on a daily basis, they may interpret them as an intruder and a threat, plain and simple. Predatory instinct. Like all hunters, dogs naturally have a drive to chase prey. This instinct is often activated when they see a runner or cyclist going past. Many times, these individuals can’t move quickly enough to get away from the dog, either because the dog is faster, or because the terrain (such as hills or wet, slippery roads) makes it impossible. Because of irresponsible owners. This is very likely the number one reason for dog bites across the county. When dogs are untrained, unrestrained, and unsupervised, it’s a recipe for disaster – even if the dog has never bitten someone before. Leaving a dog alone and untethered in a yard – or worse, allowed to roam free – puts the general public at risk.   If you don’t want to be a victim of a dog bite, try to avoid approaching dogs you don’t know. If a dog starts to chase you, stand still and face the dog, but do not make eye contact. If the dog knocks you over, curl up in a ball and cover your head with your hands. Finally, if you were bitten by a dog with an irresponsible owner, consider contacting an attorney and pursuing compensation for your injuries. Talk to an experienced lawyer for dog bites Would you like more information about Florida dog bite laws? Our firm may be able to help. Contact Abrahamson & Uiterwyk 24 hours a day / 7 days a week at 1-800-538-4878. Call us today for a free evaluation.    

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The Most Innocent of All: Why Children Are More Likely to Be Florida Dog Bite Victims

Category: Dog Bites |

If you think being bitten by a dog is terrifying and painful as an adult, just imagine what it feels like to a child. The fear, confusion, and physical agony cannot be imagined unless you’ve been a victim of such trauma yourself. Unfortunately, children are actually more likely to be bitten by dogs than adults. Let’s take a look at a few of the reasons why. Common Causes of Child Dog Bites 1. Children are at a physical disadvantage. Due to their small size, younger children can easily be knocked down by even a medium-sized dog. Their shorter legs don’t enable them to run away as quickly either, leaving them at the mercy of these unrestrained, poorly trained animals. 2. They don’t understand that not all dogs are friendly. If children haven’t been taught how to deal with an unfamiliar dog, they are at risk of being bitten or attacked. A good rule of thumb is to first ask the owner if the dog is friendly and if you can pet it. This is assuming the owner is around, which they should be. Then make a fist and hold it nose-level at the dog so they can sniff it. If the dog snaps, growls, or backs away, do not proceed with further interactions. 3. They can’t yet read a dog’s signals. Even if they’re not experts on dogs, most adults can recognize the signs a dog gives to say “stay away.” Growling, raised hackles, and keeping its body low to the ground indicates a dog feels threatened or defensive. But children’s limited experience with dogs may mean they don’t know how to interpret these signals and may continue approaching the dog – an act that can end in a child dog bite. 4. They may accidentally trespass. When you’re a child, there’s little difference between a neighbor’s yard and yours. In their natural curiosity and love of fun, children may not realize they’re wandering into dangerous, unknown territory – possibly with a dangerous dog just around the corner. Talk to Experienced Dog Bite Injury Lawyers in Florida Would you like more information about what to do after a Florida dog bite? Our firm may be able to help. Contact Abrahamson & Uiterwyk 24 hours a day / 7 days a week at 1-800-538-4878. Call us today for a free evaluation.

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Attacked By a Dog? What You Need to Know about Florida Dog Bite Law

Category: Dog Bites |

Being attacked by a vicious dog can be a deeply terrifying experience that can quickly result in serious injuries. Depending on how an incident took place, a dog owner may be held liable for injuries caused by an out of control pet. If you’ve been injured by an unrestrained dog, an experienced Florida dog bite lawyer can explain how Florida dog bite laws may apply to your particular circumstances. Under Florida dog bite laws, there are a handful of dog bite claims that may be appropriate when someone is seriously injured in a dog attack in the state of Florida, including: Negligence may have occurred if a pet owner failed to execute a reasonable level of care in controlling his or her dog. Negligence per se may be applicable when a victim is injured because an owner failed to comply with public safety statute or ordinance. Scienter, or the “one bite rule,” may allow a victim to pursue compensation from a pet owner with a dog that has a known history of biting or trying to bite. Intentional tort may protect a victim’s rights when a dog owner intentionally allows a pet to attack. Dog bite victims may have a limited amount of time to file a claim If you or someone you know has been seriously injured in a dog attack, it is important to understand that you may have a limited amount of time to file an injury claim. An experienced Florida dog bite lawyer can explain how these time limits may apply to your circumstance during a case evaluation. Have you been a victim of a dog attack? Call our Florida dog bite lawyers today at 1-800-538-4878 Our Florida dog bite lawyers may be able to stand up for your rights if you’ve been seriously injured in by an uncontrolled dog in our area. Call Abrahamson & Uiterwyk now at 1-800-538-4878 to speak with a member of our injury law team and get started today.

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Considering a Dog Bite Lawsuit? You Might Be Surprised by the Average Cost of a Dog Bite

Category: Dog Bites |

Approximately 4.5 million people are bitten by a dog every year in the United States, according to the CDC. Although the majority of these are attacks are relatively minor, serious dog bites result in thousands of victims being hospitalized every year. Depending on the extent of one’s injuries, the costs of emergency care and inpatient stays can add up very quickly. What is the average cost of a hospital stay caused by a dog attack? According to a study by the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP), the cost of an average hospital stay caused by a dog bite was $18,200 in 2008. That’s about 50 percent higher than the cost of an average hospital stay for an injury. The average length of stay for dog bite-related injuries was about 3.3 days in 2008. Other highlights from the HCUP study In addition to the average cost of a hospital stay, some other revealing findings of the study include: Dog bite-related injuries resulted in approximately 316,200 emergency department visits and 9,500 hospital stays in 2008. Emergency department visits caused by dog bites were highest in the Northeast and Midwest. Some of the most common causes for hospitalization for dog-related injuries include: open wounds, infections and fractures of the upper limbs. Are you considering a dog bite lawsuit? In many cases, pet owners can be held financially responsible when victims are seriously hurt by an out of control dog. Proving liability is one of the most important parts of pursuing a dog bite lawsuit, and the laws that govern proving liability in dog bite cases can vary from state to state. If you’ve been a victim of a dog attack, you can learn how these laws may apply to your individual case by speaking with an experienced dog bite attorney. Call Abrahamson & Uiterwyk today! If you or someone you know has been attacked by a vicious or neglected pet, our Florida dog bite lawyers may be able to help. Call Abrahamson & Uiterwyk now at 1-800-538-4878 to get started.

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