I’m very sorry to hear about your daughter’s dog bite and her scar. Dog bites are very common in the U.S. According to the Centers for Disease Control, about 4.5 million people are bitten by dogs each year. Fortunately, the majority of those bites are minor and require no medical treatment or very minor medical treatment. However, many of the bites are very serious and can cause problems for decades for the victim.
If your son or daughter suffered a serious dog bite that caused scarring, there may be not only physical effects, but also psychological effects. If there was extensive scarring, your child likely required not only normal medical treatment, but also plastic surgery in order to repair the scars. If your child’s appearance was greatly changed, he or she most likely had emotional trauma and may need counseling to heal. Many victims of dog bites also develop a fear of animals after the attack.
Legally, your best option may be helping your daughter to pursue a lawsuit against the dog’s owner or the owner of the property where the accident occurred. Unfortunately, in many dog bite cases, the dog’s owner is never found, or there may not be enough assets or insurance to pay for damages. If you can find the responsible party, and there are assets or insurance to cover the damages, your child can possibly recover compensation for past and future medical expenses (including plastic surgery), counseling, future scarring, pain and suffering, and more.
If your child has been attacked by a dog in the Los Angeles area, you need to speak with an attorney. Call me, Conal Doyle, Los Angeles personal injury attorney at 310-385-0567. My team can help. Call today to learn more or to schedule a free consultation on your case.