Belmond Dog Bite Injury Attorneys

Common Dog Bite Myths and Misconceptions

Every day, people ask questions about what to do after a dog bite, and many of the answers are surprising to those who have not dealt with a claim before.

Myth: The Insurance Adjuster Is There to Help You

The insurance adjuster works for the dog owner and the owner's insurance company, not for the injured person, and has no duty to protect your rights or even tell you what the law is. Being reasonable with an adjuster does not guarantee the adjuster will be reasonable in return, since adjusters are trained to pay as little as possible on a claim. Sometimes this means intentionally frustrating a victim in hopes that person gives up. If you choose to handle your own case, avoid losing your temper or making threats, since showing anger will never convince an insurance company to offer more money and may instead be used against you.

Myth: You Have to Give a Recorded Statement

An adjuster will often ask for a recorded statement, sometimes claiming your claim cannot be considered without one. While this can be true for certain claims against your own insurance company, such as property damage, you are not legally required to give a recorded statement to the other party's insurer in a dog bite case. Adjusters want recorded statements so they can ask questions before you are prepared to answer them, and a single answer to a question you misunderstood, such as one about prior pain in the affected area, can seriously damage your credibility and cost you significant value in your case.

Permanent Disfigurement From a Dog Bite

Some dog bites leave only superficial wounds that heal with simple cleaning, while others puncture or tear the skin and cause severe disfigurement. Scarring from a dog bite can leave the skin raised, jagged, or otherwise unnatural in appearance. Visible wounds on the face, neck, arms, or hands are generally sutured to reduce scarring, while less visible or less severe wounds elsewhere on the body may be left to heal on their own. When skin damage is significant, skin grafting may be necessary, using skin taken from another part of the body to repair the injured area. Orthopedic surgery may also be required to repair broken bones, and reconstructive or cosmetic surgery may be needed depending on the severity of the injury.

Economic and Noneconomic Damages

A Belmond dog bite victim dealing with disfigurement may be able to recover both economic and noneconomic damages. Economic damages relate to medical care and treatment, including future expenses if additional surgeries such as cosmetic procedures become necessary, along with lost income during recovery and any future time off work required for treatment. Emotional trauma is common after a disfiguring dog bite, and the cost of counseling or other psychological care may also be included as an economic damage.

Noneconomic damages address the broader consequences of a disfiguring injury, including pain and suffering, mental anguish, and diminished quality of life. This can include embarrassment over visible scarring and difficulty navigating social situations as a result of the disfigurement.

Diseases That Can Result From a Dog Bite

Beyond visible wounds and scarring, a dog bite can also expose a victim to serious, and sometimes life-threatening, disease.

If you have been bitten by a dog near Belmond, seeing a doctor as soon as possible is essential, both for your health and for documenting the injury. When someone is seriously injured after a dog bite, compensation may be available to cover damages such as medical costs, lost wages, and pain and suffering.