Children and Dog Bite Injuries

Copyright (c) 2011 Barry D

While most dogs are friendly, there are circumstances where a child may encounter one that is not, resulting in an injury because of a dog bite or dog attack. When children are attacked by dogs, it can lead to serious or even fatal injuries, as well as permanent disfigurement.

Unfortunately, children are the most commonly reported victims of a dog bite. When a small child is attacked by a dog, it can lead to devastating consequences particularly if the child is in a stage of development requiring ongoing treatments as he or she ages, depending on the specific injury.

Dog Bites and Facial Injuries

The highest incidence of dog bite injuries occurs to boys between the ages of 5 and 9-years-old. More than half of child dog bite cases will result in injuries to the face.

Facial injuries can include puncture wounds, bite marks and lacerations requiring cosmetic surgery to repair the injuries. It may also result in permanent scarring or disfigurement.

Most severe injuries from a dog bite occur with children under the age of 10. Young children are more vulnerable to vicious attacks because of their size and inability to defend themselves.

When Your Child Has Been Attacked By a Dog

In many circumstances, a dog bite will take place in a familiar place, sometimes at the home of a neighbor, friend or extended family member. When children trust dogs they are familiar with, it can unfortunately result in an attack.

When your child has been attacked by a dog, there are important steps you should take. Importantly, after your child's medical needs have been taken care of, you should report the dog bite to the proper authorities.

Filing a compliant will help if you decide to proceed with a child injury claim against the dog owner. You also should report the dog bite to the police department. Not only will this help with collecting evidence for your case, but it may prevent another child from being attacked by the dog.

Obtaining the contact information on the dog owner is another important aspect of your child injury claim. If the owner is unknown, try to gather as much information as you can on the dog involved in the attack, including the dog's breed, coloring and markings.

If you have a child who has been attacked by a dog and suffered injuries due to a dog bite, you may be entitled to hold the dog owner liable through an Illinois child injury claim. A Chicago dog bite attorney can help determine your legal options, and if necessary, assist you with the process of filing your claim.

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