Georgia Injury Lawyers Blog
Each year, almost 5 million Americans are bitten by dogs, and some victims suffer traumatic injuries which require immediate medical treatment. If you or a loved one has been bitten by a dog, you should meet with a Georgia dog bite attorney to see if compensation is available.
Common Physical Injuries
Dogs have very sharp teeth which can easily penetrate human skin. On top of that, a dog can twist your arm or another body part while holding it in its mouth, causing further damage. Dog bite injuries range from the superficial to severe and include the following:
- Punctures
- Crushed Bones
- Lacerations
- Nerve Damage
- Ligament Strains
Even worse, dog bites can easily become infected if they are not properly cleaned. Victims should lay a towel over the wound to clean up blood and keep the arm elevated, if possible. Clean the wound with lots of soap and water, covering the cleaned wound with a sterile bandage. Some dog bite victims require a regime of antibiotic treatment to fight off possible infection so a trip to the doctor is advised, especially if you see swelling or bruising around the bite mark.
Emotional Scar Tissue
In addition to physical injuries, dog bites can be deeply traumatic. Victims can have difficulty sleeping and suffer flashbacks or nightmares about the incident, which can lead to depression or anxiety. Blameless victims might feel guilty and withdraw from social contact. Many dog bite victims must have therapy or take psychiatric drugs to help them manage the emotional repercussions of a dog bite. These emotional scars are even worse for younger children, who can be deeply traumatized.
Information to Gather
When you go to a hospital, the doctor will need to determine whether the dog had rabies, which will require immediate treatment. Provide the doctor with the following information:
- When the injury occurred
- Whether the dog was provoked
- How healthy the dog looked
- Where the dog is currently located
If necessary, animal control will need to find the animal, check its vaccination history, and quarantine it. The purpose of the quarantine is to see if the dog shows symptoms of rabies. Because rabies is so deadly, victims should receive a tetanus or rabies shot immediately at a hospital.
Compensation Available
Depending on the circumstances, you might be entitled to monetary compensation from the dog owner, particularly if the owner didn’t warn the public about the dog or properly restrain it. Many dog bite victims receive money to pay for their medical bills and to replace any lost wages. Victims can also receive money for pain and suffering, which includes mental anguish like depression and anxiety.
Call an Atlanta Dog Bite Attorney
If a dog bites you or a loved one, you should meet with a qualified Georgia dog bite attorney as soon as possible to consider all of your legal options. At Slappey & Sadd, we’ve helped dog bite victims get the compensation they deserve so that they can start to heal. Call us today, 404-255-6677, or fill out our online contact form. We serve all of Georgia, including Newton County, Richmond County, and Walker County.