Dog Bites: What to do if your child has been bitten.

Children and shorter individuals are often at the highest risk for dog bites in Raleigh, North Carolina and the surrounding areas.

While many people believe that family pets are safe, they can prove to be unpredictable and vicious animals if tested.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, nearly 4.5 million Americans are bitten or attacked by dogs each year, with one in five bites requiring medical attention. Furthermore, according to a study by the CDC, more than 31,000 people in the United States underwent reconstructive surgery to repair damages by a dog bite in 2006.

Due to the severity of dog bites and the serious nature of this type of injury, our Raleigh personal injury attorney at the Whitley Law Firm provides readers with information on the proper steps to take if your child has been bitten or attacked.

• Immediately call 911 if your child has been attacked or bitten by a dog. With larger dogs, an attack may cause internal injuries that may not surface for days if left untreated. Additionally, some dogs carry diseases that can be transferred with a bite.
• Report the incident either through the CDC or your local animal control center.
• Talk to a personal injury attorney to determine if the dog bite has caused you compensable damages and injuries.

In North Carolina, the law surrounding dog bite claims is very strict, and a dog owner will only be held liable in certain situations. If a dog over six months of age was unaccompanied by someone responsible for the dog at night or was considered a “dangerous” dog, the owner will be held liable for the injuries that the animal has inflicted.

For more information, contact a Durham personal injury lawyer at the Whitley Law Firm today. We serve clients in many North Carolina communities and offer a confidential consultation of your personal injury or premises liability case.