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If you have been bitten or attacked by someone’s dog and it was not your fault, you are entitled to be appropriately compensated for your damages. But, when you are recovering from a dog bite injury, the last thing you want to have to think about or deal with is a legal claim. Let Joseph, Hollander & Craft’s Overland Park dog bite lawyers help you with your dog bite injury claim so you can focus on feeling better. We will handle the investigation of the dog’s history, interview eyewitnesses to the attack, work with experts to determine the true and fair value of your damages and injuries, and deal with insurance companies that may try to compromise the value of your claim. Contact JHC’s Overland Park dog bite attorneys today for your free initial consultation.

Establishing Owner Liability for Dog Bite Injuries

Kansas follows the “one bite” rule, which means that a dog owner can only be considered legally responsible for a bite on his own premises if the owner knew the dog was dangerous and likely to attack people (such as when the dog has bitten before). Proving that a dog had the tendency to be violent and attack requires in-depth investigation of the dog’s history to determine if the dog’s owner had knowledge that there was a history of viciousness.

JHC’s Overland Park dog bite lawyers know how to manage an investigation to support your claim. Many jurisdictions have laws that require all dog bites to be reported, which means that there may be records showing that the dog attacked other victims in the past. This can be crucial evidence to support a dog bite claim. If it is possible to prove that the dog acted in a threatening manner to others or used aggressive behavior such as charging at people or snapping at people without being provoked, then it will be much easier to support liability.

Types of Dog Bite Injuries

While many dog bites do not require medical treatment, severe injuries can be caused by a serious and vicious dog attack. These significant injuries can be devastating and result in long-term pain and suffering, both physically and emotionally. Some common types of injuries that can be sustained from a severe dog attack include:

• Fracture Injuries: A bite from a dog can result in broken bones from either the force of the bite or by the dog thrashing its victim once it has a secure clamp on the body. Broken or fractured bones require a considerable amount of time to properly heal and can sometimes require rigorous medical procedures and cause long-lasting pain.
• Crush Injuries: Dogs bite with a substantial amount of force. Sometimes the force of the bite is strong enough to crush parts of the body and damage the bones and muscle under the skin.
• Disfigurement: Some dog attacks involve bites and injuries that can cause significant disfigurement. Injuries that cause major disfigurement can require extensive medical care and many traumatic procedures and treatments to get the victim to a point where they are able to live with the damage.
• Facial Scarring: Even though most dog bites in adults occur on the arms, hands, and legs, but some attacks involve the face and head. Bite injuries to the face can result in long-term or permanent scarring. In addition to the physical harm that results from a dog bite to the face, scarring on the face can be emotionally traumatizing and can negatively impact confidence and self-esteem. More severe dog bites may require treatment through reconstructive or plastic surgery.
• Deep Puncture Wounds: When a dog bites, it can bite so hard that it drives their large teeth deep enough to cause significant damage. These bites can be so deep and severe that it causes damage to muscles, nerves, and tendons.
• Head Injuries: In some dog attacks a dog can pull or knock a person to the ground. This can cause serious injury to the head, including a traumatic brain injury (TBI). A TBI includes concussions, coma, and even death. Many TBIs cause cognitive problems, motor function impairment, and sensory issues.
• Infection: It is common for dog bites to result in a severe infection at the location of the bite. A dog’s teeth and paws are home to many forms of bacteria and can easily transfer the bacteria to an open wound during an attack on a person. Generally, infections from dog bites are more common in children and elderly dog bite victims.
• Rabies: If a dog has not been properly cared for and vaccinated, it may be a carrier of the rabies virus and infect its bite victim. Rabies is a disease that causes significant inflammation in the brain and commonly proves to be fatal.
• Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder: PTSD is a disorder most commonly associated with soldiers and law enforcement personnel. However, PTSD can happen to anyone who has experienced a traumatic event and may leave the victim with a crippling level of fear. Victims of dog bites who have developed PTSD typically avoid dogs altogether and may freeze up with terror whenever they see a dog.

JHC’s Overland Park dog bite attorneys can help you pursue compensation for each and every injury that results from a dog attack. We can also help you make a claim for lost wages and other losses related to your dog bite injury.

Contact JHC’s Overland Park Dog Bite Lawyers Today

If you need a dog bite lawyer in Overland Park, contact the personal injury attorneys at JHC today. An initial consultation with our team is free, and we will not charge fees unless we recover compensation for you.

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FAQs

What are the different grades of dog bite injuries?

Dogs bite injuries can be classified by the severity of the damage. There are six basic injury categories:

• Grade 1 injuries are those that involve scratches and bruises
• Grade 2 injuries are bite marks that have not punctured the skin
• Grade 3 injuries have left puncture wounds that break the skin
• Grade 4 injuries include deep penetrating wounds and flesh that has been ripped
• Grade 5 injuries involve several different penetrating bite wounds from a continued attack
• Grade 6 injuries result in death

If you have suffered injury as a result of a dog bite incident, contact JHC’s dog bite attorneys today.

Does insurance cover dog bite injuries?

Some homeowner’s and rental insurance policies cover dog bites sustained on the insured premises.