Stuart Dog Bite Injury Attorneys

When a dog bite results in injury, dog bite attorneys offer essential assistance. They navigate the intricate legal landscape of animal attacks, expertly managing liability and compensation to ensure justice and support for victims.

When a Child Suffers PTSD After a Dog Bite Attack in Iowa

Your child's dog bite attack in Iowa can include lifelong financial, physical, and emotional costs. You should contact your Iowa dog bite attorney to be compensated for your present and future expenses resulting from your child's injuries and damages from a dog bite attack.

Injuries and Damage After a Dog Bite Attack in Iowa

A dog attack can result in various injuries and damages, such as:

- Torn clothing
- Bloody clothing
- Scratches
- Bruises
- Deep cuts
- Puncture wounds
- Loss of tissue
- Loss of limbs
- Broken bones
- Crushed bones
- Disfigurement

These physical injuries can be devastating and extremely painful to your child. After your child's serious dog bite attack, you may rush your child to the hospital to get medical treatment. What you may not be aware of is that there's more than what meets the eye after your child's dog bite attack.

After you get your child medical help, you should contact your Iowa dog bite attorney to be compensated for present and future expenses from your child's dog bite attack in Iowa.

Medical Treatment and Emotional Impact

If your child suffers serious physical injuries from a dog bite attack, serious surgeries, medications, and therapy may be necessary to treat your child's injuries. These treatments can be costly and time-consuming, considering you may have to miss work for your child's surgery and post-surgery care.

Emotional distress may also play a significant role in your child's and family's life after a dog bite attack. Emotional distress may require medications and psychological therapy to calm your child from their persisting fears. It can be disheartening for you and your family to see your child go through these treatments and suffer post-effects, which could cause relationship problems and the ability to concentrate.

Challenges to a Dog Bite Claim and How to Address Them

While many dog bite incidents result in minor injuries, some can cause severe harm, leading to deep lacerations, tendon damage, nerve damage, rabies, and even death. These injuries can result in enormous medical bills, time off from work, and intense pain and suffering. If you're pursuing a dog bite claim after an attack, prepare yourself for challenges from the dog owner. Consider the following questions.

What Does the Law Say About Liability?

The law in Iowa is clear regarding the liability of dog owners. According to Iowa Code 351.28, “The owner of a dog shall be liable to an injured party for all damages done by the dog, when the dog is caught in the action of worrying, maiming, or killing a domestic animal, or 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.” Thus, unless the dog bite victim is doing something unlawful, the dog owner is liable for the injuries.

Were You Trespassing on the Dog Owner's Property?

Many dog owners believe if you were “trespassing,” they are not responsible for the dog’s actions, but this may not be the case. The law states that an owner may not be liable if the victim was doing something unlawful and that it contributed to the bite. So if someone trespassed by hopping a fence and scared the dog, this might be grounds for the dog owner to challenge their liability. But if your trespassing did not contribute to the injury, then the dog owner still may be liable for damages.

Was the Dog Provoked?

This is the defense of many dog owners, and in some cases, the dog may have been provoked. For example, a teenager may pull a dog's tail or start chasing the dog into a corner. In this case, the dog owner may challenge their liability successfully in the dog bite claim. However, the parties may have different ideas of what constitutes provoking the dog. A child inadvertently may provoke a dog, or an adult may have been playing too rough, for example. Talk to an attorney about the particulars of your case.

Does the Dog Have Rabies?

Owners are generally not liable for bites if the dog had rabies and the owner did not know or reasonably could not be expected to know the dog had rabies. In these cases, though, if you can prove the dog owner was negligent – for example, leaving a gate open, allowing a child access to the backyard while the dog is outside – then the dog owner may be liable.

When Should I Hire an Attorney?

If you have been injured badly enough to require medical attention or have missed work because of a dog attack, seek legal advice. If you or someone you love has been injured by a dog attack in Iowa, call Walker, Billingsley & Bair at (888) 435-9886 today and talk to a lawyer about your options.

Reporting a Dog Attack

Yes, you should generally report a dog attack, especially if it:

- Results in serious injury
- The dog is not contained
- The animal appears sick and is a continued danger

Additionally, victims can consult an Iowa personal injury attorney for help collecting evidence and presenting a claim for damages against the dog’s owner.

What to Do in the Case of a Dog Bite Injury

Following a dog bite or attack, first, secure your safety and that of others. Separate yourself from the animal and move to a safe place if necessary. Further steps to take after a dog bite or attack include:

- Washing the area thoroughly with soap and water if available
- Seeking medical attention from a doctor or emergency room if needed
- Calling animal control or a local police department to report the dog attack

In addition to reporting the accident to the proper authorities, you should also be sure to collect information about the dog, its owner, the accident, and any eyewitnesses to the attack. You may need this information in the future if you decide to pursue a dog bite injury claim in Iowa with a personal injury attorney. Under Iowa Code 351.28, the owner of the dog is liable to the injured person for damages done by the dog.

Consult an Iowa Personal Injury Attorney for Help

To learn more about the legal options that may be available to victims of dog attacks in Iowa, a personal injury attorney at Walker, Billingsley & Bair can provide consultation. We can evaluate the circumstances surrounding the incident, establish owner liability for the dog bite injury, and collect necessary evidence for the claim. The report of a dog attack may be used to establish the circumstances of the incident.

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.