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More than 4 million people are bitten by dogs each year in the United States. More than half of these incidents involve a dog that the victim knew somewhat. Children between the ages of 5 and 9 are most likely to be bitten. Sadly, Virginia is no exception to these startling statistics.
And in some cases, dog bites are debilitating, even leading to deep scarring, serious infections, and medically necessary amputations. Victims are traumatized by the attack and worry, “How can I trust a dog again after being seriously hurt by one?”
But who is responsible if a dog harms someone? Hint: it’s not the dog.
If you or a loved one has been injured in a dog attack in Virginia, we understand the physical and mental pain you are experiencing. We at GibsonSingleton Virginia Injury Attorneys treat every client with compassion and a passion for getting you the compensation you deserve. To find out how we can help you.
Call our Virginia dog bite attorneys at (804) 413-6777 or toll-free at (855) 781-6777.
While we all may affectionately refer to dogs as “man’s best friend,” the truth is that a domestic dog can act as viciously as a wild animal in certain situations. Their attacks can be serious, leaving victims with injuries that can take months or years to heal.
In our experience, some of the most common dog attack injuries include:
On top of that, a dog’s mouth can be a hotbed of bacteria. This means that if you a dog bite wound is not cleaned properly, or if the puncture wound is too deep to be cleaned, serious infection can result. Dog bite infections can quickly make a victim very sick, and in some cases, result in the loss of the infected limb. That’s why, no matter how small a dog bite wound is, seek medical assistance right away to get the wound cleaned.
The quick answer is yes. For bad dog attacks, emergency surgery may be needed to minimize long-term damage. Lacerations often need stitches, and doctors typically prescribe antibiotics for infections, as well as painkillers to reduce the victim’s suffering. If the victim falls hard during an attack, he can even suffer a spinal cord or brain injuries requiring hospitalization. Costs of surgeries, medications, and doctor visits can quickly add up, and a dog attack can become very expensive.
While a dog can pose a threat to anyone, regardless of the person’s age or size, dogs often are more of a danger for children. That’s because even a dog as small as a chihuahua can easily reach and bite a child’s face and other body parts. A larger breed, like a pit bull or rottweiler, can actually crush a child’s bones. Tragically, dog attacks on children are more likely to result in lifelong disabilities or even death than attacks on adults.
Obviously, adults are much stronger than younger children. This means that aggressive dogs can sometimes be deterred by an adult who fights back. However, a five-year-old typically cannot defend himself or deter a dog attack due to lack of strength and the knowledge of how to fight back. If a dog attacks a child, the child is usually at the mercy of the animal, until an adult intervenes.
Further, dogs are typically more likely to attack children than adults in the first place. That’s because adults usually know not to touch or approach animals they don’t know. Adults are also aware of signs that an animal is aggressive. Most young children do not have this life experience or knowledge.
To children, a dog can appear to be the ideal playmate. Many children want to pat, talk to, and touch a dog they meet. A child may not be able to tell when a dog is feeling frightened, frustrated, or aggressive, leading the child to unknowingly push the animal’s boundaries. All of that considered, children are more often the victims of vicious dog attacks than adults.
All adults should keep this in mind and carefully watch children around animals, particularly unfamiliar animals.
The United States’ laws dealing with dogs began in England and were continued here, according to common law. Virginia still adheres to some of the original English rules today.
Since the beginning of our country, people who have owned animals have been held responsible for injuries caused by their pets if they knew (or should have known) that the animal was dangerous.
Many people think there is a universal “one-bite rule,” meaning that owners are not legally responsible for the first attack of their dog. But most people think that authorities can take action if a similar incident happens again. What’s the truth in Virginia about this?
Today, dog owners, in most but not all situations, are still held responsible for harm caused by their dogs. In fact, there have been many cases in Virginia that ensure that dog owners take responsibility for their animals and their aggressive behavior. In a 1967 Virginia case, it was established that the dog owner has the common-law duty of exercising ordinary care to protect other persons from injury that might be inflicted by his dog, and the owner is subject to civil liability for breach of that duty.
Some of the most applicable laws include:
Similarly, many states require dogs to be kept on a leash when outside and also to be registered. In Virginia, there is no statewide leash law, but localities can enact leash laws at their discretion.
Today, dog owners in extreme cases of harm may even face criminal charges.
The Code of Virginia defines a dangerous dog as a canine that has bitten, attacked, inflicted a serious injury on, or killed a companion animal that is a dog or cat, or the canine has bitten, attacked or inflicted injury on a person. If a canine bites another cat or dog on the canine’s owner’s property, the canine is not considered a dangerous dog.
Notably, Virginia law does NOT classify a dog as dangerous based solely on its breed.
Once a court declares a dog to be dangerous, its owner has 30 days to register the dog and pay a $150 fee and an $85 annual renewal fee. After that, the dog must wear a tag identifying it as dangerous. The dog must remain indoors or be securely enclosed to prevent escape or direct contact with people and other animals. When the dog is not indoors, not in a secure enclosure, or off the owner’s property, the dangerous dog must be secured with a leash and muzzle.
But a dog bite case can still be pursued even if the dog wasn’t previously classified as dangerous, as explained above. The owner could also have been warned in other ways that his dog was dangerous.
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Dogs aren’t to blame: they’re just animals, acting the way animals do because of instinct, training, or previous treatment. But the dangers from some dogs are real. So be aware and keep your family, yourself, and your pets as safe as possible.
If you or a loved one is hurt by a dog, you may be entitled to costs for your medical expenses, missed work, pain, and more. At GibsonSingleton Virginia Injury Attorneys, we help people who have been injured through no fault of their own. For a free consultation with a personal injury lawyer in Virginia.
Contact us today at (804) 413-6777 or toll-free at (855) 781-6777.
DISCLAIMER. Each case is handled based on the individual facts and circumstances of the case. These results are NOT indicative of the outcome of any potential case. All case results depend upon a variety of factors unique to each case, and these case results do not guarantee or predict a similar result in any future case undertaken by our firm.
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