Tama Dog Bite Injury Attorneys

Dog bites can result in severe physical injuries, emotional trauma, and significant financial burdens for victims. For Tama residents who have been bitten or attacked by a dog, understanding the legal aspects of recovering damages, the full range of long-term effects a dog bite can produce, and the compensation available for permanent disfigurement is crucial to receiving the support and recovery you deserve.

The dog bite attorneys at Walker, Billingsley & Bair serve injured Iowans statewide and are committed to helping Tama victims pursue every category of compensation available under Iowa law. This article covers three important topics: liability and the full scope of damages available after a dog bite in Iowa, the long-term physical and emotional effects dog attacks can produce and how they are treated, and how compensation is calculated when a dog bite causes permanent disfigurement.

Liability and Recoverable Damages After a Dog Bite in Iowa

According to Section 351.28 of the Iowa Code, dog owners are generally liable for damages caused by their dogs biting someone, regardless of the owner's negligence. However, exceptions exist, such as when the victim provoked the dog in a cruel manner, or when the dog has rabies. An exception to the rabies exception applies if the owner knew the dog had rabies and could have prevented the injury through reasonable effort. Victims should be aware of their rights under Iowa law and seek legal guidance to navigate the complexities of these cases.

Types of Compensation Available to Dog Bite Victims

Victims of dog bites in Tama may be entitled to several categories of compensation. Medical expenses are recoverable, including the cost of all reasonable and necessary medical care already incurred and that are reasonably certain to be incurred in the future because of the injury. This includes hospital care, medical treatment, therapy, nursing, diagnostic testing, surgery, physical rehabilitation, and pain management. You can recover the full value of your medical expenses even if your health insurer has already paid all or part of your bills.

Lost wages, also known as loss of earnings, are also recoverable, including wages, commissions, bonuses, and all other earnings and fringe benefits, even if your employer or disability insurance has paid all or part of them. If your injuries permanently limit your ability to earn, you can recover the value of that reduction in earning capacity, compensating you for lost earning power over the remainder of your working years.

Pain and suffering is ordinarily the most valuable element of a bodily injury claim, compensating you for the physical pain and mental anguish you have suffered and will continue to endure because of your injury. Loss of full mind and body reimburses you for any loss of function or use of your body or mind. Disfigurement, including scarring or other unsightly marks, is also compensable, along with the humiliation or embarrassment associated with it.

When a serious injury to a spouse or child damages that relationship, compensation may be available for the loss of society, affection, and assistance. In the most tragic cases involving wrongful death, damages are available to the beneficiaries of the deceased, including compensation for loss of consortium, defined as the loss of companionship, comfort, guidance, affection, and aid within the family.

Long-Term Effects and Treatment for Dog Bites in Tama

Dog attacks can have lasting effects on victims, both physically and mentally. If you have been the victim of a dog bite in Tama, understanding the potential long-term effects and seeking appropriate treatment is crucial to your recovery.

Physical Disfigurement

Some dog bites result in permanent physical disfigurement, including permanent scars, paralysis or partial paralysis, mobility problems, and amputation. Plastic or reconstructive surgery may be necessary to address these injuries, but certain conditions like paralysis may be irreversible, requiring victims to cope with lifelong disabilities.

Mental and Emotional Trauma

Dog attacks can cause significant mental and emotional trauma, particularly in children. Symptoms may include post-traumatic stress disorder, acting out traumatic incidents, fear, stress, and anger, loneliness and aggression, and in severe cases, self-harm or substance abuse. Children attacked by dogs may develop attachment disorders, while adults commonly experience PTSD symptoms. Counseling and therapy are essential for addressing these psychological injuries.

Infections and Disease

While rare, dog bites can transmit infections and diseases, such as rabies, which can be deadly if left untreated. Other complications may include sepsis, loss of function, and death. Prompt medical attention is crucial to prevent and effectively treat these complications.

Treatment for Dog Bite Injuries

Treatment for deep dog bites often involves stitches or staples to close wounds, though the appropriate treatment plan depends on the severity and location of the injury. Complications may include infection, scarring, and damage to underlying structures. Aftercare instructions are essential for preventing complications, including keeping the wound clean, using prescribed medications, and receiving a tetanus shot if necessary.

Steps to Take After a Dog Attack

If you or a loved one has been bitten by a dog in Tama, take the following steps. Seek medical attention immediately. Report the attack to local authorities. Collect information from the dog owner, including their dog's rabies vaccination status. Contact a personal injury attorney in Iowa for legal advice and representation. Victims of dog attacks may be entitled to compensation for medical expenses, pain and suffering, lost wages, and more, and an experienced personal injury attorney can help navigate the legal process and pursue these damages on your behalf.

Seeking Compensation for Permanent Disfigurement from a Dog Bite

Disfigurement from a dog bite may be associated with various damages that may be recoverable in a claim, including medical bills needed to treat injuries related to the disfigurement, as well as any emotional damages the victim may experience.

A Closer Look at Disfiguring Dog Bite Injuries

Although some dog bites leave superficial wounds requiring nothing more than a good cleansing, other injuries puncture or tear the skin or cause severe disfigurement. The scarring from a dog bite can cause the skin to be raised, jagged, or otherwise look unnatural. Visible wounds, such as those on the face, neck, arms, and hands, are generally sutured to diminish scarring, while other less visible or less severe wounds on the body may be left to heal on their own.

When the damage to skin is significant, skin grafting may be required, in which skin is taken from another part of the body to repair the damaged area. Orthopedic surgery to repair broken bones may be necessary in some cases to address disfigurement caused by a dog bite or attack, and reconstructive or cosmetic surgery may also be required depending on the nature and severity of the injuries. In addition to concerns about outward appearance, infection is a common concern with dog bite victims, and vaccinations or other treatments may be administered as a precaution.

Economic and Noneconomic Damages from Disfiguring Injuries

In cases of disfigurement from a dog bite, a victim may recover two types of damages: economic and noneconomic. Economic damages relate to medical care and treatment received, as well as other financial expenses and losses. It is important to consider not only current bills but any future expenses if additional surgeries, such as cosmetic procedures, will be necessary. Economic damages can also include the income a victim loses while recovering, including any future time off work to undergo treatment.

Many dog bite victims find the emotional trauma significant enough that it becomes necessary to seek counseling or other psychological care, and these costs may also be included in economic damages. Noneconomic damages address the consequences and losses experienced as a result of a disfiguring dog bite injury, including pain and suffering, mental anguish, and diminished quality of life resulting from embarrassment over severe scarring and difficulty with social situations.

The Emotional Impact of Disfigurement

When someone is disfigured from a dog bite, particularly if it affects the most visible areas of the body such as the face, hands, and arms, the victim might feel embarrassment and avoid social situations. Disfigurement can cause victims to become self-conscious. The injured person might receive stares and frequently field questions about their disfigurement, leading to feelings of alienation and varying degrees of social impairment. Researchers at the Centre for Appearance Research at the University of the West of England have explained that people with disfigurements often have negative self-perceptions and difficulties with social interactions, which can involve cycles of social anxiety, fear of negative social evaluation, lowered self-esteem, unfavorable body image, and excessive social avoidance.

Treatment for Emotional Injuries Related to Disfigurement

Disfiguring injuries from a dog bite can lead to post-traumatic stress disorder and other psychological and emotional disorders that require ongoing treatment. These treatments may include cognitive techniques, psychotherapy, psychosocial interventions, physiotherapy, speech therapy, EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing), counseling, lifestyle changes, and medications. Survivors of physically disfiguring trauma face extraordinary challenges to their resilience, requiring them to find new identities to fit new body images, a process that is complex and difficult for both children and adults.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that dog bite injuries affect approximately 800,000 people every year in the United States, with injury rates highest among children between the ages of five and nine. No matter a victim's age, the effects of dog bite injuries can be devastating, impacting their life socially and even professionally.

When to Contact Tama Dog Bite Lawyers

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.

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