Tragic Dog Bite Injury Causes Death of Toddler

In an awful tragedy, a 15-month-old little girl was bitten by a dog and died this weekend in Las Vegas. After being transported to the hospital, the toddler later succumbed to injuries inflicted by a rottweiler owned by a family friend. Incidentally, Las Vegas is located within Clark County, one of the four counties in the U.S. with the highest rate of fatal dog mauling’s. Although rottweilers and pit bulls seem to be the breeds most often heard of in the news, as Rhode Island dog bite lawyers, Tapalian Law has seen dog bite injuries that happen by even the most seemingly docile family dogs. No one is safe from a dog bite.

All Breeds of Dog Can Bite

Pit bulls and rottweilers are typically the breeds that get a bad rap. Although statistics show that these two breeds account for over 76% of dog bite fatalities during the period of 2005-2017 (with pit bulls making up 65.6.5%, rottweilers 10.4%), any breed of dog can inflict damage. What makes the bite of a pit bull so significant is not the frequency of biting, but the severe damage it causes when it bites. The breed tends to have a “hold and shake” bite style that can result in acute bone and muscle damage, permanent and disfiguring injuries, and sometimes death. As dog bite attorneys in Rhode Island, we have seen clients left with permanent scarring and disfigurement of their face and body by a number of different types of dogs, even small breeds. Severe dog bites to the face can be especially distressing when they leave a permanent reminder, like a scar, a person must see in the mirror every day. When a dog inflicts a serious injury on a young child who has not yet finished growing, future surgeries are typically necessary to accommodate changes to the scar or disfigurement as the child’s body grows and changes.

Dog Bites Are Expensive

The average cost of a dog-bite related stay in the hospital is $18,200, according to the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ). This is about 50% higher than the cost for an average injury-related hospital stay. Each day, over 1,000 people require emergency medical care to treat dog bite related injuries, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), with a high number of these patients being children or the elderly. Over 28,000 people required reconstructive surgery as a result of a dog bite, in 2015 alone. Victims of dog bites, especially children, often suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder that requires long-term professional help. One might not realize just how expensive a dog bite can be. As personal injury attorneys in Rhode Island who specialize in helping dog bite victims seek compensation, at Tapalian Law we realize the high cost of medical treatment for physical injuries and emotional trauma caused by a dog attack. Commonly, when filing a dog bite injury claim, costs for future care and treatment must be factored in as dog related injuries often require future care such as scar revision and psychological counseling.

The Importance of Hiring a Rhode Island Dog Bite Attorney with Experience

If you are hurt by a dog, victims should first seek immediate medical treatment. After a dog bite or dog attack, its important to find an experienced dog bite lawyer near you. Following medical assistance, it is not only the initial dog bite recovery that one should be concerned about but also the unforeseeable long-term effects. A dog bite injury can leave lasting physical and emotional issues. Future surgery for scarring, treatment for additional infection, and professional help for emotional trauma all need to be addressed. If these costs are not included in your personal injury settlement, you may be left paying for them out of pocket. These are all reasons why it is important to consult an experienced dog bite lawyer in Rhode Island after you are, or your child is, bitten by a dog. Getting hurt is shocking enough on its own, you shouldn’t have to worry about how you will pay for your medical treatment. Let the top-rated dog bite attorneys at Tapalian Law worry about getting you the fair and just compensation you deserve for your dog bite injuries. Our Providence personal injury law firm has been helping people injured in car accidents, motorcycle accidents, dog attacks, and all types of injuries in RI and MA for over 20 years. Call Attorney David Tapalian today for a free consultation at 401-552-5000, for your RI dog bite claim or MA dog bite claim. You can also contact us with our easy, online form.

Visit Tapalian Law’s Rhode Island Accident Lawyer Blog for further information on dog bite injuries.