Child Dog Bite Injury

Scottsdale dog bite lawyers understand that a vicious dog attack, especially on a child, has the potential to be catastrophic or fatal. Recently, there was a report of two separate dog attacks within a week in Fremont, California. One of the attacks involved a 5-year-old girl whose ear was ripped off by a German Shepherd mix that had a history of aggression. An earlier incident involved a 7-year-old girl who was bitten by a Labrador retriever mix. Both victims were transported to local hospitals with injuries. Thankfully, they are both expected to survive.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), children are more likely than adults to require medical attention following a dog bite. The most common victims of dog bite injuries are between the ages of 5 and 9. In fact, 42 percent of all dog bites involve a child under the age of 14.

Children should be taught to avoid dogs they are not familiar with. Children should also learn to not run or scream from a dog but instead stand still. It is not safe to make eye contact with a potentially dangerous dog either. Dogs should not be disturbed when sleeping or eating. Children should understand very clearly that they are not to approach a strange dog.

That said, no amount of precaution can prevent all Arizona dog bite injuries. There are many cases where dogs attack victims unprovoked. There are also cases where dangerous dogs are allowed by their owners to roam loose in the neighborhood. This puts others at risk. If you have been injured in a dog attack, the Arizona personal injury attorneys of The Breyer Law Offices P.C. can help explain your legal rights and options. Call us today at 602-457-6222 for a no-cost consultation.

Children are by far the most common victims of Arizona dog attacks. There are a number of steps you can take to help decrease the chances of your child being bitten by a dog. Unfortunately, not all attacks can be prevented. If a dog has harmed you or a loved one, please do not hesitate to seek medical attention and to speak to a skilled personal injury attorney.

Teaching a child proper and safe behavior around a dog can help prevent them from becoming an Arizona child dog bite victim. It is important that your child learn to never touch a dog that is eating, sleeping or caring for puppies. It is also dangerous for a child to approach a strange dog. If the dog begins to move towards the child, the child would be well advised to not make eye contact and to not run and scream. As a general rule, it is not safe to pet a dog until the owner gives permission. Sudden and unexpected touching may startle a dog and make the animal aggressive. Even the most passive of animals may lash out of it feels scared or that it is in danger. It is also never wise to move towards a dog that is off leash and wandering around the neighborhood.

If a child is injured in an Arizona dog attack, the family may pursue financial compensation on the child’s behalf. Under Arizona statute 11-1025, the owner of a dog may be held liable for the actions of their pet “regardless of the former viciousness of the dog or the owner’s knowledge of its viciousness.” Parents of injured children can seek compensation from the dog’s owner for all medical expenses, even cost of cosmetic surgery and psychological counseling.

The reputed Phoenix dog bite attorneys at The Breyer Law Offices P.C. help families receive the compensation they need following an Arizona dog attack. If your child has been bitten by a dog, please contact our law offices at 602-978-6400 for a free, comprehensive and confidential consultation.

Child dog bite attorneys in Arizona see what is becoming a disturbing trend. Too often small children become the victims in vicious dog attacks. As a result, and particularly because of the height of most children injured in such dog attacks, serious facial injury and scarring occurs. This can cause added problems after any serious dog attack in Phoenix, Tucson, or elsewhere in Arizona.

As experienced Phoenix personal injury lawyers, we understand that there is no magic formula that can undo the damage caused by any Arizona dog attack on a child. No amount of compensation, money, or anything else the Arizona court system decides can help a child fully recover from a serious dog bite or attack on a child.

While money is not the solution for many things, financial compensation in dog bite cases is obviously helpful. It can pay for plastic surgery, counseling by a psychologist or other mental health professional, or provide resources to help a child deal with the injuries resulting from a dog attack in the future. All this is what a lawsuit can accomplish for child victims of Arizona dog bites and attacks.

Yet filing a lawsuit when a child has been injured because of a Tucson dog attack is not every family’s right. Other considerations must be taken into account. For questions about whether you may have a valid personal injury claim after a child is bitten by a dog, we urge you to contact us. We understand as experienced Phoenix dog attack lawyers in what information you need to make the best decision for you, your family, and the child.

Arizona dog bite lawyers see a far too common and disturbing trend. Far too often, and disproportionately, it is small children that are attacked by dogs. Very often, because of the height of the children compared to the dog, serious facial scarring occurs when a dog attacks. It is unacceptable, it is sad, and it can be very difficult not only for the child but for the entire family after such an attack.

There is no magic wand in the law that can undo these tragedies. There is nothing – no money, no compensation, nothing in the court system – that can replace what has been lost after a serious dog bite or attack to a child.

However, while money is not the solution for everything, it can be helpful. It can pay off medical bills and reduce stress to the family. It can pay for future plastic surgery that can help the child. In cases of severe attack where the child may want to speak to a counselor or psychologist, it can provide the monies necessary to do so. It can also provide money the child is rightfully owed under the law at a later date. All of these things can be helped by a lawsuit after the fact.

However, filing a lawsuit when a child has been injured is not right for every family. There are many considerations that need to be taken into account. If you have any questions whatsoever about whether you want to pursue a claim after a child has been bitten by a dog, please feel free to contact our Phoenix child injury dog bite attorneys at Breyer Law Offices, P.C. We understand you have many questions and you deserve honest answers to those questions so that you can make the best decision for yourself, your family, and – most importantly – your child.