Dog Bite Lawyer Bakersfield California

ANIMAL ATTACK LAW FIRM

Best Dog Bite Injury Attorneys

Our personal injury lawyers know California dog bite laws. We will shepherd your case through the insurance claim process. If no insurance policy exists or we cannot settle your case with the insurer, our dog bite attorneys will file a lawsuit against the dog’s owners.

To prepare for your compensation claim, we will investigate the dog attack. We will collect any police reports about the attack that may exist. We will interview witnesses to the dog attack. We will review any video footage that shows what happened before or during the attack.

We will also review your medical records to understand your injuries. We may even talk to your doctors about any long-term effects or permanent disabilities you may suffer.

Most importantly, our lawyers will talk to you extensively about your goals for your case. With dog attacks, you might have important goals that go beyond monetary compensation.

A dangerous dog in the hands of an irresponsible dog owner can endanger your entire neighborhood. Holding the dog and its owner to account for the damages they cause can make your community safer.

Dog bites occur with greater frequency than you might expect. About 1,000 people require medical treatment for a dog bite every day in the U.S. This does not include less serious dog bites that are treated at home.

Over half of all dog bites happen to victims 12 years old or younger. Dog bites happen most frequently to children between the ages of five and nine. These victims suffer the most serious injuries. When dogs attack young children, they bite the face and neck in about 50% of cases. These bites to the face and neck can lead to disfigurement or even death.

Despite the dog lovers who say all dog breeds bite equally, pit bulls bite more frequently than other breeds. Nearly 23% of dog bite injuries come from pit bull attacks. Dog breeders recognize more than 195 breeds. The fact that pit bulls are responsible for over one in five dog attacks means that the average pit bull is much more dangerous than any other breed you might encounter.

Depending on the data source, dog bite victims suffer in monetary losses every year in the U.S. These costs include medical treatment, physical therapy, mental health therapy and counseling, medication, lost income, and diminished earning capacity.

The average hospital stay for a dog bite injury costs $18,200. This makes the cost of treating dog bite injuries more than 50% higher than other accident injuries.

The typical course of treatment for dog bites includes stopping any bleeding and cleaning the wound. Dog bites can become infected, so doctors will need to thoroughly clean the bite wound and treat it with antibiotics.

Dog bites can also transmit bacteria and viruses, including the microbes that cause tetanus and rabies. Doctors will often administer a tetanus shot. Doctors may also treat you for rabies if authorities cannot find the dog or they identify the dog as unvaccinated.

Serious dog bites may require surgery to repair the damage. Dog bites can tear skin, muscles, tendons, ligaments, nerves, and blood vessels. If doctors cannot repair the tissue, they may need to amputate.

Even when doctors can repair the tissue damage, you may experience significant scarring and disfigurement. Suturing dog attack wounds can reduce scarring but may increase the risk of infection. In many cases, doctors prefer to leave dog bite wounds open. But leaving the wound open increases the risk of scarring.

In addition to the physical damage of dog bites, a dog attack can cause long-lasting psychological damage. According to one study, more than half of children attacked by dogs suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder after the attack.

Overcoming the anxiety, depression, and other mental and emotional trauma from a dog attack may take time and counseling. If your child has suffered a dog bite, a dog bite attorney can help your child get the physical and psychological treatment they need.