Facial dog bites often have the most enduring impact of any dog bite type. The data showing the link between psychological damage from facial scarring and the resulting changes to the individual’s social and employment status are clear and resounding. For example, a study in the British Journal of Psychology found a high correlation between anxiety and depression in patients with facial scarring.
Learning how to access support, care, and compensation after a facial dog bite can transform the lives of the victim and their families.
If someone you love is experiencing the life-changing effects of injuries to the face and neck after a dog attack, this post will explain your next steps.
The Difference Between Facial Dog Bites and All Other Dog Attack Injuries
Beyond their long-term effects on the victim, facial dog bites are unique for the following reasons:
They predominantly impact children.
The data shows children are an over-represented demographic among facial dog bite victims. Patients younger than 16 comprise 69% of U.S. facial dog bite victims. And the younger the victim the more likely they were to experience facial trauma. 71% of dog bite victims ages 0-to-9 suffer wounds to the head and neck compared with 10% of victims aged 10 or older.
They usually occur without warning.
Dog bites to the face often occur when the victim is close to the dog and believes there is no threat. A dog’s growl or bark is usually enough to cause the victim to move away while, with no warning, facial dog bites occur quickly without the victim being able to protect their eyes, ears, nose, and lips.
They can cause eyesight and hearing damage.
Facial dog bites are comorbid with significant lifestyle-impacting injuries such as eyesight and hearing damage. Ocular damage is one of the primary facial injuries in dog bite victims, with pit bulls responsible for 25% of ocular injuries.
Proactive Steps for Facial Dog Bite Victims:
The six below steps highlight the process for securing a settlement and ensuring fair compensation for your dog bite injuries:
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Undertake urgent medical care immediately
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Identify the dog owner and confirm the dog’s rabies status
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Call the New Jersey Dog Bite Lawyer for a free consultation
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Collect your medical documentation, including diagnostics, treatment details, and bills
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Take photos of your injuries as treatment progresses
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Precisely follow your lawyer’s guidance
Why Dog Bite Victims with Facial Injuries Call David Cowhey – the New Jersey Dog Bite Lawyer
Your lawyer is your unrelenting advocate – the resource you turn to when you face mounting medical bills, loss of employment, and emotional turmoil after a dog attack. Let David Cowhey be your guide in the weeks and months that follow.
Dog bite victims and their families call David Cowhey for:
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His authenticity and care
When you call his offices, David Cowhey will pick up the phone and answer your questions personally. He understands the vital importance of timing and qualified legal advice, ensuring that when you need a dog bite attorney, he’s available 24/7 to respond to your call.
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His track record as the New Jersey Dog Bite Lawyer with the most six-figure settlements
When looking for a dog bite lawyer who handles facial dog attack injuries, no lawyer can match David Cowhey’s track record in New Jersey. He’s the state’s leading lawyer for six-figure dog attack settlements.
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His hands-on experience with facial injury cases
David Cowhey understands the singular impact of facial injuries on the victim. He knows the loneliness, despair, and fear dog attacks with facial injuries cause. That’s why he aggressively takes on the insurance companies in settlement negotiations and has a robust network, including physicians and mental health professionals across New Jersey to support his clients.
One recent example of David Cowhey’s experience involves a case with a 40-year-old victim at a social gathering. The client dropped a cigar and went to pick it up when the homeowner’s dog bit him in the face.
The insurance company initially declined payment, alleging the plaintiff provoked the dog by scaring it and putting his face too close.
David filed suit, questioning the factual basis for the provocation argument. Once the dog owner committed himself to the idea that the plaintiff’s actions were, at best, negligent, David Cowhey then guided the insurance carrier on case law, explaining comparative fault on the victim’s part needs to be intentional to some extent under the New Jersey Dog Bite Statute.
This approach led to the insurance company relenting and settling the case for the $300,000 policy limits and their $10k MedPay endorsement limit.
Call the New Jersey Dog Bite Lawyer for Urgent Facial Dog Bite Advice
David Cowhey is ready at a moment’s notice to help guide you and your loved ones in the aftermath of a dog bite involving facial injuries. He can meet with you at your chosen location to review your case and explain your dog bite settlement options. Your consultation is free. You only pay legal fees if you win a settlement.
Take your next step alongside a dog bite lawyer proven in cases across the state. Request your free dog bite consultation today by calling 1 (609) 513-0627 or book online by providing case details on our website form.
