Most dog bite injury victims in California are children. Their natural love of animals and curiosity and trust expose them to serious risks from dog bite injuries. It is quite natural for a child to bend down to greet a dog face-to-face. Unfortunately, they do not realize their behavior may startle the dog or come across to the animal as an attack. The result can be a vicious bite, often to the face, torso, arms or hands.
When a child is bitten by a dog resulting in injuries the first step is to carefully cleanse the wound. Infection is one of the greatest dangers in a dog bite wound. The old saying that a dog’s mouth is cleaner than a human’s is simply untrue. The Law Firm of Rivers Morrell is concerned about dog bite injuries and provides free information to help families to avoid the potential for a dog bite and to care for the wounds which result from a dog attack.
Dog bites leave uneven tears in the skin which often leave substantial scarring. There may be damage to underlying nerves and tendons which can affect motor skills and range of motion. In many cases multiple plastic surgery procedures are required to reduce the visibility of scarring, especially on the face or torso. Children often require extensive emotional counseling to help them cope with the shock of the attack and to re-establish confidence and trust in public areas such as the neighborhood or a park. The costs of initial and ongoing medical care, plastic surgery, physical and emotional therapy are the responsibility of the dog’s owner.
California is a “strict liability” state which means the owner of a dog is strictly liable for any actions taken by the dog which result in injury. After more than 40 years of personal injury experience here in Southern California I can share that most dog bite injury victims in California are children – often under the age of 10. If your child has suffered injuries as a result of a dog bite or dog attack I invite you to contact me personally, or call (949)305-1400 for a free consultation. There is no cost to you or your family out of pocket for our services as we work on a contingency fee basis.
