Montgomery County Dog Bite Lawyers
Dog and animal bites are a major problem in the State of Pennsylvania and throughout the country. When you consider the sheer number of pet dogs in U.S. households, it’s no surprise that more than 800,000 Americans require medical treatment for dog bites every year. In fact, one out of five dog bite incidents demands medical attention to treat bite wounds and to prevent dangerous infections. Dog bite injuries can vary from a minor scrape to severe impairment, and even wrongful death in the most extreme cases.
If you or someone close to you has been bitten by a dog, you may be entitled to medical and financial compensation for your injuries through punitive measures against the dog owner. Pennsylvania law states that dog owners bear a legal obligation to keep their pets from harming other people. In certain cases, owners will be responsible for covering all financial damages—medical and otherwise—for an attack that causes serious bodily injury.
Injured Due To A Dog Bite And Have Questions? We Can Help, Tell Us What Happened.
After a dog bite, the experienced personal injury lawyers at Rubin, Glickman, Steinberg & Gifford P.C. can help you pursue compensation for your losses. Let us help you heal—both physically and financially—by getting your case started today. Call (215) 822-7575 or complete our contact form today.
The Most Common Injuries Stemming from Dog Bites in Southeastern Pennsylvania
Every year, thousands of Pennsylvanians are injured because of the negligence of dog owners. Dog bites take a number of different forms and lead to a range of injuries. If you were attacked by a dog, it’s important that you know what kind of dog bite injuries you sustained. Here’s a look at some of the most common injuries that stem from dog bites:
Puncture Wounds
A puncture wound might not look as dramatic as some other dog bite injuries because they typically don’t bleed as much and normally close on their own. The truth is, however, that puncture wounds can be very serious. Perhaps most importantly, puncture wounds are prone to infection. If the infection sets in, the complications can be life-threatening and lead to serious nerve damage that may affect your day-to-day life. Puncture wounds can also cause other dangerous medical conditions such as rabies, blood poisoning, and tetanus.
Infections
Because dog bites and scratches involve dog teeth and paws that are often covered in soil, waste, bacteria, and other unclean materials, there’s a high chance of infection. Signs of a dog bite infection include redness, swelling, pus, tenderness, and heat. The very young, the very old, and the sick may be especially prone to a dog bite infection.
Scars and Disfigurement
Even though most dog bites will heal, some could leave the victim with permanent facial or body scarring. Whether you have an avulsion, laceration, or a deep abrasion, scarring is a legitimate possibility after a dog bite, especially for children. To reduce the long-term effects of scarring, your doctors may be able to do skin grafts or use laser therapy.
Nerve Damage
If the bite extends into the nerves, you may experience nerve damage. Depending on the extent of the injury, this can lead to temporary loss of function or permanent loss of ability in that part of your body. In extreme cases, nerve damage can cause permanent paralysis.
Rabies
Rabies is a viral infection that affects the central nervous system, typically transmitted through the saliva of an infected host. Worldwide, there are about 50,000 deaths per year due to rabies. Fortunately, that risk is relatively minimal in the United States, but transmission can still arise if an irresponsible dog owner fails to keep their pets up to date on rabies vaccinations.
Wrongful Death
Even the most well-trained dogs can attack others. Whether the attack was provoked or the victim did nothing at all to incite the deadly attack, it’s important that Pennsylvania residents get the help they need after losing a loved one to a dog bite fatality.
It’s also important to note that victims of dog bite injuries are often children who play and move erratically around dogs. Children may misinterpret a dog’s behavior as playful when, in fact, an attack is imminent. However, it’s not up to children to prevent these injuries. In most cases, that responsibility sits squarely with the dog owner. When injuries of any kind are sustained—whether the victim is a child or not—it’s important to get in touch with legal experts who can help. Contact our dog bite lawyer in Montgomery County today to schedule your free initial consultation.
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Dog Bites and Strict Liability in Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania’s Dog Law requires owners to have reasonable control over their dogs at all times. The law also requires owners to confine their dogs on their premises and restrain them with a collar or chain to prevent straying. Dog bite victims who prove that a dog owner violated Pennsylvania’s confinement statute may be able to recover damages.
Pennsylvania law also states that dog owners are strictly liable for the behavior of their dogs. In other words, dog owners are accountable for damages under any circumstance besides when the dog is provoked. For example, even if the dog had no prior history of violence or if it was secured by a leash, the dog owner is still liable.
If the state determines that an owner has a “dangerous dog,” owners must register their dogs as dangerous and maintain liability insurance coverage of at least $50,000 for any personal injuries inflicted by the dangerous dog. A “dangerous dog,” in this case, is considered one that has done one or more of the following without provocation:
- Inflicted severe injury on a person that results in broken bones or disfiguring lacerations
- Killed or inflicted severe injury on a domestic animal while off the owner’s property
- Attacked a person
If you or a loved one has been attacked by a dog, contact our team as soon as possible. Our Montgomery County dog bite attorneys have extensive experience handling dog bite injury lawsuits and are prepared to help you obtain the compensation you need as you fight through this difficult time.
Schedule Your Free Initial Consultation with a Dog Bite Attorney in Southeastern Pennsylvania
If you or someone in your family has been injured by a dog, reach out to a knowledgeable Southeastern Pennsylvania personal injury lawyer as soon as possible. The skilled dog bite injury lawyers at Rubin, Glickman, Steinberg & Gifford P.C. will meet with you one-on-one to discuss your case and any potential obstacles during a free consultation. We’ll outline the facts and circumstances surrounding any impending legal action and will help you determine the most strategic method to compensate you for any lost wages, medical bills, property damage, and psychological trauma associated with the dog bite.
For nearly 68 years, our attorneys have been serving the legal needs of clients in Montgomery County, Bucks County, and throughout the surrounding areas. We have two locations in Colmar, PA and Newtown, PA and are located right off of Route 309. Give us a call at (215) 822-7575 or complete our online contact form today!