A dog attack can be a life-changing event and cause traumatic injuries. This can lead to extreme pain, mental anguish, scars, and even permanent disfigurement on a person’s body. The most vulnerable demographic of dog bites is children. Victims of dog bites may experience scarring, bruises, and lacerations. These victims will need to seek some type of medical attention, get injections, and also take medications on a short or long-term basis in order to prevent infections from occurring.
Someone that has experienced an animal attack should contact a Melville dog bite lawyer at Cellino Law. We have an experienced legal team that can help you through the injury claims process. We will be able to help you get compensation for your injuries that have happened as a result of a dog attack. These injuries can lead to legal action, based upon liability law, and claims will need to be filed. If you are one of the many people that have been bitten by a dog, you should schedule a free consultation with a personal injury attorney in Melville that can outline your legal options.
What Should You Do if You Are Bitten by a Dog In Melville?
Right after you are bitten by a dog, these initial moments are very important. It is understandable that your adrenaline will be extremely high, leading to mental and physical variations at an emotional level. Yet it is very important for you to remember the incident and what happened after the dog attack. Life-threatening injuries can result from dog bites, and you should contact 911 right away so that you can call for medical assistance.
If you can, identify who the owner of the dog is right after you have been attacked. If you are able to, get a picture of the animal, and the dog’s owner, with a smartphone. If you make a record of this, also get down names and addresses if possible. Contact information from witnesses is also very helpful in these circumstances. If you are not able to identify the owner of the canine positively, this may require you to subsequently get rabies shots which can be very painful.
It is possible that infections can occur after a dog bite, especially if you do not know much about the animal. You need to contact everyone involved in this incident, plus visit a hospital to get emergency attention if needed as well. Once you have seen the doctor, they will likely check for the possibility of internal injuries, and document all of the injuries officially while you are there.
It is so important to complete this step. Without seeking medical treatment, your ability to receive compensation may also be compromised. The owner of the dog, referred to as the defendant, along with their insurance provider, could try to argue that it was not that serious if you did not go for medical attention right away.
Dob Bite Injuries
It really doesn’t matter what the size of the dog is, or the breed, as significant injuries can occur such as:
Open Wounds
Although it is unlikely that a dog will actually lead to breaking the skin, it is still possible even though they are not really that sharp. The reason they might is that if they have powerful jaws, they can break the skin and leave open wounds very easily. The larger dogs also have the ability to jump on people and use their claws to create wounds as well.
Fractures
It is possible that larger dogs can break bones because of how strong they are, especially when they use their jaws to bite you. If you have slipped and fallen down, specifically when running from the dog, you may also break your bones in that manner.
Head And Brain Injuries
Traumatic brain injuries can be caused by very powerful dogs, injuries that will fracture your skull, and you can also have this happen when you fall and hit your head. These injuries can be mild, sometimes with a concussion, whereas others might be life-threatening. It is always important to avoid head injuries, and if you get one because of a dog attack, you need to get medical attention right away. TBIs can literally lead to permanent damage.
Facial Damage
It is also possible that your head or face can be damaged as a result of a dog attack. This could also lead to areas on your face, such as your ears, nose, or even your eyes, becoming permanently damaged. Unfortunately, when you have these injuries, it will require a significant amount of reconstructive surgery, and you will still end up with some amount of scarring for the rest of your life.
Once you have been to the emergency room, and you have had your injuries treated, get the written report about the injuries that have occurred and the treatment that is recommended so that you can recover. Long-term complications should be listed on the report, along with the treatment plan that the doctor is recommending. It is this report which can be used by an attorney in Melville to help prove how severe your injuries were as a result of the dog bite or attack.
What Can Happen if You Are Attacked by a Dog?
The CDC states that Americans seek medical attention for dog bites, numbering near 900,000 annually. The CDC also states that nearly half of them are children. They have also stated that 27,000 of these individuals must have some type of reconstructive surgery.
The Insurance Information Institute has stated that its research on insurance companies has discovered that 16,000 claims are filed every year by homeowners that
are accused by victims of dog bites. This averages about $30,000 for every claim. Unfortunately, this amount of money is often not enough for the most serious injuries and recommended recovery procedures.
Anyone that has needed medical assistance because of a dog bite can benefit from our Cellino Law Firm which can help get compensation for you from the dog owner. These dog owners are going to be liable for injuries, or any type of damage, that is caused by their pets. If they are not found to be liable, it is often because the victim was trespassing or they were taunting the canine.
Cellino Law operates in the New York area, and if you are a resident here, the law clearly states that the owner of the dog must pay for all medical expenses related to their dog biting you. Veterinarian bills must also be paid if their dog injured your dog.
If you have received cuts, lacerations, or bruises caused by a dog bite, there are several types of injuries that you could sustain:
Permanent Physical Disfigurement and Scarring
Keloid scars, as well as cosmetic scars that are discolored, often result from deep dog bites. Children that have experienced dog bites on the face or neck are susceptible to this type of scarring. These disfiguring scars are going to be with these individuals for the rest of their life.
Psychological and Mental Effects
Most dog bite victims often develop a phobia of dogs after this type of incident. This is called Cynophobia. Psychological treatments are often necessary, especially those that are required for anxiety or fear. PTSD may also develop once the incident is over.
Loss of Income
It is possible that you may also experience a loss of income because you will not be able to work with certain injuries. A reduced income capacity may occur as a result of becoming disabled or disfigured after the dog bite.
To obtain this loss of income settlement or a settlement for pain-and-suffering, it must be shown in court that the dog bite was caused by an animal that is prone to biting individuals. They must also show that the owner of the canine that caused the injuries was aware of what was happening.
Cellino Law Firm will search for evidence like:
- Leash law violations
- Eyewitness statements and statements from neighbors
- Evidence that prior citations on the owner have happened because of prior dog attacks
They’re going to look for evidence that the dog was potentially dangerous, or has a history of being dangerous, which is what attorneys do. Neighbors may be interviewed to learn more about how the dog growled, snapped at people, or snarled even when the owner was there. This would prove that the owner had no control over the dog.
What Legal Action Can a Melville Dog Bite Lawyer Pursue?
The court could determine that the owner of the dog would be liable for your injuries, and if so, compensation will be decided. There are other types of damages that the court may award you:
Loss of income is very common because people are trying to recover. Victims may not be able to return to work, and as a result of that, they may be provided some type of compensation for future income.
Pain-and-suffering may be long-term, especially around sensitive areas of the human body, created by these injuries. Finding a reputable dog bite lawyer in Melville will allow you to have the best chance of finding witnesses that can testify against the dog owner. It is not easy to obtain an award for pain-and-suffering as the judge will look at the severity of the injuries, statements from witnesses, and then they will make their decision on what would be the right settlement.
It is possible someone could be permanently injured. If this has happened, the dog owner will be liable for things like medical expenses, long-term care, rehabilitation, and the cost of reconstructive surgery which will be needed if the person that was attacked becomes disfigured or disabled.
Anyone that owns a dog in this area needs to be aware of many ordinances and laws that pertain to dog bites and dog attacks. Speaking with a dog bite attorney that is currently operating in Melville can lead to getting this information. There are quite a few online resources that can help you in this manner.
For example, there is an online guide that talks about preventing dog bites, as well as treating them, provided by the American Academy of Physicians. There could be state legislation that has been enacted because of your dog’s breed and you can learn this information online by looking at scientific research, online medical information, and info about liability insurance.
How Many People in the United States Are Bitten Each Year by Dogs?
According to the CDC, 5 million people each and every year are bitten by a dog, and about 20% of these bites are serious or at least mild.
Are There More Dangerous Breeds of Dogs?
In 2000 the CDC published a report referencing the Humane Society and a 20-year study that they did regarding dog bite deaths that was started in 1979. Fatalities were listed based upon purebred dogs, mixed-breed dogs, and crossbred dogs.
The following represents the top 10 deadliest dogs:
- Chow Chows
- Dobermans
- Dog/wolf hybrids
- German shepherds
- Malamutes
- Mixed breeds
- Pit Bulls
- Rottweilers
- Siberian huskies
- St. Bernard’s
Can You File Workers Compensation if You Are Bitten by a Dog at Work?
If you are working, and you are subsequently bitten by a dog, you can certainly file a workers’ compensation claim. Filing a separate claim may also be possible against the owner of the dog, but they cannot be your current employer.
What if a Police Dog Bites You?
It really depends on how and why you were bitten. In most cases, police officers will utilize canine units to implement reasonable force when trying to arrest an individual. However, there is the possibility that a police dog will not be instructed properly and may use unreasonable force during the arrest.
If this is something that has recently happened to you, you can contact a Cellino Law dog bite attorney located in Melville, NY, that can help you make this determination. If it is shown that the officer did allow unreasonable force, this individual must compensate you for any injuries related to the dog bite.
What If My Pet Is Injured By Another Dog?
When your pet dies or is seriously injured by another animal, legal claims can be made. You may be able to receive compensatory damages which will include registering costs related to the purebred animal, shots, training, and the retail cost of licensing another pet. If you are going to spend more money on pets, which will not include regular vet bills, seeking compensation is still permissible.
There are many situations where getting compensation for suffering and pain can be the result of losing your pet. If you do decide to seek compensation for medical pain, you should do this as soon as possible. Punitive damages may also be awarded.
It is so important to work with a fully qualified and experienced personal injury law firm in Melville. At Cellino Law, our attorneys are going to help you through your situation, and are willing to assist with any personal injury claims that you have to file.