Common Dog Bite Injuries
Dog bite injuries can be physically painful and emotionally traumatic. The severity of these injuries can range from mild to life-threatening, often leading to long-term medical care and recovery.
Physical injuries often associated with dog bites include:
- Puncture wounds and lacerations. Dog bites often cause puncture wounds and lacerations, where the teeth penetrate the skin and underlying tissue. These injuries can be deep and are more serious than they initially appear. Puncture wounds carry a high risk of infection because they can introduce bacteria deep into the tissue. Lacerations, or deep cuts, can also damage muscles and nerves, requiring stitches or even surgery to heal properly.
- Broken bones. In more severe dog attacks, the force of the bite can cause broken or fractured bones, particularly in the hands, arms, or legs, as victims instinctively protect themselves. Small bones in the hands and wrists are especially vulnerable. These injuries often require immobilization and, in some cases, surgical intervention to realign the bones.
- Infections. Dog bites carry a significant risk of infection due to the bacteria in a dog’s mouth. Infections like rabies or tetanus can occur if the wound is not treated promptly. Without proper medical attention, infections can spread and lead to more severe health complications.
- Nerve damage. In more severe attacks, dog bites can cause nerve damage, primarily if the bite affects areas with dense nerve networks, such as the face, neck, or hands. Nerve damage can result in partial or complete loss of sensation or function in the affected area. In some cases, nerve injuries may lead to permanent disability.
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Legal Issues Surrounding Dog Bites
Owners of animals can be legally liable for their pet’s harmful conduct. Many victims do not understand that they can file a personal injury lawsuit against the owner. The physical and mental suffering that an individual undergoes should be adequately compensated. Additionally, the owner of an animal needs to be held responsible to prevent future attacks.
When a dog bite occurs, various factors can affect the victim’s right to seek damages, including:
- The history of the dog. For example, a dog with a history of biting may have been ordered to wear a muzzle when not on the owner’s premises. Some dog breeds are naturally more aggressive and may have been trained to attack.
- The leash laws of the county. Most counties will require dogs to be on a leash when not on private property and within the owner’s control at all times.
- Where the attack occurred. A dog owner is generally liable for dog bites on their private property if the victim was lawfully present (e.g., a mail carrier).
The legal issues surrounding dog bites may be complex. Our experienced Atlanta dog attack lawyers at Van Sant Law, know how to seek the compensation you deserve for your injuries.
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Long-Term Effects of a Dog Attack
A dog attack can leave lasting scars, both seen and unseen. Beyond the immediate injuries, many victims face a lifetime of physical, emotional, and psychological challenges requiring ongoing care and support.
Physical Scarring and Disfigurement
One of the most common long-term effects of a dog bite is permanent scarring or disfigurement. Depending on the severity of the bite, victims may be left with visible scars that can affect their appearance and self-confidence. In more serious cases, reconstructive surgery may be necessary to repair deep wounds, particularly if the bite occurs on sensitive areas such as the face, hands, or arms. These surgeries can be complex and may require multiple procedures.
Scars can restrict movement, cause discomfort, or lead to additional medical interventions even after healing. These physical issues are particularly challenging for victims who work in roles requiring mobility, impacting their social and professional lives.
For those dealing with disfigurement, plastic or reconstructive surgery may be needed to restore physical function or appearance. These treatments can be costly and time-consuming, requiring extensive medical care and rehabilitation.
Emotional Trauma
The psychological impact of a dog attack is often just as significant as the physical injuries.
FAQ
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Who Is Responsible for My Injuries?
Georgia law provides clear guidance on dog bite liability through statutes like O.C.G.A. § 51-2-7. According to this law, dog owners can be held liable for the injuries their pets cause. Still, the incident’s circumstances will determine whether the owner is legally responsible.
Georgia’s dog bite liability operates under what is referred to as the “one-bite” rule. This rule essentially means that if a dog has previously bitten or attacked someone, the owner is assumed to know the dog’s aggressive tendencies. Once the dog has demonstrated dangerous behavior, the owner must take reasonable precautions to prevent further attacks. If the owner fails to do so and the dog bites again, they would be liable for any injuries.
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What Damages Can I Claim After a Dog Bite Injury?
Dog bites can be highly traumatic. Lawyers who handle dog cases understand the direct financial and emotional costs of animal attacks. At Van Sant Law, our attorneys help dog attack victims seek full economic and noneconomic damages.
Economic Damages
Some of the direct economic costs you might incur include expenses related to medical care, including doctor’s visits and hospital bills, diagnostic imaging, copays, prescription medications, mental health care, and more. Your animal bite lawyer can pursue compensation for the expenses you already incurred and future medical costs related to the dog bite or attack.
In addition to medical expenses, you may have also incurred additional financial losses. For example, your dog bite injury may have resulted in a loss of income or a diminished future earning capacity. You may need to hire someone to help with household cleaning, maintenance, other chores, unexpected childcare expenses, or a loss of future benefits. If you incurred these losses, your dog bite lawyer can advocate for you to be compensated appropriately.
Noneconomic Damages
Dog bite injuries can leave victims with deep and long-lasting emotional trauma. While noneconomic damages are not as easy to quantify as direct financial losses, they may be compensable nonetheless. For example, your injury may have resulted in your inability to continue doing the things you love or may make maintaining previous relationships more difficult. If you are facing these types of losses, your local attorney may argue that you deserve compensation for loss of consortium or a diminished quality of life.
Similarly, you may be entitled to damages for the emotional distress, pain and suffering, inconvenience, and loss of society and support you experienced due to the animal attack.
In some dog bite cases, victims may be entitled to punitive damages to punish the animal’s owner. However, these types of damages are generally limited to extremely serious attacks.
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Does Georgia Have a ‘One Bite’ Rule for Dogs?Yes. The “one bite” rule in Georgia says that an owner whose dog has previously bitten someone should know of the animal’s propensity for violence. If the dog were to bite or attack a person in a second or subsequent event, the dog’s owner would be liable for the victim’s injuries under the “one bite” rule. However, an owner whose dog has never previously shown any violent tendencies would not necessarily be liable for their dog’s actions if the dog were to bite or otherwise attack a person suddenly.
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What Are Leash Laws, and How Do They Impact Dog Bite Claims?In Georgia, dogs are not allowed to run freely on public property. Leash laws mandate that owners restrain their dogs when not on private property. When a dog bite occurs, and the facts show that the dog’s owner violated the state’s leash law, non-compliance with the law can be enough to impose liability for the victim’s injuries — even if the owner had no reason to believe the dog was potentially dangerous.
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What Action Should I Take After Suffering Dog Bite Injuries?
When you suffer a dog bite injury, acting quickly and efficiently can make a difference in your recovery and your ability to pursue a legal claim.
Below are the steps you should take immediately following the attack.
Seek Immediate Medical Attention
Even if the injury seems minor, getting medical care as soon as possible is essential. Dog bites can cause infections or other complications, even from small puncture wounds. Serious bites may lead to more severe outcomes, such as nerve damage, deep tissue injuries, or fractures. A medical professional can properly clean the wound, assess the risk of infection, and provide necessary treatments, including vaccinations for tetanus or rabies if required.
Quick medical treatment ensures your health is protected and creates a record of your injury, which can be valuable when pursuing a claim for compensation.
Document the Incident
Documenting the incident is a critical next step.
Collect as much evidence as possible from the scene:
- Photographs. Take photos of your injuries, the location where the attack occurred, and the dog if possible. These images can serve as evidence when filing a claim.
- Witness information. If anyone witnessed the attack, gather their contact information and written or recorded statements. Their testimony can help corroborate your account of the incident.
- Details about the dog and owner. Try to obtain the dog owner’s contact details and any information about the dog’s vaccination history. These details can be helpful for medical and legal purposes.
Report the Bite
Reporting the incident to local authorities is essential for documenting your case and addressing the dangerous dog. In Georgia, you can report a dog bite to the Animal Services department in the county where the bite occurred or call the local police or sheriff’s office. Authorities will investigate the incident, including determining whether the dog has a history of aggressive behavior and enforcing local animal control laws.
Reporting the attack creates an official record and helps prevent future attacks by documenting the dog’s behavior.
Consult an Attorney
Next, it’s time to speak with an experienced personal injury attorney. Dog bite cases can be legally complex, especially when proving negligence or liability on the dog owner's part.
An attorney can help:
- Protect your rights. Your lawyer can work to hold the responsible party accountable for their negligence.
- Seek compensation. You may be entitled to compensation for your medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, and other damages. An attorney can negotiate with insurance companies on your behalf and, if necessary, represent you in court to secure a fair settlement.
At Van Sant Law, we help dog bite victims seek compensation to cover their medical expenses and recover from their injuries.
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Does Insurance Cover Dog Bites?In most cases, yes. The dog owner’s homeowners insurance or renters insurance policy should include coverage for liability in cases involving dog bites or other animal attacks on the premises. The insurance company should pay for medical care, lost wages, rehabilitation, and other expenses related to the incident. If a homeowner or renter does not have valid coverage at the time of a dog bite accident, they may be personally liable for victims’ losses.
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Is There a Time Limit to File a Dog Bite Claim in Georgia?
Unfortunately, yes. Under Georgia law, dog bite victims’ claims can be barred by the statute of limitations. The statute of limitations is essentially a time limit for filing negligence claims. In most cases, victims have up to two years from the date of the dog bite to take legal action.
While consulting with and retaining a dog bite law firm may not be the first thing on your mind, it is essential not to wait too long to seek legal guidance and advice. If you delay starting your case, you could be barred from recovering compensation.
Another reason to talk to an attorney sooner rather than later is because proving a dog owner’s negligence and liability will depend largely on evidence. It is generally easiest to gather evidence when a dog bite is relatively recent.
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