Dog Bites
Victims often consult a personal injury attorney when injuries occur due to a preventable public health problem such as dog bites. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), dogs bite approximately 4.5 million Americans each year. Estimates of how many of these bites result in fatalities range from 12 to 18. One in five dog bites (more than 880,000) causes injuries that require medical attention. Of those injured, nearly 390,000 require treatment in an emergency department and about 30,000 dog-bite victims undergo reconstructive surgery annually. Children under the age of ten are the most at risk for severe dog bite injuries, and they are the ones most likely to need hospitalization following a bite. Severely injured patients stay an average of 4.2 days in the hospital.
The face is the most frequent target area (77%) for dog bites. In fact, facial injuries from dog bites represent between 0.5 percent and 1.5 percent of all hospital emergency room visits. The extent of injuries sustained from dog bites ranges from cuts, lacerations, abrasions, and bruises to crushing wounds, punctures, and fractured bones. Many dog bite wounds leave disfiguring scars. Most of them also cause emotional and psychological trauma.
People who are bitten severely by a dog need a dog bite attorney to help them make sense of the laws and recover from the devastation and damages caused by a serious dog bite. Many dog bite lawsuits are settled without going to court. However, there are risks involved in negotiating without a personal injury attorney who specializes in dog bite cases. Settlements offered by the dog owner's insurance are often insufficient to cover the medical costs and compensate for pain and suffering. Those who negotiate a settlement without a lawyer can receive only ten to 20 percent of the amount they would receive if represented by a skilled dog-bite lawsuit attorney.
When a dog bite accident occurs, a thorough investigation and evaluation of the cause(s) and liability--conducted by a personal injury lawyer with direct experience handling dog bite injuries--is always the best way to proceed. Once the cause and severity of the dog bite injury is determined, a dog-bite injury lawyer and the victim can reach an informed decision about whether or not to pursue a lawsuit or other legal option.
The skilled personal injury lawyers and accident attorneys at Schwartz Zweben LLP have successfully represented many victims of dog bite injury. They understand the complexity of investigating, litigating, negotiating, and resolving dog bite injury claims and are fully knowledgeable of the liability issues, medical ramifications, and legal options involved. Our resources include a top-notch team of professional investigators and experts who can analyze the evidence and help our personal injury lawyers obtain swift justice and maximum compensation for dog-bite injury victims.
If you were bitten by a dog, or if someone in your family died as the result of a dog bite accident, contact the law offices of Schwartz Zweben LLP. A dog-bite injury attorney on our team can offer you a free, confidential evaluation of your case and advise you of your rights.
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