Dogs are wonderful companion animals and pets, but being around them comes with the risk of bites. Most dog bites are minor and just require basic first aid, but if you or a loved one suffers a more serious injury, you should know how to treat it and when to get professional medical care.
Below, our Connecticut dog bite lawyer discusses how to clean a dog bite, how a doctor might treat you, and when you may need to file a lawsuit against the dog’s owner.
After a Dog Bite, Get to Safety and Begin Care Immediately
Your own pet may bite you, or a loose dog in your neighborhood could attack your child. Regardless of where the bite occurs, you should try to get away from the dog as soon as possible. Demand that the owner remove the dog or ask others to help you get away so you can begin taking care of the wound.
Follow these steps right after a dog bite, as recommended by the Cleveland Clinic:
- Clean the Bite and Surrounding Area: Wash your hands, then carefully wash the bite with mild soap and warm running water. Pat dry with a clean towel.
- Apply Pressure: Using another clean towel, apply gentle pressure to allow the blood to clot and stop any bleeding.
- Apply Antibiotic Cream: Gently cover the puncture wounds with antibiotic ointment, preferably one with lidocaine or another pain reliever.
- Apply a Gauze Dressing: Cover the wound with a large bandage or gauze and tape to protect the wound.
- Change the Bandage Regularly: Change the dressing at least four times daily until you can get to your doctor or an urgent care facility.
Try to get the wound as clean as possible and keep a close eye on it every time you change the bandage. Take photos of the wound right away and as you heal, so you can verify whether it’s getting better or worse. These pictures can also help if you file an insurance claim or lawsuit against the dog’s owner.
See Your Doctor for More Severe Dog Bites
Even if the bite seems minor, it’s wise to visit a healthcare provider for a thorough examination. Dog bites most commonly occur on hands or feet, and these areas are home to many delicate structures. Damage to nerves or bones can lead to serious issues later in life.
Your doctor can perform the following actions for more serious bites:
- Examine and Clean the Wound: If your doctor finds dirt or foreign objects in the wound, they can irrigate it with saline to thoroughly clean it. Called debridement, this process also removes any loose or damaged tissue so the doctor can assess the wound more accurately.
- Scan the Area: Your doctor may order X-rays or other tests to determine whether you have broken or crushed bones or if you suffered nerve damage.
- Suture the Dog Bite: If the bites are deep or damaged a large portion of the area, your doctor may sew up the wound. They may also use special strips or glue to close up the bite.
- Administer Antibiotics: Your doctor may use an injection or prescribe pills for a course of antibiotics to prevent infection.
- Administer Injections: If your doctor suspects you could contract tetanus or rabies, they will order treatment to prevent these deadly conditions.
As reported by Dog Bite Studies, almost 1,000 people every year get emergency medical attention following a dog bite. Call 911 for an ambulance or ask someone to drive you to the hospital if you are badly injured by a dog. The ER doctor can stabilize you and refer you to an appropriate surgeon.
What Can Happen If You Don’t Clean a Dog Bite?
The number one concern is infection. Some of the most common signs of an infection after a dog bite include redness, swelling, and warmth surrounding the wound. Infection can further damage your tissues and spread throughout your body. By cleaning the wound, seeing a doctor, and taking antibiotics, you can prevent infection and heal more quickly.
You’re also at high risk of contracting tetanus, which causes muscle spasms and rigidity either just in the bite area or all over your body. This condition can be painful and even lead to death if untreated. If your last tetanus shot was over five years before the bite happened, your doctor will probably give you a new one.
Without immediate medical care, you could also suffer numbness, tingling, or movement issues if the bite damaged your nerves. Without cleaning and treatment, this could lead to more severe issues, such as loss of function or sensation in the bite area.
Different Levels of Dog Bites
The Dunbar Dog Bite Scale, created by veterinarian Dr. Ian Dunbar, provides doctors with a guide for rating dog bite severity. As part of your medical record, it helps surgeons and other medical providers understand what happened and how badly you are hurt. The types of dog bites are:
- Level 1: Aggressive behavior with no contact from the dog, although you may fall down if the dog lunges at you, causing other injuries. You may also have emotional trauma despite there being no actual bite.
- Level 2: The dog’s teeth touched your skin but didn’t break it. You may have a rash or redness without puncture wounds.
- Level 3: You have shallow punctures from the dog’s teeth, which your doctor will measure. At this level, the wounds are no deeper than half the length of the dog’s canine teeth.
- Level 4: You have deep puncture wounds, measuring over half the length of the dog’s teeth. These can be especially dangerous for children and elderly patients, leading to serious skin, bone, and nerve damage.
- Level 5: You suffer multiple deep bites that tear or even remove flesh. You must get immediate medical care to prevent loss of life.
- Level 6: The victim dies from the dog attack.
When to Seek Medical Attention After a Dog Bite
At Level 3 and above, you must seek a doctor’s care to assess and treat your bite. We recommend reporting the incident and the name of the dog’s owner to the local police and Connecticut Animal Control. You should also speak with a dog bite attorney to discuss your legal options for holding the dog’s owner accountable.
If your loved one passes away due to a dog attack, you may have grounds to file a wrongful death claim against the owner. If the owner knew the dog was dangerous, the authorities may bring criminal charges. You still have the right to seek compensation through a civil lawsuit with the help of a wrongful death lawyer.
Why Do Dogs Bite People?
The American Kennel Club states that dogs may bite because they’re afraid, in pain, startled, or frustrated. They may also bite someone when they are guarding food or as a form of play. Properly socializing a dog can prevent some of these, but any dog of any size can bite under the right conditions.
In addition to socializing and training their dogs, owners can prevent bites by restraining their dogs and keeping them in good health, according to the American Veterinary Medical Association.
In Connecticut, leash laws require owners to properly contain their dogs on their home property and use a leash whenever the dog is in any public area. Still, a dog can break free and injure someone because they feel threatened or overstimulated while playing.
Don’t Forget to Treat the Emotional Wounds From a Dog Bite
There’s another layer to handling dog bites beyond getting medical care. It involves the emotional trauma and fear that often result from suddenly experiencing harm from an animal. It’s hard to say whether the damage is worse when the dog that bit you was your own or a stranger, but treating it is a crucial part of your full recovery.
The impact of a dog bite is often extremely severe for children. They may develop a lifelong fear of dogs and all animals, potentially harming their ability to form relationships or even maintain employment. You should speak with your child as a parent, but also consider seeking professional counseling to help them overcome any issues.
Those who suffer scarring or disfigurement from a dog bite may experience depression and isolation from society, particularly for facial wounds. According to DogsBite.org, children between 0 and 2 years old make up 26% of annual fatalities from dog bites, leaving their family members distraught. Care for these mental health concerns is vital, and the expense can become part of your compensation demands if you choose to file a personal injury lawsuit.
When You May Need to File a Lawsuit Against the Dog’s Owner
After receiving medical care for your dog bite, you may wonder if you have the right to hold them accountable. Thankfully, Connecticut General Statute §22-357 makes owners financially liable when their dogs cause injury. When a dog attacks, it falls under Connecticut’s premises liability statute, which requires homeowners and businesses to keep their property safe and free of hazards, including biting dogs.
You have the option to file a claim against a homeowner’s, renter’s, or business property insurance policy to recover your expenses. If the insurance payout limits are not high enough to cover all your expenses, you can file a personal injury lawsuit instead. In either case, it’s helpful to consult with a dog bite lawyer to understand the best approach and whether your case is strong enough.
Dog owners must adhere to the legal doctrine of strict liability, no matter where the bite occurs. In some instances, another party could be at fault, such as a daycare that allowed the dog to escape and hurt someone. By reviewing your case carefully, your dog bite lawyer can identify who is to blame and collect evidence to support your case.
Owners Can Face Criminal Charges If They Know Their Dog Bites
Under Connecticut law, dog owners must keep their dogs in fenced areas or kennels on their property and leash them at all times. If they know that a dog already has a history of biting or attacking people, they can face criminal liability if they let the dog roam free. This can also apply if they let the dog loose at an off-leash dog park or other area.
Penalties include up to six months in jail and $1,000 in fines, which increase if the owner continues to violate the law.
Evidence Your Dog Bite Attorney Can Use Against an At-Fault Owner
When you sue a dog owner, they are likely to insist that the dog isn’t dangerous or that you caused the incident. They may claim you were trespassing on their property and got what you deserved. However, property owners are required to cause no harm to anyone on their property, even if the person didn’t have permission to be there.
To demonstrate the dog owner’s negligence in keeping others safe, your dog bite lawyer can use evidence such as:
- Pictures of your injuries
- Medical reports and scans
- Photos of the dog and their enclosure (or lack of one)
- Witness statements
- Expert testimony from dog behaviorists, veterinarians, and trainers
- Copies of state and local laws about animal control and leash laws
- Animal control reports of any previous bite history from the dog
The key to your insurance claim or lawsuit is establishing that the owner had a duty to prevent their dog from hurting other people, and they failed to do so. You must also make a direct connection between that neglect and your injuries so you can claim compensation. Your lawyer will work to obtain a fair settlement for all your expenses, including medical bills, lost income, emotional distress, and disability.
Trust Tehrani Law Group if You Are a Victim of a Dog Bite in Connecticut
If you’re bitten by a dog, clean the wound and get medical care right away. You should also contact a skilled dog bite attorney immediately so you do not lose your right to file a lawsuit under Connecticut’s statute of limitations. You need experienced guidance and legal representation from someone who knows the details of personal injury and has compassion for the injured.
Schedule a free consultation with attorney Payman Tehrani and discuss your case today.