The vast majority of households in the United States have pets, the most common being dogs and cats. Time and again, pet owners are firm in stating that their companion animals are part of the family. As with so many generally positive elements of life, there are instances in which a pet somehow attacks a person not a part of the family. Pet attacks can and oftentimes do result in serious personal injury.
Pet Attacks in the United States
Dog bites are the most common type of pet-related injury in the United States, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Each year, about 5 million dog bites occur across the country. Of that number, about 800,000 of these injuries are severe enough to require medical care and treatment. Approximately 30 people are killed as a result of dog attacks in the United States each year.
Although cat attacks are less frequent in the United States, they do occur. Approximately 400,000 cat attacks occur each year, according to the CDC. Of that number, about 66,000 cat bites result in emergency department visits.
There are other types of pets that cause injuries with some regularity. These include reptiles, particularly snakes. In addition, some people keep exotic animals as pets, oftentimes against the law. These types of animals also cause injuries to innocent people every year, including serious and fatal wounds.
Most Common Injuries from Dog Attacks
When an innocent person is the victim of a dog attack of some sort, there are certain types of serious injuries that more commonly occur as a result of these incidents. Dogs are not gratuitously singled out. Canines specifically are mentioned and considered because the largest share of injuries to innocent third parties is the result of some sort of incident involving someone else’s dog. These include:
- Permanent facial disfigurement or body scarring
- Infection, including severe and even fatal infection
- Puncture wounds
- Emotional and psychological injury, including PTSD and depression
- Permanent nerve damage
- Broken bones
The most common types of injuries associated with cat-related incidents are deep scratches, puncture wounds, and infection. There can also be permanent nerve damage in some rarer cases.
A harsh reality surrounding a pet-related injury is the challenge to obtain appropriate compensation for your damages and losses. Oftentimes, a pet owner’s homeowner’s insurance policy provides coverage for this type of injury. With that said, with alarming frequency, an insurance company pulls out all the proverbial stops to avoid paying appropriate compensation on a legitimate claim.
You must bear in mind that insurance companies are in business for one primary reason. They exist to make money for their shareholders. Insurance company profits increase when they reduce the amount of money paid on claims, including those related to injuries caused by another party’s dog, cat, or another type of pet.
Legal Help After an Attack by a Dog or Other Type of Pet
If you or a loved one have been injured as the result of an attack by a dog or some other pet owners by someone else, you likely have a number of questions about your legal rights. The first step in learning about your rights is to contact a dog bite injury lawyer at The Doan Law Firm at (800) 349-0000. Our hotline is staffed around the clock, 365 days a year, including all major holidays. In addition to assisting victims of dog-related injuries, our legal team fights for people who’ve been harmed by different types of pets owned by another party.
We’re a nationwide law practice. As a result, we’ve offices located across the United States. In addition to scheduling an initial consultation at any one of our offices, we can meet at your home. We can even arrange a virtual consultation with you online at your convenience.
During an initial consultation, a dog bite lawyer from our firm will provide a thorough case evaluation for you. In addition, an attorney will make sure that you get answers to any questions you may have about your situation.
The Doan Law Firm makes an important attorney fee promise to you. We will never charge an attorney fee unless we win your case.