Robins Dog Bite Injury Attorneys

Dog bite attorneys become invaluable advocates for victims when a dog inflicts injury. Their deep understanding of animal-related legal matters enables them to adeptly handle liability and compensation issues to secure justice and aid for those harmed.

Can I Contract a Disease from a Dog Bite?

Yes, people who are bitten by a dog may contract diseases from the dog bite. Some of them can even be life-threatening. Rabies is the most well-known, but certain types of infections may become serious, too. Read on to find out which ones.

Possible Diseases from Dog Bites

Rabies: This is a disease that attacks the central nervous system and can result in death unless treated immediately. Symptoms of rabies include fever, headache, and muscle pains. As it progresses, the person can develop inflammation in the brain, suffer seizures, paralysis, and may even end up in a coma.

Staph infection: Staph bacteria are not uncommon, and most people who carry the bacteria do not become infected. However, a dog attack or bite can puncture the tissue and allow the bacteria to enter deep into the body, causing infection. Symptoms may vary greatly, which is why medical attention is so important after any bite. Pain, fever, and severe headache are common symptoms.

Pasteurella infection: Pasteurella multocida is another common bacterium that may cause infection after an animal or dog bite. It may cause pain and swelling in the area as well as joint infections.

Tetanus: This is an infection that affects the nervous system. It may cause muscle spasms and contractions such as in the jaw, e.g., lockjaw. Those who haven’t had a tetanus booster within a certain timeframe – many recommend every 10 years – like recent dog bite victims, may be encouraged by their doctors to get a tetanus shot.

Filing a Dog Bite Claim

If you’ve been bitten by a dog, see your doctor as soon as possible. When someone has been seriously or fatally injured after a dog bite, compensation may be available to cover damages.

A claim filed with help from a personal injury lawyer in Dubuque against a liable dog owner can address damages such as:
- Medical costs
- Lost wages
- Pain and suffering

What to Do After a Dog Bite, Treatment, and Legal Steps

Being attacked by a dog can be a scary and dangerous situation. Unfortunately, most serious dog bites occur to children. If you or a loved one is bitten by a dog, the first thing you should do is call 911 so the police and the appropriate medical personnel are sent to the scene. Often dogs do not have a collar and may run away from the scene of an attack, so it is important that the police are called to investigate and determine who the dog owner is. If the dog and its owner are not determined, then you may need to take rabies shots if the rabies status of the dog is not known. The police will usually track down the dog owner and then ask for proof of rabies vaccination from the dog owner or the veterinarian of the dog. Hopefully, it can be confirmed that the dog has been vaccinated because if not, then the dog will likely be quarantined to see if it exhibits rabies symptoms to assist in the determination of getting rabies shots. 

Besides your health, if the dog and/or its owner is not found, then there will be no source for you to recover for your injuries. Presuming that the owner of the dog is found, hopefully, the dog owner owns a home which should contain insurance coverage to provide you with compensation. If they are not a homeowner, but rather rent, then hopefully they have purchased renter's insurance covering the actions of their dog. If the dog owner does not have insurance coverage, then you will need to consider if they have assets that you can pursue and if it is worth the time and effort to do so. 

Medical Treatment and Care

Dog bite injuries can cause serious damage which may require the use of antibiotics, stitches, rabies shots, mental health counseling, and eventually scar revision surgeries. We discussed above the immediate rabies concern and how best to deal with that. Once you get past the rabies scare, then they can be physical and emotional scars to deal with. If you or your loved one are having flashbacks to the attack, difficulty sleeping, anxiety, and/or fear of dogs, then it is a good idea to see a qualified mental health counselor. It is better to do this sooner rather than later because you want to treat the mental issues right away. 

From a medical standpoint, after stitches are removed, there may be some scarring. Your doctors will likely instruct you to avoid the sun, and if you are in the sun, to use sunscreen to help the scar heal properly. If after 6 to 12 months the scar is still visible and it bothers you, then it is a good idea to obtain a consultation with a plastic surgeon. There are a number of different scar revision procedures available, including the use of lasers, chemicals, etc., that can lessen the appearance of the scar. 

Legal Steps

Iowa has strict liability for dog bite injuries, and to recover, you must prove that a dog attacked and/or bit you, subject to very few exceptions. As discussed above, this is why it is so important to promptly identify the owner of the dog. If the dog owner has insurance coverage, then your claim should be submitted to the dog owner's insurance company. The insurance company will assign an insurance adjuster to your case who will likely want to speak with you and see pictures of your injury. The adjuster may ask for a recorded statement, which is usually not a good idea for you to provide. Generally, if your injuries are minor, then there is no problem with providing the adjuster with the general information about your injuries, your age, etc. However, if you or a loved one has been seriously injured, then you may want to consider talking to an attorney before you speak with the insurance adjuster. The insurance adjuster may be nice to you, but keep in mind that their job is to represent the dog owner and to pay you as little as possible to close your claim. The insurance adjuster is not your friend and is not looking out for your best interests. 

A qualified Iowa dog bite attorney can help guide you through the process so you can avoid making a costly mistake. The legal steps after hiring an attorney vary, but once you hire an attorney, he/she will be your advocate and deal with the insurance adjuster on your behalf. Your attorney will be there to answer your questions, protect your rights, and make sure you receive the compensation that you should receive for your injuries. 

Dog Safety for Kids in Iowa

There are thousands of dogs in Robins, and you yourself may even be the owner of a four-legged friend. While dogs make for great companions or members of the family, dogs can be dangerous, even when unprovoked.

For parents, teaching dog safety for kids – especially around dogs they don’t know – can be essential to keeping them safe and protected. The following provides some tips for child safety around dogs that all parents should teach.

Be Calm around Dogs
One of the first things that parents should teach in dog safety for kids is that dogs, much like humans, don’t always respond well to stress. A stressful environment can include one where children are yelling, jumping, yanking a dog’s tail, or otherwise being overly rowdy. Encourage children to approach dogs while using an inside voice and to always be gentle with a pooch.

Leave Sleeping and Eating Dogs Alone
Here’s another lesson in dog safety for kids. No one – including canines – enjoys being disturbed while enjoying a good meal or nap. When dogs are bothered or interrupted while eating or sleeping, they’re much more likely to be aggressive. As such, remind children that they should never approach a dog that’s distracted with something else. Instead, let the dog finish whatever it’s doing before approaching.

Ask the Dog’s Owner Before Petting
Children, especially those that love animals, are often tempted to approach strange dogs and pet them. However, approaching an unknown animal can be dangerous for a child, as the dog may feel threatened, increasing its likelihood of attacking. However, your child doesn’t have to avoid animals altogether. A good policy in dog safety for kids

 is to teach your child that they should always first ask a dog’s owner whether or not they can touch the dog. If the dog owner says “yes,” then the child can proceed.

How to Pet Nicely
Children don’t always know how to pet a dog appropriately and may try to hug the dog, kiss the dog, or yank at its fur or tail. Unfortunately, a dog may view these actions as an attack and may respond aggressively as a result. To prevent an aggressive reaction from a dog, you should teach your children how to pet nicely. The best place to scratch a dog is the chest or the side of the neck, but the top of the head should be avoided for unfamiliar animals.

Avoid Eye Contact
Dogs often view direct eye contact as a threat. To reduce your child’s risk of being attacked by a dog, instruct them to never make direct eye contact with a dog, especially one that they don’t know well.

What to Do When Approached by an Unknown Dog
Finally, you should teach your children what to do when approached by an unknown dog. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, children should remain completely still when a strange dog comes up to them or is near to them. Additionally, children should never play with a dog without an adult nearby, and should always allow a dog to sniff them before touching the dog.

When playing, dogs are often rowdier than they intend to be, and it’s not uncommon for a child to be knocked down by a dog, either in play or in aggression. If your child is knocked down by a dog, make sure they know what to do. Instruct your child to roll into a ball and be as still as possible in the event that he or she is knocked down.

Some dogs are more tolerant of children than others. If you have a family dog that knows and loves your child, the chances of the dog attacking are low. However, your child should know that the way they act with your family dog is not the way that they should act with every dog. The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals recommends always supervising the interaction between your children and your pets, as well as your children and other people’s pets.

If Your Child Has Been Bitten by a Dog

If your child has been bitten by a dog, you may be able to recover compensation in the form of a personal injury suit. The statute of limitations for pursuing a personal injury case in Iowa is two years from the date of injury, according to Iowa Code section 614.1(2).

When to Contact a Dog Bite Lawyer

For the complete list of things you should do if bitten by a dog you can request our FREE book, "Iowa Consumer's Guide to Dog Bites- Secrets to Not Get Bitten by Your Case" which is available to you with no risk or obligation by clicking here or by calling 641-792-3595. 

Why offer a Free Dog Bite Book?  Since 1997, I have been representing injured Iowans, including many dog bite victims from central Iowa and throughout the state.  I have heard too many horror stories about people making costly mistakes, causing them to lose thousands of dollars.  Before you talk to the insurance company you should know your rights and perhaps more importantly your responsibilities.   

If you need immediate assistance, contact us online or call us at (641) 792-3595. If you are not local to us, we will come to you.