Abrasions, Lacerations, and Punctures

When a dog attacks you, it will generally bite or scratch. Either can result in these kinds of injuries. Abrasions are surface-level cuts and scrapes that may be able to be treated at home – though you should still see a medical professional, as any abrasion could get infected and require care. Furthermore, a medical record will be useful if you decide to take legal action.

Lacerations and punctures are more serious. Lacerations are more serious cuts that affect more than the outer layer of skin and can involve muscles and bones. You should absolutely see a doctor for a laceration. Puncture wounds may look less serious in comparison because they’re often smaller, but these can be deep. A puncture wound would be the kind of wound you see when a dog sinks its teeth into you in one place. Like lacerations, these should always be examined by a doctor or other medical professional.

Crushing Injuries and Avulsions

When a person is attacked by a large dog, they may experience crushing injuries. This is when the bones are fractured or crushed by the force of the bite and the weight of the dog. This can be an especially dangerous risk for small children because they’re small to begin with and the force of a big dog can be even more devastating.

An avulsion is when the skin and tissue are actually ripped away from the body – for example, people have had their ears ripped off their heads in animal attacks. When this happens, it’s generally necessary to have reconstructive surgery to repair the damage. Both crushing injuries and avulsions are severe injuries that require immediate medical attention and absolutely should not be untreated or treated at home under any circumstances.

Infections, Rabies, and Tetanus

Sometimes it’s not the injury that’s the real danger, but the infection that can result from an injury. Dog bites can cause serious infections even if the wound isn’t that serious. All the dog has to do is break the skin for bacteria to enter the body and cause an infection. The bacteria could be located in the dog’s mouth, but you can also get an infection from the bacteria on your skin, which is why it’s so important that your wounds and the area around them are thoroughly cleaned out and kept clean.

Specific infections that sometimes result from dog bites are rabies and tetanus. Rabies deaths are relatively uncommon in the United States, but they do still happen. It’s important to find out if the dog that bit you has been vaccinated for rabies – if they haven't or you can’t verify that they have, you need to see a doctor even if the cut is very small. Treatments can stop the development of rabies, but they need to be given soon after infection. Rabies is nearly always fatal, so this is not something to put off.

Tetanus is normally associated with scraping yourself on something rusty or unclean, but in some cases, it can result from a dog bite. If you haven’t been vaccinated for tetanus or haven’t had your booster shot on time, you’ll probably need to get one.

Scarring, Nerve Damage, and Fatalities

Some injuries are ongoing. A scar may last forever, even after the wound has healed. Even in cases where reconstructive surgery is called for and used, you may have scars that won’t go away. Nerve damage is another ongoing issue that can stem from a dog attack. The type of nerve damage depends on the location and severity of the injury, but it can involve temporary or permanent loss of function or feeling or even paralysis.

Tragically, dog attack injuries can also lead to fatalities in some cases. There could be any number of reasons for this, from a serious crushing injury to an infection that wasn’t caught and treated in time. According to the American Veterinary Medicine Association, children are the most common victims of dog bites and the most likely to experience serious injuries. This puts them at greater risk for fatalities, too.

Conclusion

Your legal options vary based on what kinds of injuries you have. You’ll have more medical bills, lost wages, and other damages for an avulsion than an abrasion, for example. Different levels of the same injury may have different remedies as well – a disfiguring facial scar may result in more compensation than a small scar on your foot. A personal injury lawyer can help you understand your options and what the possible outcomes might be, so make sure that after you seek medical attention, your next stop is a dog bite attorney.

Source

• https://www.avma.org/resources-tools/pet-owners/dog-bite-prevention

"The information provided herein is simply a brief overview of the Florida law on this particular matter. It should not be relied upon for legal purposes, as the facts and circumstances to any specific legal matter may vary substantially from the limited explanation and application of often complicated legal rules and principles that may be addressed herein, or applicable in your particular legal matter. You should only rely upon legal advice provided to you by a licensed attorney who has had an opportunity to fully evaluate your particular legal matter".