Woman in pain after suffering a dog bite

The dog that bit you left a lasting reminder of your dog bite injury. Your skin is now scarred and it is affecting you in ways that you couldn’t have imagined were possible prior to your dog bite incident. The extent of your injury will depend on how deep the bite was, where on your body the scar was, and how well you heal from the injury.

In some cases, a dog bite scar may be:

  • Disfiguring. Your appearance may be permanently changed by the scar and may affect you physically and psychologically.
  • Disabling. A scar on your hand, foot, or another part of your body may prevent you from doing the things you once enjoyed or working in the job you once held.
  • Painful. The wound will be painful in the beginning. However, scarring may extend the pain indefinitely.

You may be disfigured, you may be disabled, and you may be in pain, but you are not helpless. Instead, you may be able to recover even if you have a dog bite scar.

Understanding Your Physical Recovery

The first step in your recovery involves contacting a doctor. You may be a candidate for reconstructive surgery or other medical interventions that can help lessen the effect of the scar on your body and your future. Your goal may be to eliminate the scar or lessen its severity.

Specific surgical techniques often treat dog bite scars. Three types of surgery used to treat and revise a scar are:

  • Skin grafts. A skin graft is a type of surgery that transplants the skin from one part of the body to another. Skin grafts are often used for extensive dog bite scars that cover a large portion of the victim’s skin or scars that are in exposed areas, such as facial scars.
  • Dermabrasion. Dermabrasion is a form of surgery that involves surgical skin planning, or shaving off upper layers of a scar. It is generally performed in a medical facility by a dermatologist or plastic surgeon.
  • Laser surgery. Laser is a common form of surgery that a dog victim may undergo in order to repair smaller scars. There are different forms of laser surgery a dog bite victim may undergo, depending on the severity of the scar.

You may also require treatment for nerve, bone, or tissue damage.

Understanding Your Psychological Recovery

As your external injuries begin to heal, you may find that you are left with significant psychological injuries. Many dog bite victims feel angry about the dog attack. Additionally, you could experience:

  • A fear of dogs that limits your everyday activities
  • Depression
  • Anxiety
  • Nightmares
  • Feelings of helplessness
  • Flashbacks
  • Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
  • Lower self-esteem because of your scar

A scar is more than just injured tissue; it is a lasting reminder of the trauma that the dog bite victim experienced. While surgical techniques can reduce scar tissue, some scars can never be completely removed. For a dog bite victim, a scar may be a constant reminder of the pain of a dog bite attack, and it may be a source of embarrassment. A scar can make a once outgoing person avoid others. It can eat at one’s self-confidence, it can affect how a person is perceived both socially and at work, and it can be a significant part of a dog bite victim’s damages.

Understanding Your Financial Recovery

A lawyer may be able to help get you the financial recovery that you deserve after a dog bite scar injury. That recovery may include the costs of past and future medical procedures and may compensate you for having to live with the scar left by the dog that bit you. Compensation for your scar is subjective and unique to your case. However, insurance companies and juries may consider things such as:

  • The location of the scar. A scar may occur anywhere on the body. In children, it often occurs on the face or neck. In adults, it may occur on the arms, legs, hands, or feet. A scar on your face that is easily noticeable by others may be worth more than a scar on your leg that is hidden by your clothing, because it may have a greater impact on your life.
  • The size of the scar. More extensive scars may result in more considerable financial recoveries.
  • The appearance of the scar. Some scars result in discoloration. For example, a keloid scar may appear pink, red, or dark brown depending on your skin tone
  • Your age. Children may be able to recover more than older people, for example.
  • Your gender and marital status. In some cases, female dog bite victims and single dog bite victims may recover more than married males.
  • The medical treatment you require. You deserve a fair recovery for all past and future medical treatment.
  • Your physical pain and emotional suffering. Your pain and suffering are unique. Some people may experience numbness, discomfort, and psychological effects for the rest of their lives. These damages are challenging to quantify, but an experienced dog bite lawyer can help you.

Your attorney can help you understand how these factors may apply to the specific injury you have suffered and help you fight for your recovery.

Contact an Experienced Dog Bite Lawyer to Learn More

The insurance company may try to deny your claim by arguing that medical care to treat a scar is purely cosmetic. Our dog bite injury lawyers understand that your scar is a severe injury, and we will fight for your fair and complete recovery.

Insurance companies know that we mean business, and if the insurer is unwilling to settle your claim, then we won’t hesitate to take your case to court so that you can recover for your past and future medical costs, lost income, out-of-pocket damages, physical pain, and emotional suffering.

You deserve to get a fair and just recovery after a dog bite scar injury, but you have a limited amount of time to pursue a legal recovery. Please contact our experienced dog bite personal injury lawyers today at 1-800-800-5678 for more information and to schedule a free consultation.

 

Jason F. Abraham
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Helping car accident and personal injury victims throughout Wisconsin, Illinois and Iowa since 1993.