Dogs are our loyal, furry companions. They play well with children, keep our stress levels down and help us get more exercise. However, given the right circumstance, a seemingly friendly dog can become dangerous.
Dog bites are one of the most common injuries in the United States. On average, nearly 800,000 people need medical care after receiving a dog bite. Young children are particularly susceptible to dog bites because they aren’t as familiar with the potential aggressive tendencies that dogs can have.
Long-term consequences of a dog attack
Some dog bites are minor and may not require extensive medical attention. However, other dog bites can inflict major injuries such as puncture wounds, lacerations and even broken bones. A dog bite injury can also cause long-term problems, including:
- Infection
- Disease
- Nerve damage
- Scarring
- Disfigurement
- Trauma
In the unfortunate event that your dog bite amounts to any of these problems, you may be facing expensive surgeries, medical bills and treatment costs.
Getting compensation for your injuries
In Kentucky, a dog owner is liable for any damage that their pet caused in an unprovoked attack. An unprovoked attack means that you weren’t harassing or mistreating the animal or doing anything else untoward that gave the dog reason to attack.
Proving whether or not an attack was provoked can sometimes be challenging. As mentioned earlier, children are often victims of dog bites. They may unintentionally provoke dogs because of their erratic and unpredictable behavior, such as sudden bursts of energy and loud screams or squeals.
Whether you’re an adult or a child suffering from a dog bite injury, one helpful way to determine whether you provoked the attack or not is to ask for eyewitness testimonies that can support your claim.
Ultimately, in the case of an unprovoked attack, you can file a personal injury claim and get compensation for any damages you may have suffered.