St. Petersburg Dog Bite Lawyer
Dog bite wounds can be pretty nasty—nearly one in five dog bites results in an infection, according to American Family Physician. One type of infection is from a bacteria, Capnocytophaga, that lives in dog’s mouths. Serious complications of an infection from Capnocytophaga include heart attack, kidney failure, and gangrene, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Even if the wound does not become infected, it can result in permanent scarring and disfigurement, serious pain, debilitation for weeks or months, amputation of a finger or larger body part, and a well-deserved phobia of dogs into the future. A child who gets attacked by a dog, may have a fear of dogs for the rest of their lives. And, because children are the most common victims of dog attacks, the chances of this happening are relatively high. If you or a loved one were bitten or attacked by a dog, whether you know the owner or not, you deserve to be fairly compensated for your damages, and the St. Petersburg dog bite lawyers at the Law Office of Steven G. Lavely are here to help in that matter.
Liability in a Dog Bite or Dog Attack
In Florida, a personal injury claim may be reduced in value if it can be proven that the victim’s actions somehow led to the dog attack/bite. For example, if you were rough-housing with a dog and the dog nipped you, you may be partially liable for the injuries. In another example, if someone was attacked by a dog, but had been taunting it or throwing objects at it beforehand from behind a fence, they too may be found partially liable, thereby reducing the value of their claim.
Common Dog Bite and Dog Attack Injuries
A dog attack can result in two types of injuries: the bites themselves, and the non bite attacks caused while tripping or trying to get away from the dog.
Bite Injuries Include:
- Lacerations to the hands, face, buttocks, and groin;
- Deep contusions;
- Broken bones;
- Torn tendons;
- Facial injuries;
- Damage to reproductive organs (a body part that some dogs target); and
- Blindness
Non Bite Injuries Include:
- Traumatic brain injury;
- Whiplash;
- Spinal cord injuries
- Fractured hip;
- Back injuries such as herniated disc or fractured vertebrae;
- Fractured leg, wrist, or arm;
- Sprained ankle; and
- Lacerations and contusions from falling.
Call a St. Petersburg Dog Bite Attorney
Damages from a dog bite or dog attack include medical expenses, projected future medical costs, pain and suffering, emotional distress including post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), loss of joy of life, property damage, lost wages, lost earning capacity due to disability, permanent scarring and disfigurement, and more. Victims of serious dog bites and dog attacks face a long physical and emotional recovery process, and deserve to be heavily compensated by the at-fault party’s insurance company. If you were injured in a dog attack or from a dog bite, call the St. Petersburg dog bite attorneys at the Law Office of Steven G. Lavely today at (727) 550-8800 to schedule a free consultation.