Oct 15, 2013 in News Dog Bites Claims

Dog Bites Claims: How dangerous are dog bites?

[caption id="attachment_5332" align="alignleft" width="300"] (Photo credit: Charliemous/SXC)[/caption] Most of the time dogs are great companions, there's a good reason that they're known as "man's best friend," but when dogs attack and bite people, they can exact some serious damage. Dog bites vary in severity. Sometimes a dog will put a body part into its mouth and not bite down, while sometimes, it can leave multiple, deep puncture wounds when its jaws clamp around you in a crushing grip. Injuries can range from light bruising, puncture wounds, deep tissue damage or nerve damage that could require reconstructive surgery. Recently, Neinstein's Rose Leto was featured on City TV for a case about dog bites. The story featured Leslie Miller whose Chihuahua was attacked by an off-leash dog in a public dog park. The attack on Miller's pet resulted in her dog losing the sight in one eye and vet bills adding up to close to $3,000 for Miller. The question at hand: is she ennamed to compensation for the attack on her animal? Miller is in fact ennamed to receive compensation from the other dog's owner through small claims court. This is because legally, dog owners are always liable if their pet attacks a person or another animal. Ignorance of the dog's tendencies would not exempt the owner from being held responsible. According to Miller, the dog that attacked her Chihuahua had a history of viciousness. In the news segment, Rose confirms that dog owners are liable in the event that their dog attacks. ?They are liable under the law. The victim doesn't have to prove any negligence,? she explains. If there is more than one dog owner, they are equally liable. If the owner of the attacked dog is found to be partially responsible, their damages would be reduced. In the United States, there were 27,752 reconstructive procedures for dog bites in 2012, according to a recent plastic surgery report by the American Society of Plastic Surgeons. Depending on the dogs size, an adult dog's bite can exert pressure of 200 pounds per square inch, while some large dogs exert pressure of 450 psi, according to a report on animal bites. This heavy pressure can cause injuries to bones, vessels, tendons, muscle and nerves. But the major issue with bite wounds are the possible infections that can develop. An Ottawa mother was an unfortunate victim, where she lost both her legs and an arm, after one bite from her pet dog. Dog bites are linked to the possibility of rabies, which is a deadly disease that attacks a person's central nervous system. There's also the psychological, emotional and ongoing trauma that needs to be accounted for, along with any medical expenses. In 2010, there were 379 recorded dog bites in Toronto, but there are many more unrecorded attacks. Unfortunately, children suffer the most severe damage from dog attacks since dogs typically bite a young child's head or neck area. Attacks are more likely to occur during the summer. Canada Post reported that The Canada Safety Council estimates that in Canada there are 460,000 bites every year. Sadly, our postage delivery personnel often take the brunt of dog viciousness. On average, there are around 500 incidents of dog aggression against postage workers in Canada each year. As reported by The Toronto Star, last summer, seven-year-old Audrey Mountfort was playing in a friend's backyard when she was attacked by the German shepherd-collie they were babysitting. The dog, Panny, had a reputation of being good with children and the owners never saw any signs of aggression from their dog. Because of this, they did not feel it was necessary to warn the dog-sitters to keep Panny away from children (though they did specify that the dog was to stay inside their own home unless being walked on a leash). Despite Panny's unscathed reputation, the child suffered numerous severe bites and had to be hospitalized with 40 stitches. This goes to show that even the best of dogs have the potential to become aggressive. To prevent dog attacks, the SPCA recommends a few tips to stay educated and aware of dog behaviour and potential triggers for biting. Among them they list: not disturbing dogs that are eating, sleeping or caring for puppies; not approaching a dog's food, toys or bowl; not playing roughly with dogs; not cornering dogs, and not approaching dogs that are unattended. Unfortunately dog bites occur and can leave some devastating damage. Personal injury law firm Neinstein Personal Injury Lawyers has over 40 years of experience in handling various injuries. We understand the impacts injuries can have on your life and we know how to help you. Call us at 416-920-4242. Set up a free consultation and come talk with us.