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How Often Are Children Injured by Dog Bites?
Dogs are often seen as lovable and friendly animals, but they still have the potential to cause serious injuries. Unfortunately, children are more likely to be injured in dog attacks due to their small size and their lack of knowledge about how to interact safely with dogs. Each year, more than 800,000 people experience dog bites that are serious enough to require medical attention, and more than half of these victims are children. A personal injury attorney can help families understand how to respond in these situations. Some injuries that children often suffer in dog attacks include:
Bite Wounds
When a dog bites a child, its sharp teeth can puncture the skin and cause damage on the surface and in the tissues below. Bite wounds can range from minor scratches to severe lacerations that may require medical attention. They may include:
When Can Dog Attacks Lead to Fall Injuries?
Dog attacks can be a terrifying experience, causing physical and emotional harm to the victim. While most people associate dog attacks with bites and scratches, these incidents can also involve other types of injuries, including those suffered in falls. When a dog attack causes someone to fall down on a hard surface, such as a sidewalk, they may suffer multiple types of severe injuries, including broken bones, head trauma, and spinal cord damage. Victims of dog bites and attacks will need to understand what steps they can take to ensure they will be compensated for the injuries suffered in falls and other ways they have been affected.
Reasons Dog Attacks May Lead to Dangerous Falls
While dog bites can be very painful and can lead to issues such as puncture wounds, lacerations, infections, nerve damage, and disfiguring scars, a person may be seriously injured in other ways. Fall injuries can occur when a dog jumps on someone or makes aggressive moves. Falls may be caused by:
Know the Signs of an Infected Dog Bite
One of the biggest risks associated with dog bites is that the bite can become infected. Dogs’ mouths are home to many different types of bacteria that can be harmful to humans. While there is a persistent myth that dogs' mouths are cleaner than humans, it is largely untrue. Dogs have a tendency to pick up items most humans would find revolting in their mouths. When a dog bites a person and breaks the skin, bacteria from the dog's teeth can be driven deep into a person’s body. This bacteria can then multiply and cause a serious infection. In the most severe cases, an infected bite can mean that the affected body part must be amputated. As dog bites on the hand are very common, this can be a major concern. If you have been bitten by a dog, it is important to seek urgent medical care even if you do not believe the bite was particularly bad. You should then contact an attorney as soon as possible.
Can I Pursue Compensation After an Attack by an Unleashed Dog?
When a dog is off its leash and roaming without supervision, it can pose a serious threat to public safety. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), approximately 4.5 million Americans are bitten by dogs each year, and around 800,000 dog bites require medical attention. A significant number of these bites occur when dogs are unsupervised. In these situations, dog bite victims may be unsure about their legal options, including who may be held responsible for the injuries they have suffered.
Laws Related to Unleashed and Roaming Dogs in Illinois
In general, the laws in the state of Illinois allow a person who is injured by a dog to hold the dog's owner or the person who had control of the dog liable for their injuries. As long as a person was legally allowed to be in the location where the dog attack occurred, and they did not take any actions that provoked the dog, they can take legal action to address the injuries and damages they have suffered.
When Can Dog Bites and Attacks Lead to Broken Bones?
Being attacked or bitten by a dog can be a traumatic experience that can leave a victim with serious injuries. Bone fractures are one type of injury that often occurs as a result of a dog attack. Depending on where a fracture occurred, the severity of the injury, and other factors, broken bones can be very painful and debilitating. By understanding when broken bones can be caused by dog bites and the treatments that may be needed to address these injuries, victims can make sure they will be able to recover, and they can also pursue compensation for their damages.
Broken Bones Based on the Location of a Bite and the Force of an Attack
In many cases, whether a dog bite will result in broken bones will depend on the force of a bite and the parts of the body that were affected. Larger dogs with strong jaws may break or crush bones when biting a person on their arms or legs. However, bites from dogs of any size may cause fractures in parts of the body with smaller, more delicate bones, such as the hands or feet.
What Types of Compensation Can I Receive for a Dog Bite Injury?
If you or someone you love have been attacked by a dog or suffered an injury due to a dog bite, you may be unsure about the legal options available to you. Dog bites can cause multiple types of injuries, such as lacerations, puncture wounds, infections, nerve damage, and scarring. In the most serious cases, dog bites may even lead to the wrongful death of a victim. Fortunately, Illinois law states that a dog's owner or a person who was in control of a dog at the time of a dog bite is "strictly liable" for a victim's injuries and damages. This means that you do not have to prove that the person was negligent or failed to control their dog, and as long as you were not trespassing and did not provoke the dog, you can pursue compensation for your injuries. By understanding the types of compensation you can receive, you can make sure you will be able to make a full recovery from a dog bite.
When Can Dog Bites Lead to Nerve Damage?
Dog bites can be incredibly painful and traumatic experiences. Even when a person receives immediate medical attention following a dog bite, they may experience injuries that can significantly affect their health, their ability to perform tasks or participate in activities they had done in the past, and their overall well-being. In some serious cases, dog bites may result in nerve damage, which can lead to permanent disabilities.
Types of Nerve Damage From Dog Bites
Depending on where the bite occurred on the body, as well as the size and strength of the animal involved, a person could experience several different types and degrees of nerve damage. Some common forms of nerve damage resulting from dog bites include:
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Severed nerves – When a dog's teeth puncture the skin and damage the underlying tissues, significant nerve damage can occur. In some cases, nerves may be severed, and depending on the location of the body where a bite occurred, this could result in a loss of sensation, a loss of mobility, or even complete paralysis.
Can a Dog Attack Lead to a Traumatic Brain Injury?
When we think about serious injuries caused by dogs, we usually think about bite-related injuries. Dog bites can cause severe tissue damage, nerve damage, infection, and lasting disfigurement. However, even something as seemingly simple as being pushed to the ground by a dog can also lead to serious injuries. Someone who is knocked down by a dog and hits their head on the ground may even suffer a traumatic brain injury.
If you or a loved one suffered any injury because of a dog attack, you may be able to recover financial compensation for your losses. This can include medical expenses, lost income, pain and suffering, and more. To learn more about the legal options available to you in this situation, contact an experienced dog bite lawyer today. They can review the details of your case and help you determine how best to proceed with pursuing a claim for compensation.
Consequences of a Traumatic Brain Injury Caused by a Dog Attack
Dog Bites Threaten Postal Workers Making Holiday Deliveries
During the pandemic and the “new normal” that has followed, home deliveries have skyrocketed, and, unfortunately, so have dog bites. Last year, more than 5,400 postal employees in the country were attacked by dogs with Illinois ranking among the top ten states with the most number of dog bites. Now that we are in the thick of the holiday rush, it is probably a good idea to keep your pooch indoors or behind a secured fence if you want to avoid legal trouble.
Dog Bite Law in Illinois
Aggressive dog behaviors pose a serious threat to postal employees. Last year, at least 226 mail carriers in Illinois reported that they suffered canine bites. A vicious dog attack can cause serious injuries as well as emotional trauma. Under state law, a dog owner is liable if their dog hurts someone, regardless of whether or not the owner knew that the dog might be dangerous.
Are Pit Bulls Really as Dangerous as They Seem?
Even as it seems pit bulls make national headlines almost every week for a serious or fatal dog attack, a cottage industry of pit bull apologists has taken up the cause of defending the rights and reputations of these dogs. According to pit bull advocates, pit bulls are the same as any other dog, with the same potential for positive traits like love and gentleness, as well as negative traits like aggression and defensiveness.
Regardless of what pit bull advocates say, however, the statistics tell a very different story. Not only are pit bulls more likely to seriously maim and kill than other dog breeds, but the number of serious pit bull attacks is on the rise. The causes of rising rates of pit bull attacks are debatable; perhaps vicious owners are more likely to buy pit bulls because of their reputation, making for much more vicious pit bull dogs; perhaps pit bulls and other bully breeds really are more vicious. Whatever the reason, at the end of the day, if you or someone you love has suffered from a pit bull bite attack through no fault of your own, you deserve compensation.
Contact an Illinois Dog Bite Attorney
If you have suffered a dog bite injury, our personal injury lawyers can help you determine the actual value of the damages you have suffered, and we will work to help you recover the compensation you deserve. Call us at 630-552-6860 or fill out the form below to arrange a free consultation.
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1730 Park Street, Suite 202, Naperville, IL 60563 630-420-1000 |
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134 N. Bloomingdale Road, Bloomingdale, IL 60108 630-529-4761 |
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900 E. Roosevelt Road, Lombard, IL 60148 630-932-9100 |
