The majority of dog bites do not result in serious health complications, especially in those who seek prompt medical attention. However, a few people experience life-threatening or life-changing complications after dog bites. Here are three examples of these serious complications:
Paralysis
A part of your body may be paralyzed if the dog bite resulted in a severed nerve. For example, you may lose mobility in your limb if the dog severs a nerve in that limb. Granted, such complications don't happen every day, but they are a possibility. You may need more treatment than another dog bite victim whose nerves weren't damaged. For example, you may need reconstructive surgery and physical therapy sessions to regain full or partial use of the affected limb. This means your medical bill will also be higher than other dog-bite victims without nerve damages.
Infections
A typical dog's mouth is filled with dangerous microorganisms. The germs can get into your bloodstream when the dog bites you, causing a serious infection if you don't get immediate treatment. A preexisting illness, such as liver disease or diabetes, increases your risk of developing a severe infection after a dog bite. This is because the dog bite will introduce germs into your body, which has already been weakened by the first disease. Apart from well-documented rabies, dog bites can also give rise to other diseases such as meningitis (brain inflammation due to a bacterial or viral attack) and ocular infection (bacterial, fungal, or viral attack on the eyes).
Loss of Limb or Extremity
A dog's jaw might not be powerful enough to bite through your leg, but it can bite through a finger or toe. Loss of limb may also ensue if a dog's bite leads to an infection that necessitates an amputation. Apart from the obvious pain and high medical bills associated with loss of limb or extremity, such an injury may also have a serious effect on your job or daily life. For example, a typist who loses a finger may need some period of readjustment before they can get back to their pre-injury typing speeds.
The above examples underscore the need for seeking prompt medical care whenever you are bitten by a dog, or any animal for that matter. Apart from preventing serious health complications, getting prompt medical care will also help you when seeking compensation from the owner of the dog. Remember, any injury victim is expected to mitigate their losses by seeking medical attention as soon as possible. If you delay, the defendant may successfully argue for a reduction of your compensation because you would be viewed to have contributed to your injuries by delaying treatment. For help getting compensation for your injuries, contact a personal injury attorney at a law firm like Hardee and Hardee LLP.
Share2 September 2016
The court system can seem frightening and confusing if you're not used to using it. Whether you've been accused of a crime and you're trying to navigate the criminal court system, or you're being sued or considering suing someone else in civil court, you need an advocate who knows their way around. That's why finding the right lawyer for the job is so important. In this blog, I'll be helping you learn how to choose the right lawyer for the job and sharing information about legal strategies and courtroom procedures that you may come across when you have a legal problem. You need accurate information to help you understand the court system, and this blog can help.