Dog bites have been ranked as the 13th leading cause of visits to the emergency room in the U.S. While dogs are often called “man’s best friend,” not all dogs are friendly, and dog bites can cause serious harm and permanent injuries to people, and in extreme cases, death.
Contact our legal team at Nelson Personal Injury, LLC if you have been injured because of a dog bite in Minnesota. We provide all new clients with a free case evaluation to ensure you have a viable case that will result in compensation.
Understanding Minnesota Dog Bite Cases
The state of Minnesota does not have shocking dog attack fatality numbers, which is good news. In fact, between 1979 and 2005, the state had the fourth lowest rate in the country. However, this does not mean that these situations are not possible. They do happen and can result in serious injuries and fatalities. These attacks can also cause disabilities and emotional trauma.
If a dog bites you, it can transmit rabies or other disease-causing germs and bacteria. When dog bite wounds become infected, you may experience septic shock, meningitis, and other serious health conditions.
Dog bites are traumatizing events. It also seems young children are the most common victims of these incidents. The height and size of most children put their faces and heads in the “danger zone.”
While this is true, adults may also experience injuries if attacked or bitten by a dog. This incident can result in scarring, infections, nerve damage, wrongful death, and disfigurement. Negligent dog owners may also cause car accidents, and these cases deserve to be thoroughly investigated to determine if legal action is necessary.
Common Dog Bite Injuries in Minnesota
When you think of dog bite injuries, you may think they only cause puncture wounds or lacerations. While these injuries are the most common result of a dog bite, others may occur.
Some of the injuries our clients have experienced after a dog bite include the following:
Puncture Wounds
Dog bites typically cause puncture wounds. This injury occurs when a dog’s teeth puncture through the skin leaving holes behind. Usually, puncture wounds are deep, which makes them vulnerable to infections. Puncture wounds may also cause tendon, ligament, muscle, and nerve damage, which may lead to permanent disability.
Broken Bones
A dog’s strong bite may cause your bones to fracture or break in one or several places. The breaks are often painful and expensive, requiring surgical intervention to repair the damage. Physical therapy may also be needed. Broken bones may also occur if a dog jumps on your, knocking you to the ground. Such a fall may cause fractures to your wrists, hands, and arms as you try to brace yourself, or to your leg, pelvis, hips, or other areas.
Facial Injuries
If a dog bites your face, lacerations are likely to occur. Facial injuries can significantly impact a victim’s mental health, resulting in even more pain and suffering. This is especially the case if the individual experiences disfigurement or scarring. Facial injuries from dog bites are especially prevalent for children, as their faces are typically in closer proximity to the dog’s mouth.
Scars
Dog bite injuries often leave permanent scars. This is true if a puncture wound or laceration is deep. Such lacerations and scars are likely to require consultation with a plastic surgeon, and a scar revision surgery may be necessary. The owner of the dog is required to pay compensation for any scars and disfigurement caused by their dog. Insurance companies often value scars based on the size and location of the scar, and the age and gender of the victim.
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How to Hold a Minnesota Dog Owner Responsible for Their Dog’s Actions
According to Minnesota Statutes, dog owners are automatically responsible if their dog attacks or injuries someone, subject to a few defenses. This is the case even when the dog has never shown any aggression in the past. If you experience a dog bite injury, our legal team can help you with each step of the legal process to help you recover compensation.
At Nelson Personal Injury, LLC, we understand the devastation that can be caused by dog bites.. The physical injuries sustained as a result of a dog attack are only part of it, and the emotional and psychological trauma and injury that can be caused may be just as severe.
Many victims struggle with a loss of feeling safe and secure in their yard, neighborhood, or out in public. With our help, you can fight for justice and gain a sense of closure from what you experienced.
Medical costs and wage loss resulting from the dog bite and the need for future care complicate many personal injury claims. We use our experience to ensure you are taken care of by receiving the full compensation for your injuries that is legally allowed. We build your case by gathering the necessary evidence and obtaining the needed legal and factual support to present your case to the insurance company. If we are unable to resolve your case through negotiations, we are prepared to start a lawsuit against the dog owner, and take the case to trial, if necessary.
Types of Damages You Can Potentially Recover in a Dog Bite Injury Claim
Our legal team will help you recover economic and non-economic damages when you file a dog bite personal injury claim against the owner of the dog.
Economic damages include tangible costs related to the injury, such as medical expenses, including physical therapy, surgery, counseling, etc., lost wages (past and future), and future medical costs.
Non-economic damages are not as straightforward, and are awarded for things like pain, suffering, emotional distress, and disfigurement that has resulted from the dog bite. They are awarded for losses that do not have a specific determinable monetary value. They are often determined by considering how much the dog bite incident has impacted your life.
Determining the Value of Your Dog Bite Claim
Unfortunately, there are no hard and fast rules regarding the value of dog bite claims. However, several factors are often considered when determining the value of your dog bite claim. These may include: the location of the bite, the severity of the bite, whether the bite required stitches, whether rabies vaccinations were necessary, whether the bite leaves a scar, the size of the scar, the location of the scar, whether a scar revision surgery will be necessary, how much has been incurred in medical expenses, how much has been incurred in wage loss, whether the victim has required counseling, etc. Nelson Personal Injury, LLC, is ready to help ensure all factors are considered, so you receive proper compensation for your injuries and losses.
Contact Nelson Personal Injury, LLC, for Help with Your Dog Bite Claim
If you have experienced a dog bite injury, our legal team is ready to help you with your case. We have decades of experience handling these cases and can provide you with the aggressive representation you need and deserve.
The first step is to contact our offices to schedule a free initial consultation.
