Pursuing Compensation After a Dog Injures a Child in North Carolina

Children are at the most significant risk of becoming injured from dog bites. Specifically, children age 5 through 9 are the most important hazard of dog bites. The child's face and scalp become seriously injured in many cases. The younger the child, the more likely they are to have severe, debilitating injuries. German Shepherds and Pitbull terriers are the most common breeds involved in attacks, and most dog bites happen from dogs familiar to the child. If your child has been seriously injured due to a dog bite, you may be able to pursue compensation for your child's medical expenses, pain and suffering, and more.

Many dog bite injuries, even small ones, can put your child at risk. Infection is always a serious risk, and your child may need surgery. It is crucial to supervise your children and teach them how to treat animals with care. Dog bites can happen even when children and adults act safely around dogs.

The first thing you should do after a bite is to separate the dog and the child. Contact 911 and request an ambulance to come to your property. It is a wise idea to take photos or video recordings of your child's injuries as soon as they happen. You should also take pictures or videos of the dog who bites your child. 

Try to obtain the contact information from the dog owners and details about any homeowner's insurance, renter's insurance, or commercial business insurance policies that could be in effect and provide you with coverage. You may even want to contact your insurer to discuss whether there may be coverage for your child's medical expenses.

It would be best if you also determined whether the dog was vaccinated for rabies. Rabies can be transmitted in dog bite cases. A dog's first rabies vaccine is effective for one year, and each vaccine after that is effective for three years. If you are still determining whether the dog has been vaccinated for rabies, tell your child's medical doctor. You should also report the incident to North Carolina animal control, who will begin investigating the case and determine what action should be taken for the animal. 

North Carolina requires all dogs who attack to be quarantined for at least ten days. They may have information on whether the dog is suspected of carrying diseases like rabies and can recommend the appropriate action. If you do not know the dog's owner, we recommend discussing your case with an attorney who can help you investigate and identify the owner.

Two legal claims are created when a child is injured in a dog bite incident. The first claim belongs to the parent. The parent's claim is primarily related to medical bills from the dog by injuries until the child reaches the age of 18. The second claim is more substantial and involves providing their child with reasonable compensation for their physical pain, mental suffering, permanent injury, loss of use of part of their body, and permanent scarring. Some of these claims only involve pain and suffering and scarring, and most of your dog bite attacks result in permanent injuries. The child can also recover estimates for future medical bills once they reach the age of 18. 

It would be best if you worked with an attorney before accepting any settlement offer from the insurance company or the dog's owner. When a child has been injured, their medical expenses can be significant over the years. For example, suppose a child cannot work due to being disabled from their dog bite injuries. In that case, it is crucial that the family recovers enough compensation for the child to survive financially for their entire life. An experienced attorney can work with financial experts and medical experts to estimate the total expenses the child will endure and then negotiate aggressively for the best settlement possible. 

If a dog bite has injured your child, it is crucial that you reach out to an attorney as soon as possible. You only have a limited time to file a claim, and pursuing compensation can help you and your child pay for medical bills and more. Contact the experienced dog bite attorneys at Arnold & Smith, PLLC, today to schedule your free initial consultation.