Dogs have been known as "man's best friend", but some dogs can be very unfriendly and even vicious. All types of dogs are prone to biting if they feel threatened or insecure. However, there are breeds of dogs that have been classified as "vicious" and are prone to attacking more than others. The risk of being bitten by a dog increases if there is a dog in the home and as the number of dogs in the home increase, the greater the risk.

DID YOU KNOW:

1. Dog bites account for up to 90% of all animal bites. 4.5 million dog bites occur each year in the U.S., and more than 27,000 victims require reconstructive surgery.
2. Dogs have rounded teeth, and it is the pressure exerted by their jaws that can cause significant damage to the tissues under the skin, including bones, muscles, tendons, blood vessels, and nerves.
3. Many victims of dog bites don't seek medical care, report the attack, or seek legal representation.
4. Injuries may involve structures deep beneath the skin including muscles, bones, nerves, and blood vessels and permanent injuries and disfigurement can result.
5. Infections, including tetanus and rabies, need to be considered for a dog bite.
6. Children between the ages of 5 and 9 are more likely to be bitten by a dog than other age groups. Children are also more likely to need medical attention.
7. There is a two year time frame to file a lawsuit against someone who may be responsible for your dog bite, so contact us today

What should you do if you have been bitten by a dog:

1. Go to a safe place away from the dog that has bitten you to prevent further attack and injury and do not retaliate.
2. Seek medical attention, especially if a small child has been bitten by a dog.
3. Always watch for signs and symptoms of infection (pain, redness, warmth, swelling, and drainage of pus or fluid) before AND after seeking medical care, even if there are not large areas of damaged skin.
4. Gather information from the dog's owner, the dog's immunization status, but if this is not possible, hospital, animal control centers, or law enforcement personnel will help gather any required information.
5. Report the dog bite to hospital, animal control centers, and/ or law enforcement.
6. Take the names and phone numbers of any witnesses and immediately right an incident report and keep a copy.

  Dog bites can cause significant damage beneath the skin, a type of injury that cannot always easily be seen. Injuries may involve structures deep beneath the skin including muscles, bones, nerves, and blood vessels and permanent injuries and disfigurement can result. Because of the high risk for adverse results from a dog bite, it is important to seek medical attention immediately. Although medical staff will not immediately know the extent of long term injuries, there can be significant nerve damage that can affect you for the rest of your life.

  Seeking legal advice is always a wise and prudent thing to do whenever a person has been injured. Sometimes what seems to be a small and insignificant dog bite can cause lifelong disabilities. Call us today to speak to an experienced dog bite attorney.