Champions For Injured Pennsylvanians

What to do if a dog attacks and bites your child

On Behalf of | Feb 13, 2017 | Dog Bites |

You do your best to protect your child from injury and harm. Sometimes, however, there’s nothing you can do to prevent something traumatic from happening. If a dog has attacked and bitten your child, you may feel like you let your child down.

The truth, however, is that the dog’s owner is likely responsible for the injuries your child sustained. If you are incurring medical expenses such as bone setting, stitches, emergency room care or plastic surgery, you may be able to recover the expenses in a personal injury lawsuit.

Dog owners are liable for dangerous dogs

Pennsylvania has very clear rules about what dogs are dangerous. Serious injuries include broken bones or lacerations that require multiple stitches or plastic surgery. Unless your child attacked the dog or was trespassing on its owner’s property, the owner is likely legally responsible for the injuries the dog caused. If the dog was running loose, the owner violated one’s responsibility to maintain control over one’s animal. If the dog attacked your child while you were guests at the owner’s home, the owner is likely responsible.

Working with an attorney lets you focus on your child

There’s nothing more heartbreaking than your child suffering an injury. However upset you may be, you need to remain calm and supportive of your child while he or she heals. Working with an attorney who understands personal injury cases and Pennsylvania dog bite laws can help you focus on your child. The attorney can help ensure payment of your child’s medical bills, possibly by a homeowner’s insurance policy. Your attorney can negotiate on your behalf to ensure that any settlement offered for a dog bite attack fully compensates your family for all of the expenses that arise from the dog attack.

An attorney can help at every step in the recovery process

As soon as you’ve sought out professional medical attention for your child, you should speak with an experienced personal injury attorney. Once you tell the attorney the details of the dog bite attack, you can hear an informed legal opinion about how your family should proceed. In some cases, negotiation is the best first step. In others, particularly if the dog’s owner has been hostile following the accident, pursuing a civil lawsuit is the best option available.

You owe it to your child and your family’s future to ensure the person who is responsible for your child’s injuries is responsible for the bills with which you are now faced.

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