Recent data from the American Association for the Surgery of Trauma found reconstructive surgeries associated with dog bites were one of the top five most common reconstructive procedures performed by plastic surgeons. The impact of reconstructive surgery and the management of dog bite scarring requires bite victims to undergo often intensive surgical treatments and ongoing psychological care.
By understanding your rights as a dog bite victim, you can recover compensation for the devastating financial cost and the personal impact of scarring on your day-to-day life. This guide provides insights on recovering compensation for dog bite attack scarring.
What Factors Determine the Likelihood of Scarring?
Many assume a smaller dog bite is unlikely to leave a scar. However, there are multiple factors other than the initial aggression of the attack or the size of the dog, that can impact the chance of a bite causing scarring.
The data shows the following factors are closely correlated with dog bite scarring:
Infection
Infected dog bites are more likely to leave a scar as the tissue cannot heal effectively, causing
permanent damage to the surrounding skin.
The victim’s age
Your age and general health impact your body’s ability to resist dog bite scarring. Children with developing tissue and immune systems are more likely to suffer dog bite scars than adults, while seniors with thinner skin are also at risk of severe scarring.
The location of the dog bite
The location of the dog bite on the body is a critical factor in the healing process. The thinner skin on the face and neck is more likely to scar after a bite that wounds the arms or legs.
Tissue damage
Tissue damage and bite severity are the crucial factors behind dog bite scarring and the associated cost and timeline for treatment. If you suffer a severe dog bite with deep tissue damage, your body will be unable to form new clear skin, leaving substantial scar tissue. The severity of the attack can also influence the size and shape of the scar.
Initial Treatment
Dog bite victims can often reduce the extent of scarring after an attack by undergoing hospital treatment immediately. Specialist trauma doctors can neatly stitch wounds to minimize scarring.
Evidence Required in Dog Bite Scarring Cases
Visual Evidence
Clear and compelling visual evidence is crucial for your dog bite scarring settlement. Providing the insurance company with powerful visual proof of your injuries with medical documentation and other background details can help strengthen your claim’s value.
Visual evidence of dog bite scarring might include:
Photos from the Day of the Attack
Collect any photos you have from the day of the attack. The photographs should show your wound before and after medical care to prove the damage.
Photos Showing Scar Progress
If your scar has already developed in the weeks after the attack, you can show how the skin has changed over time. Show the scarring from various angles and in varying levels of light.
Plastic Surgeon Notes
Notes from your plastic surgeon will place significant weight behind your claim for dog bite scarring settlements. The medical documentation should cover their initial evaluation and any subsequent visits to their office and should also include diagnostics such as x-rays from your appointments.
Your specialist’s initial notes and prognosis for the scarring after potential treatment can help further lend credibility to a higher-value dog bite claim if they foresee a significant impact on your day-to-day life.
The Role of a Dog Bite Lawyer in Scarring Settlements
The subjective nature of analyzing the total impact of a dog bite scar and the complexity of New Jersey’s dog bite laws place dog bite victims at a disadvantage when facing insurance companies and their legal teams. Dog bite lawyers, such as David Cowhey, help tilt the balance in your favor during dog bite scarring cases.
Your lawyer will help compile evidence and counter any arguments from the dog owner or their insurance company.
David Cowhey, for example, was able to win a Burlington County, NJ woman with facial injuries and scarring a $225,000 settlement for her dog bite claim despite the defense alleging the victim was trespassing. This defense strategy, as with claiming provocation, is a common tactic of the insurance companies and their legal teams. Working with a skilled dog bite attorney can help overcome common defense strategies and secure a fair settlement for the trauma, medical costs, and income loss associated with dog attacks.
Put 40 Years of Dog Bite Litigation Experience Behind Your Case
New Jersey dog bite lawyer David Cowhey is a proud advocate for dog bite victims and their families. His unrelenting commitment to justice and decades of legal experience make him your best choice of dog bite lawyer for compensation in your dog bite scar case. He and his team offer a free, no-obligation dog bite case review to help begin the process.
Call 1 (609) 804-5107 today or book online to confirm your case review.
