It’s every parent’s worst nightmare. You’re peacefully enjoying time with your family at the park when a dog approaches and attacks your child. Unfortunately, dog attacks are becoming more common in Pennsylvania and across the country, and their impact on your child and your family can be significant.
By understanding your rights and taking control of the legal process after a dog bites your child, you can strengthen the recovery process and ensure your child has the resources they need well into the future.
Take Your Child for a Doctor’s Exam – Even If You Don’t Suspect Dog Bite Injuries
Ensure your child goes through a medical exam after a dog bite, even if you don’t think they have a serious injury. A dog bite wound can become infected, and small hand bones can break without your child showing outward signs of a health issue.
Your doctor will advise you of the signs of infection, examine your child, and may recommend an x-ray or further diagnostic care if they suspect your child has a dog bite injury.
Collect All Medical Evidence of Your Child’s Dog Bite Injury
After undergoing a doctor’s exam and diagnostic testing, you’ll have the evidence to pursue legal action in your child’s dog bite case. It’s important to note that you only have to prove the dog injured your child and not that the dog owner was negligent, to receive compensation for your child’s medical expenses.
In child dog bite cases, the weight of the evidence, and the substantial amount of evidence are leading factors in successful compensation claims.
Collect and organize the following documents to support your child’s successful dog bite case:
- Doctor’s reports
- X-rays
- Specialist’s analysis
- Prescriptions
- Specialist’s reports on injury prognosis
Consider the Impact of Cosmetic Damage After Your Child’s Dog Bite Injury
Dog bite scars should be a serious consideration when evaluating the total impact of the dog bite on your child after an attack. While superficial cosmetic damage might not be as impactful as broken bones, internal damage, and other serious dog bite injuries, your child may experience longer-term psychological effects from dog bite scarring.
Can I Sue for Scar Removal After a Dog Bites My Child?
Yes, within the Pennsylvania court system, you can sue for cosmetic treatment costs after a dog bite. A recent 2022 study showed most dog attacks on children involved bite injuries to the head and neck. Scarring to the face can profoundly impact your child and their social development, so discuss cosmetic interventions with a specialist at the first opportunity within the bite recovery process.
When pursuing a claim for cosmetic injuries against a dog owner and their insurance company, ensure you have the following documents backing your claims:
- A cosmetic specialist’s report and prognosis
- A psychologist’s report highlighting the impact scarring can have on your child
- Evidence of your child missing school and social events due to treatment
When Should I Begin My Child’s Dog Bite Injury Claim?
You have until the child’s 20th birthday to file a dog bite claim on their behalf. However, speaking with a dog bite lawyer in the weeks after the incident can help you create a plan for the litigation process.
Dog bite attorneys like Jeffrey Penneys offer a free consultation to explore your case and ensure your questions are answered by those with decades of experience negotiating compensation and litigating child dog bite injury cases in the Pennsylvania courts.
The Earlier You Begin, the Better the Results for Your Child’s Dog Bite Case
Contacting a dog bite lawyer in the weeks after the injury ensures all information pertaining to the case is fresh, and details such as treatment costs, how the attack unfolded, and contact details are available for you and your dog bite attorney to utilize as you build your case.
Booking a consultation with an attorney at this early stage will also give you access to their full range of child dog bite resources. Your attorney can put you into contact with cosmetic surgeons and make recommendations on psychologists who can then support your child and your family through the recovery stages.
Take the next step. Book your free, no-obligation dog bite consultation with the Law Offices of Jeffrey Penneys and start your child’s case backed by over 25 years of Pennsylvania dog bite law experience. Call 215-771-0430 now.