Emotional Effects of Dog Bites

You May Be Entitled to Compensation for Pain and Suffering

Immediately after a dog bite, you're typically focused on health concerns. You want to make sure that you, your child, or your loved one gets the best medical treatment possible. The physical effects of the dog bite are what's obvious in the beginning, and many people think that once those are taken care of, life can just move on.

However, dog bites and attacks are traumatic events and can have emotional consequences that affect victims for years. These range from anxiety to depression to posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

Did you know that in addition to receiving compensation for the physical injuries caused by dog bites, it's possible to collect for pain and suffering as well?

If you have questions about a dog bite claim and the damage it caused, including whether or not you have a case and how much it costs to hire an attorney, you can get in touch with us for a free legal consultation. We're available 24/7, and you won't be under any obligation to use our services. Call us at 412-851-6041 or fill out the form to the right.

Everything Changes After a Dog Bite

Once the shock of a dog bite wears off, victims have said that they begin to notice changes in themselves that they fear will never heal. Everything is different – from the way you look to the way you live your life.

• Some bites leave scars and disfigurement that damage self-esteem.
• Some people are left with an intense fear of dogs.
• Some people aren't able to go outside for a long time after the attack.
• Some people relive the attack over and over again, causing extreme anxiety.
• Some victims even develop PTSD. People with PTSD often have traumatic memories or dreams about an event that interferes with their daily lives.

Figuring out the cost of medical bills and lost wages is a lot more straightforward than calculating the emotional and psychological toll of a dog bite. It takes experience to do that, and you shouldn't have to figure it out on your own. Since 1982, we've helped people understand exactly what compensation they deserve so they can put the pieces of their life back together.

If you hire our firm, we'll handle the legal hassles for you and make sure your rights are protected so you can focus on what's most important – your health and well-being.

Emotional Effects of Dog Bites on Children

The emotional and psychological effects of dog bites are often more severe for children than for adults. Children are smaller and more vulnerable. Experts have said that to imagine a dog attack from a child's perspective, an adult should envision facing an angry, growling bear.

Furthermore, and experts say this is the most important distinction, adults are often able to talk openly about their experience following a dog bite or attack. Children quickly notice how upset their parents or caregivers become when they mention the incident, and tend to remain silent about what they went through. This leads them to carry a heavy emotional burden that can lead to high levels of anxiety, fear, and even PTSD.

These side effects are more troublesome in children than adults because they can interfere with normal development.

Experts say it's important for adults to be aware of the signs of emotional distress children can display following a dog bite, including:

• Crying
• Sleep disturbances
• Nightmares
• Fear
• Anger
• Withdrawal
• Bed wetting
• Clinging to parents

If your child was the victim of a dog bite, you may wonder if you need an attorney and if you have a case. We know that you're going through a lot, and we want to make getting those answers as easy as possible. You can contact us for a free, no obligation legal consultation.

Helping You Through the Aftermath of a Dog Bite

Our only job is to help you navigate through the aftermath of your injury. If you work with us, you'll have an entire team dedicated to making sure all of your bases are covered – from handling paperwork to meeting deadlines to talking to the insurance company and more. You can leave it all to us.

Our legal consultations are free and there's no fee to use our services unless and until we win your case. We're available 24/7 to help – call us at 412-851-6041 or fill out your information at the top of the page.

‍