Dog bite victims may see their wounds heal, but the scars left behind can affect the quality of life for patients. Dog owners can be held liable for the costs of medical care victims receive. That can include responsibility for the costs of reconstructive surgery for dog bite victims.
If you or a loved one were bitten, you can talk over your legal options with a real Turlock Dog Bite Lawyer. It’s a chance to find out what you’ll need to make a full recovery, including the money to pay for procedures to minimize scars and disfigurement left behind. An insurance company for the dog owner should provide everything necessary for victims to restore their appearance and rebuild their lives.
Scarring After Turlock Dog Bite Accidents
Johns Hopkins explains that scars are the body’s natural method of healing from a wound and replacing damaged skin. A penetrating dog bite can cause a wound that scars over. An infection that develops in that wound can also contribute to scarring.
Johns Hopkins doctors report that scars usually can’t be completely erased, even with surgical help. Some scars are considered permanent disfigurements. A scar is a disfigurement when it significantly changes the appearance of the victim.
Research published in the National Library of Medicine shows that dog bites are a top-five reason patients get reconstructive surgery. Researchers found that dog bites often leave significant scars due to the tearing and crushing of underlying tissue that occurs. The supporting blood supply can be affected. The damage causes a longer inflammatory phase of healing than many other types of wounds, leading to a higher scarring risk.
The Cost of Restorative Surgery for Dog Bite Victims
Reconstructive or “plastic” surgery for a scar can cost anywhere from hundreds of dollars up to $4,000 or more. Restorative surgery to repair a disfigurement can cost much more.
The other unfortunate fact is that the effects of restorative surgery don’t always last. As victims age, the appearance of their minimized scars might get worse. Additional restorative surgery may become necessary in the future.
After a dog attack, victims will have plenty of emotional trauma to cope with. They should never have to worry about how they’ll pay for the care they need to heal from a dog bite and restore their appearance.
These are concerns for the dog owner and the dog owner’s homeowners insurance policy or renter’s insurance.
A skilled dog bite lawyer fights to get insurers to provide compensation to pay every immediate medical bill and the future costs of care for victims. Any settlement must include the potential for treatment needed in the years ahead.
Are Dog Owners Responsible for Dog Bite Scars in California?
Yes, in most situations. California is a “strict liability” dog bite state. The legal concept means that dog owners are liable for all of the injuries a dog bite causes and the cost of the medical care that follows. They are accountable even if the dog has never bitten anyone before.
California Civil Code CCC 3342a explains the liability for dog owners. As long as the victim was in a public place or was legally on private property, a dog’s owner can usually be held fully responsible for a bite wound. However, the victim can’t provoke a dog, leading to a bite, and then expect compensation from the dog’s owner.
Contact a Turlock Dog Bite Scarring Lawyer
After you or a loved one is bitten by a dog, contact a Turlock Dog Bite Injury Attorney as soon as possible to discuss your case. There are benefits available to you and your family that an insurance company may never mention. That includes support for the restoration of your appearance after a bite wound disfigures you or leaves any level of scarring. You can also seek help with the physical pain you are left with and the emotional trauma you’ve had to cope with after a frightening attack.
Contact Maison Law for a free, no-obligation case evaluation. It’s a no-risk way to find out what your injury should be worth and how to demand that support to cover your hardships now and in the future. A lawyer can often secure much more for you in settlement negotiations than you could secure by filing a claim yourself. What’s more, you don’t need to have any money on hand to hire strong legal representation. Maison Law only gets paid if we win your case for you. Then our fee comes out of the settlement check the insurance company writes for you.
