Americans love their dogs, and the family dog has long been one of the central figures in our culture. As such, millions of dogs populate homes across Nashville and the rest of the country. Unfortunately, this can lead to serious problems when certain dogs get loose and attack people, as these situations can lead to serious injuries or worse in many cases. If you or someone you love has been harmed in this situation, you need to seek the help of experienced Nashville dog bite lawyers as soon as possible.
Below you'll find information regarding different types of dog bites that can occur, people who tend to be most affected by dog bites, common injuries that can result from a dog bite attack and finally how you should proceed if you or someone you love if you've been harmed in a dog attack and you need the help of Nashville dog bite lawyers.
There are several different types of dog bites that can occur and lead to serious injuries, but there are certain types of dog bites that are more common than others. Below is a brief look at a few of these different types of dog bites:
As many would expect, there are certain types of people – most often defined by age – that are most vulnerable to dog bite attacks. Generally, children are far more vulnerable and likely to be injured in dog bite attacks than adults, and the majority of children who are bitten are boys between the ages of five and nine years old.
According to the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), children under the age of 18 are more than three times as likely to be bitten in a dog attack as those who have reached adulthood. In addition, approximately 90 percent of serious injuries suffered by humans in dog bite attacks that require extensive medical attention occur with children who are under 10 years of age.
There are certain injuries that are more common than others when it comes to the results of dog bite attacks. Below is a brief look at these common injuries:
Facial Injuries – More than 75 percent of dog bite attacks lead to facial injuries. This not only coincides with the reality that most dog bite attack victims are children, as their faces are at a lower height than adults and thus easier to reach, but dogs tend to attack in this direction when they feel threatened. Facial injuries can involve the tearing away of skin, the scratching and gouging of the eyes and facial bone injuries that result from the crushing power of a dog's jaws.
Severe Lacerations – Severe lacerations are obviously a common injury suffered in dog bite attacks, as the dog's teeth tend to penetrate the skin tissue rather easily. In addition, the natural, instinctive reaction of a person who is being bitten by a dog is to pull back and away from the dog. This pulling action can exacerbate the laceration because the dog maintains his or her grip while this movement occurs.
Dog bite attacks can be extremely traumatic and lead to serious injuries and fatalities. When these situations arise, it can be difficult to understand how to proceed. If you or someone you love has been harmed in this type of attack, you need to seek the help of Nashville dog bite attorneys who have held many dog owners accountable for the injuries they have caused by way of Tenessee personal injury lawsuits. Contact Michael D. Ponce & Associates today to schedule a free initial consultation.