When bitten by a dog, the physical devastation a victim might suffer can range from minor abrasions to disfigurement and amputation. Dog bites are one of the most common forms of animal attacks since they typically play the role of a family pet and can do a large amount of harm with just a few quick snaps of their jaws. These injuries can have long-term consequences, even immediate attention and care.
According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), over 4 million dog bites happen annually in the United States, of which 800,000 require medical intervention and care. This comes out to approximately 1 in 69 people being seriously injured by a dog. When these animals attack, there is often an incident of negligence on the part of the owners who knew their dog posed a threat to the public, didn’t keep the animal secure, or put it in a situation where a bite incident was inevitable.
What To Do Immediately After A Dog Bite
If you or someone you care about suffered a dog bite, and the owner is present, immediately gather contact information as well as call the police. Having a third party present to gather information and take statements will save significant headaches down the road. The puncture wounds should then be immediately washed out and bandaged before seeking further medical attention. Even if the bite wounds are not severe, receiving medical care can help reduce the risk of infection. This also allows for the victim to get any potential vaccinations including the rabies vaccine as well as a tetanus shot.
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Long-Term Complications and Infections Related to Dog Bites
Like most animal bites, those from a dangerous dog are not clean wounds. Punctured or torn skin may not heal neatly. The physical aspects of a dog bite injury range greatly from small lacerations or bruises to severe wounds that require years of treatment and surgeries to correct. After initial procedures to help victims recover, there may be lasting consequences for years to come, the following are some examples.
Disfigurement and/or Amputation
Tragically, wounds inflicted by a dog bite frequently result in a lasting reminder as a scar or amputated limb or digit. Severe bites may require a host of medical procedures to repair the damage, including:
- Plastic surgery
- Skin grafts
- Stitches
- Prosthesis
These treatments may never restore a victim to their previous state, which can be especially devastating when injuries are in visible areas like the face.
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Ongoing Internal Damage
Bites from large dogs can cause significant wounds and infection risks, as well as damage to our delicate bone structures and supporting tissues. When nerves or blood vessels become damaged, a victim may suffer ongoing pain, numbness, lack of mobility, and other related health conditions. Common forms of nerve damage as a result of a dog bite injury include:
Neurapraxia
When nerves get stretched, and the damage is done to the protective covering surrounding the nerve after a dog bite, one may experience symptoms like numbness or burning for a few months until healed.
Axonotmesis
This condition is more severe than neurapraxia because the protective covering and the nerve’s surrounding axons are injured. One may suffer from motor function difficulty, paralysis, and/or sensory issues, as well as pain. Full recovery is possible, but it may take several years.
Neurotmesis
One of the worst nerve damage injuries is neurotmesis. This happens when nerve coverings and surrounding have been severed. This can result in loss of motor and sensory functions, pain and will not heal independently. Surgery may help to ease some of the effects, but full recovery is not guaranteed.
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PTSD After a Dog Bite
Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a frequent consequence of being bitten by a dog and can affect every gender and age group that has endured such an experience. This condition and the emotional anguish that comes with it is typically triggered by a traumatic event, like a dog attack.
The following are some symptoms that a dog bite victim may suffer from that can cause them to develop PTSD:
- Flashbacks
- Confusion
- Night terrors/nightmares
- Anxiety/Panic attacks
- Paranoia
- Emotionally numb
- Isolating yourself from others
- Physical symptoms like headaches
There are many medical treatment options for PTSD to help minimize its effect on your life and allow you to heal emotionally. Still, the level of mental anguish this condition causes a sufferer is real and qualifies for compensation in your personal injury claim.
Infectious Bite Injuries
Just like their human owners, dogs have good days and bad days. Unfortunately, in cases where a bad day might mean aggressive behavior that leads to a bite, the consequences could quickly become tragic. Canine germs spread to humans through a variety of ways, but the results of this exposure can have a significant impact on your life, including:
Dog-bite Septicemia
The bacteria making up dog-bite septicemia originates in a variety of animals and humans. The effects caused by such an infection can kill the young and old alike, especially those with a weakened immune system. In patients where the disease is not discovered early and treated with antibiotics, they risk an increased chance of developing a fatal condition.
Tetanus
The toxin that makes tetanus so dangerous can leave a sufferer rigidly paralyzed. If you develop this disease from a dog bite, you will likely receive treatment while kept in the hospital. This painful condition can take a month or more to recover from.
Rabies
One of the worst developments after being bitten by a dog is suffering from rabies, a fatal neurological disease. Being bitten by a dog that hasn’t been given the rabies vaccination is often all it takes before the victim starts to spiral out of control.
As you can see, dog bites risk infections and other wounds that will take months and years to recover from. You may need reconstructive surgery for an injury suffered after being attacked by a dog. Contact an Experienced Dog Bite Attorney. Although Wisconsin negligence and dog bite laws protect citizens who are injured by vicious dogs, liability must be proven, and damages must be established.
Contact Gruber Law Offices Today
Our Milwaukee personal injury lawyers at Gruber Law Offices LLC can thoroughly investigate the incident to establish fault, assess the full extent of your injuries, and aggressively pursue a claim on your behalf for the maximum compensation you are entitled to receive.
Have you or a loved one been injured by a dog bite?? Reach out to Gruber Law Offices for help.
Disclaimer: This post provides general information but is not legal advice and should not be construed as legal advice.
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