Solon Dog Bite Injury Attorneys

Victims of dog bites can rely on dog bite injury lawyers for dependable support. These attorneys specialize in the complex legalities of animal incidents, ensuring proper management of liability and compensation to achieve justice.

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

Rabies 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; and
- pain and suffering.

Treatment for Deep Dog Bites: Stitches and Staples after a Dog Attack Injury

Treatment for deep dog bites may involve stitches or staples to close the wounds. If you or your child sustained a dog attack injury, consult a personal injury law firm in Iowa to begin discussing your legal options and to protect your rights.

Types of Dog Bite Injuries

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), about 4.5 million Americans are bitten by dogs each year, and one in every five results in injuries that necessitate medical attention. Furthermore, the CDC reports that more than 30,000 people underwent reconstructive surgery after an attack in 2006.

Some dog attack injuries can be brutal, causing significant health complications, disfigurement, and even death. Among dog attack injuries that may be caused by a dog bite are tissue tears, deep lacerations, fractures, crushing injuries, and puncture wounds. Many doctors and surgeons decide to use staples and sutures for dog bite wounds, particularly if the wounds are large.

Treatment for deep dog bites varies, however, and in some cases, stitches and staples may not be necessary or appropriate, as when the wound is on an area where stitching may increase infection risk. Your attending medical professionals will perform a medical exam and discuss the best possible treatment plan for you, one that minimizes scarring and the risk of infection.

Complications of Dog Bite Injuries

Dog bite wounds may carry the risk of several complications. These may include infection, scarring, disfigurement, and damage to structures in the body, such as muscles or tendons. 

Additionally, emotional injuries may result from a dog attack. Injuries can be incredibly terrifying and cause emotional issues like post-traumatic stress disorder, in some cases. Iowa dog bite victims may find Iowa Health a good starting point in locating suitable mental health providers after the attack.

Compensation may be available after a dog bite attack, but cases of this nature may be tricky to prove if emotional damages are sought. For help with your case, call a personal injury law firm in Iowa for legal counsel regarding your specific circumstances.

Caring for Deep Dog Bite Wounds

Paying special attention to aftercare and following doctor’s orders is crucial to helping prevent complications after receiving treatment for a deep dog bite. Your doctor will provide aftercare instructions on keeping the wound area clean, which self-care methods should be used, and how your stitches or staples will be handled.

Your physician may advise you to take various self-care measures. These may include keeping the wound clean, bandaging the wound, icing the area, and elevating the injury. Treatment for deep dog bites might include prescribed medications such as antibiotics and pain medication, and some may be advised to receive a tetanus shot.

Steps to Take After the Attack

Naturally, the first thing you’ll do if you or your loved one has experienced a dog attack injury is to seek medical attention immediately. The next items on the agenda include:
- contacting local authorities if the dog is loose and/or an imminent danger to others;
- collecting information from the dog owner regarding rabies vaccinations; and
- consulting a personal injury law firm in Iowa that handles dog attack injuries.

Your attorney may advise you on the dog bite laws applicable to your situation. A lawyer can help you lay out a plan to seek compensation for your injuries and the high cost of treatment for deep dog bites.

How Trespassing Affects Liability in Dog Attack Injury Cases

Generally, unless a dog attack victim is engaged in "unlawful conduct," the owner is responsible for controlling the dog and liable for any injuries via a dog bite claim. Iowa law states:

"The owner of a dog shall be liable to an injured party for all damages done by the dog, when…the dog is attacking or attempting to bite a person, except when the party damaged is doing an unlawful act, directly contributing to the injury" (Iowa Code Sec. 351.28).

If someone trespasses on a dog owner’s property, the property owner may not be liable for a dog bite or attack.

Trespassing and Dog Owner Liability

Trespassing is an unlawful act, so if a bite victim was trespassing, he or she cannot go after the dog owner for damages related to injuries. What counts as trespassing is a difficult question, however, and has many gray areas.

Under Iowa law, trespassing happens either when someone enters a property without justification after receiving notice not to enter the property, or when the person enters without the owner's permission.

Unless property is behind a locked gate or contains a sign discouraging visitors, there may be an implied invitation to members of the public to enter for common errands like selling door-to-door or asking for directions, for example.

Per Iowa Code Section 716.7(3), the general public also has the right to retrieve any personal property that enters someone else's property as long as they don't linger and take a direct route to the lost property. For example, a child has a legal right to enter someone's yard to retrieve a stray ball.

When are Dog Owners Liable or Not Liable for a Bite?

Because of Iowa's strict liability system, dog owners may be liable for dog bites under many circumstances. A dog owner may argue, though, that the person was trespassing, in which case the bite victim may have to prove he or she was not trespassing. For example, a bite victim may argue he or she approached a house with no fence and no signs discouraging trespassing, knocked on someone’s door for directions, and was attacked by the dog when the homeowner opened the door.

If a bite victim assaults, beats, or harms the dog owner in some way, they cannot claim the dog owner is liable for the injuries, however. Assaults can include yelling and other threatening behavior. Robberies and other situations that excite a dog and prompt it to bite also may not warrant liability for the dog owner.

Discuss your particular case with an attorney, as the details of these cases can vary from one incident to the next.

How Do I Obtain Compensation for a Dog Bite?

If you were bitten by a dog, and you didn't engage in unlawful activity, you may be able to obtain compensation for your injuries in a personal injury lawsuit. There are many procedural and substantive considerations to dog bite lawsuits, so seek legal help from a qualified attorney.

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.