Attorneys
A child's dog bite attack in Iowa can include lifelong financial, physical, and emotional costs. After you obtain medical treatment for your child, you should contact an Iowa dog bite attorney to make sure you are compensated for present and future expenses resulting from your child's injuries and damages.
Injuries and Damage After a Dog Bite Attack in Iowa
A dog attack can result in:
- Torn clothing
- Bloody clothing
- Scratches
- Bruises
- Deep cuts
- Puncture wounds
- Loss of tissue
- Loss of limbs
- Broken bones
- Crushed bones
- Disfigurement
These physical injuries and damage can be devastating and extremely painful for a child. After a serious dog bite attack, a parent may rush the child to the hospital to obtain medical treatment. The hospital visit is only the first step, because the full effects of a child's dog bite injury are often not visible right away.
When a child suffers serious physical injuries from a dog bite attack, serious surgeries, medications, and therapy may be necessary. These treatments can be costly and time-consuming, as a parent may have to miss work for the child's surgery and post-surgery care.
Emotional distress often affects both the child and the family after a dog bite attack. Medications and psychological therapy may be required to calm persistent fears. It can also be disheartening for a family to watch a child go through these treatments and live with the after-effects of the attack, and this strain can lead to relationship problems and difficulty concentrating.
Statistics and Common Injuries
Children are the most frequent victims of dog bites in the United States. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there are close to 4.5 million dog bites in the United States every year, and about half of these bites involve children. Children between the ages of five and nine receive the most dog bites.
A dog bite is frightening enough for an adult. However, the trauma is increased for a child because of the dog's similar size. The months or even years after a dog bite are marked by physical problems and emotional upheaval, and can include long-term psychological effects.
Children are much more susceptible to the damaging impact of a dog bite. A child's skin is not as tough as an adult's, and children are more likely to suffer broken bones from an attack.
When a dog bites a child, the most common injuries are:
- Ripped scalp
- Torn ears
- Injuries to the mouth
- Eye injuries
Even when these injuries appear to have healed, they may leave behind long-term damage.
Emotional Injuries: Warning Signs by Age
After a child receives medical treatment for a dog bite, parents should watch for signs of emotional injury. Fear, withdrawal, depression, and anger are common, and these symptoms may occur immediately or sometime later. Symptoms vary by the child's age.
Children ages 5 and younger
- Fear of being away from a parent and excessive clinging
- Crying, screaming, aimless motion, and trembling
- Bed-wetting and thumb sucking
- Fear of the dark
Children ages 6 to 11
- Extreme withdrawal and inattentiveness
- Disruptive behavior, outbursts of anger, and fighting
- Nightmares and irrational fears
- Refusal to attend school
- Depression, feelings of guilt, and emotional numbing
- Bodily symptoms that lack a medical basis
Children ages 12 to 17
- Nightmares, flashbacks, and sleep disturbances
- Depression, isolation, and problems with peers
- Avoidance of things that remind them of the event
- Emotional numbing, confusion, and physical complaints
- Substance abuse and suicidal thoughts
- Guilt for not preventing the dog attack
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder After a Dog Bite
A major risk when a child suffers a dog bite is the development of a condition called post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The condition does not always develop immediately after the bite. Symptoms may emerge several weeks or months after the dog bite attack, and PTSD is a particular concern if symptoms persist for more than one month.
Symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder involve a combination of the following:
- Re-experiencing the attack through nightmares, flashbacks, or events that resemble it
- Avoidance of reminders of the dog bite and a general lack of responsiveness
- Sleep disturbances and concentration problems
- Regressive behavior, such as bed-wetting or thumb sucking
- Jumpiness, frequent bouts of crying, and anxiety
- Poor performance in school and lost interest in activities
Long-Term Effects of a Dog Bite Injury on a Growing Child
Scarring is a long-term physical effect of a dog bite injury. A dog bite can inflict deep wounds that injure not just the upper layer of the skin but also go deep into the flesh and bone. As these wounds heal, they leave behind scars that can be bumpy and disfiguring. Reconstructive surgery can help restore the appearance of the child to some extent, but some scarring may remain even after multiple surgeries.
A severed nerve can weaken facial muscles and give the face a "drooping" look or impede facial expressions. Other facial injuries that involve the skin and the bones may also cause some amount of disfigurement as the child continues to grow. For instance, the child may lose facial symmetry.
The physical, emotional, or psychological effects of a dog bite may continue to impact the child's self-esteem, confidence, and emotional growth. A parent may notice an effect on the child's ability to participate in school and activities, as well as on social interactions.
Damages After an Iowa Dog Bite Attack Involving a Child
The damages claimed after an Iowa dog bite attack must include both physical and emotional damages. Depending on the circumstances, these may include compensation for:
- Emergency room and ambulance costs
- Current and future medical expenses
- Follow-up surgeries
- Psychological counseling
- Long-term care, such as home-schooling if your child has PTSD
- Pain and suffering
- Time missed from work to care for your child
Contacting an Iowa Dog Bite Attorney
The Iowa injury attorney team at Walker, Billingsley & Bair works hard to level the field between injured Iowans and insurance companies. We know this can be a hard step to take, and when you are ready, you can speak to an Iowa dog bite attorney about pursuing a fair settlement for all of your child's injuries and long-term damages.
That's why we provide this FREE book, Iowa Consumer's Guide to Dog Bites. To learn more about what our legal team will do to help you protect your Iowa dog bite claim, contact Walker, Billingsley & Bair to schedule a no-cost consultation. Call 641-792-3595 to speak with a dog bite attorney at Walker, Billingsley & Bair and schedule a free consultation.
Read Next
Long-term Effects and Treatment for Dog Bites in Iowa
