Dogs can become aggressive and injure people with minimal warning. Some dogs are totally calm around adults but aggressive toward children. Dogs that may have experienced abuse in the past may become aggressive toward those who share characteristics with the person who abused them.
Most people expect to handle dog bite matters privately. They may even attempt to treat the initial injuries at home instead of seeking professional medical care. It is common for people to know the owner of the animal that attacked them, and they may feel guilty or anxious about holding the owner accountable for the actions of the animal.
Once people understand how costly a dog bite incident can be, they may feel more inclined to file an insurance claim or lawsuit to cover their expenses. What issues often increase the financial impact of a dog bite incident?
1. Serious infections
Although people frequently say that dogs have cleaner mouths than humans do, their mouths can still transfer dangerous bacteria to humans. The tapered shape of a canine tooth makes it perfect for puncturing human flesh. Deep puncture wounds can be difficult to clean, allowing infection to develop in cases where people don’t see a doctor after a dog bite. Once the infection becomes systemic, the injured person could face major expenses and may even require hospitalization.
2. Disfiguring scars
Dogs that attack people may lunge at their faces or bite them in visible locations, including the neck and hands. Those wounds may then produce scar tissue that alters a person’s appearance. Treating dog bite scars to make them less visible can be costly. Without treatment, the scars caused by a dog attack can affect a person’s social opportunities and self-esteem. Scars on the hands can also affect functional capabilities if they reduce a person’s range of motion.
3. Psychological trauma
Dog bite incidents may leave people feeling frightened of certain environments or anxious whenever they see a dog in public. Especially in cases where the person attacked is a child, they may require counseling to heal after the incident. The cost of treating psychological trauma can be significant.
Those impacted by an aggressive dog may need legal guidance as they look into insurance coverage and quantify their losses, and that’s okay. Requesting compensation after a dog bite incident may require assistance, as insurance companies may negotiate aggressively or litigation might be necessary.