Recently in Toronto, a dog attack left a puppy dead and a 12-year old girl in need of stitches. Dog attacks are becoming increasingly common throughout Canada, and it is prompting some concerned citizens to take action and get certain breeds banned, especially Pit Bulls. In just two years, from 2014 to 2016, there were over 100 dog attacks reported, all of them involving this particular breed. Dog attacks of various breeds, but especially Pit Bulls and Rottweilers, have also been the cause of 43 deaths in the country.
Many people may not realize that if they have been attacked by a dog, it could result in a personal injury case. For those who do get attacked and injured by a dog, or a loved one has died as a result of a dog attack, they shouldn’t hesitate to try to recover damages, or to contact a personal injury lawyer.
Injuries Sustained from Dog Attacks
Getting bitten or attacked by a dog can result in serious injury. Oftentimes, these injuries require stitches or other types of treatment in an emergency room or by a physician. Some of the most common injuries sustained from dog attacks include:
- Deep puncture wounds that cause blood loss
- Infections from bites and scratches
- Permanent scarring on exposed parts of the skin
In some instances, a dog attack can cause permanent damage to the nerves. Besides physical trauma, many people, especially children, are emotionally scarred for life after getting attacked by a dog, and some will suffer Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) as a result. For both physical and emotional scars, treatment and therapy is quite costly.
When It Becomes a Personal Injury Case
Dog owners should be held responsible for their pet’s behavior, which means if their dog attacks anyone and medical treatment is required as a result, the owner should pay for the injured party’s medical bills. If the dog owner refuses to do so, the party that sustained the injury might have a viable personal injury case.
If it can be proven that the owner was negligent, such as not having their dog on a leash or the dog was not provoked when it attacked, the injured party should try to receive compensation. If the injured party wins the case, compensation will cover medical costs associated with treating the sustained injuries, along with lost wages, and any necessary treatment for emotional trauma.