Most of us know people with one or more dogs. We also see that person with a dog, which makes us slightly nervous. Most of the time, this will not result in anything dire, but it can be lethal when it does.
If you have become the victim of a dog attack, you may be curious about the next steps or if and when to talk with a Henderson dog bite lawyer. A Henderson personal injury lawyer at H&P Law will work with you to fight for and secure maximum compensation.
Dog Bite Information
The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) reports that, in the United States, around 45% of homes have at least one dog and about 85 million dogs as pets. Of these over 80 million dogs, approximately 4.5 million people report dog bites each year. Within those 4.5 million attacks, there were just under 50 documented fatalities in the most recent reporting year.
In the state of Nevada, the owner is liable if they know that their animal is categorized as ‘vicious,’ which the Nevada code defines as an animal that kills or causes substantial bodily harm without being provoked.
It goes further to say that if a dog is known as vicious and causes significant bodily harm, the owner can be charged with a Class D Felony. Because the law explicitly addresses owner responsibility for a known vicious dog, proving liability for an unknown vicious dog may be difficult.
Most dogs involved in biting incidents are familiar to the victim, such as a friend or neighbor’s dog. Unfortunately, the group with the highest number of victims and fatalities is children 0-4. This is partially due to the size of a child compared to dogs, and children sustain many more injuries to the face and neck compared to adults, who sustain more injuries to the extremities and trunk.
Dog Attack Bite Force
While the size of the dog attacking matters, what might have more impact is the dog’s bite force:
- Cane Corso – 700 PSI
- English Mastiff – 550 PSI
- Akita – 400 PSI
- Rottweiler – 328 PSI
- American Bulldog – 305 PSI
- German Shepherd – 238 PSI
- Pitbull – 235
Many other breeds are unaccounted for, but pit bulls and rottweilers top the charts on frequencies of dog attacks. While a pit bull or a German Shepherd may not be able to provide the 1700 PSI to cause a clean break to your femur, they can certainly cause severe damage to bones like your nose or clavicle.
Dog Bite Injuries
If a dog has attacked you, you have most likely sustained lacerations and puncture wounds. For many physicians, the biggest concern with a dog bite is the risk of infection. This is one of the reasons you should always seek medical evaluation after a dog bite.
Physical wounds are a concern, but after those are healed, many people are left with disfigurement or severe scarring in their faces. Sometimes, it can require many surgeries to correct disfigurement, and people are often still left with significant scarring. This can be difficult to cope with and may affect relationships or self-esteem.
In addition to the emotional toll that injuries can take, the effect of a dog bite alone can be traumatic. The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual 5-TR defines trauma as any event with a real or perceived threat to your safety or life. For many, being pinned to the ground by a 105lb German Shepherd can make you wonder if you will survive it.
Damages in a Henderson Dog Bite Case
Medical treatment and recovery can be expensive, and you shouldn’t be responsible for paying these costs when it is from someone else’s negligent handling of their animal known to have aggressive tendencies. While discussing your case with a dog bite lawyer in Henderson, you may decide to pursue economic damages to cover things like medical bills, therapeutic interventions, or lost wages due to recovery.
You and an attorney may also decide to recoup non-economic damages. These may include pain and suffering, compensation for disfigurement, loss of earning potential, and even inconvenience.
In the event of significant debilitating injury, some may suggest the victim’s spouse add the loss of consortium to the claim as well.
If a Henderson dog bite attorney at H&P Law determines that your case warrants it, you may also request punitive damages. Punitive damages are not meant to serve as compensation to the victim but as ‘punishment’ for particularly deplorable behavior as a deterrent. This may be appropriate if the dog’s owner acts maliciously to cause or facilitate your injuries.
Gathering Evidence for Your Dog Bite Case
The first steps after a dog attack should always be to ensure that everyone is physically safe and get medical attention for anyone who may need it, including yourself. The next step should be to begin documenting the incident and immediate aftermath. This is also when you will want to consider contacting a dog-bite lawyer for legal representation and support.
A lawyer may advise you to do a few things to strengthen your case, including keeping a folder of all medical receipts and documents that will help prove economic damages. This should include pictures of your injuries and the dog if you can. An attorney may also advise you to keep a journal of your experiences for recovery because this may help prove non-economic damages.
Once you have determined you are safe, you should also immediately make a dog bite report to the Henderson Animal Control Facility. This serves to create another record of the event. In many cases, it will also trigger an investigation by animal control and can assist you in determining whether this was already determined to be a vicious dog.
Call a Henderson Dog Bite Lawyer from H&P Law Today
If you have been bitten by a vicious dog in Henderson, reach out to H&P Law. We offer free case consults to help you determine if retaining a dog bite attorney in Henderson is a good option for you. We can offer a contingency fee program, so you don’t have to worry about money for us until you are awarded compensation.
Surviving a dog attack can be a terrifying and painful experience. You deserve to have a chance to relax and heal from your injuries without having to worry about the extra bills or negotiating with your insurance company. We will work diligently to fight for your right to the compensation you deserve.
