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The Financial Cost Of A Dog Bite | North Carolina Dog Attack Lawyer

When we hear about dog bites and dog attacks on the news and in our communities, the physical and emotional costs of the injuries are clear. Dog bites can cause deep lacerations, scarring, infection, nerve damage and tissue damage - and dog bites can also lead to emotion issues like post traumatic stress, anxiety, and depression.

However, it is important to remember that dog bites can also cost you and your family financially. Medical bills can be extremely high - especially if they include an emergency room visit, surgery, or extended hospital stays. Ongoing medical treatments are also often necessary with serious dog mauling cases, such as therapy and reconstructive surgery.

In fact, in 2008, according to the Insurance Information Institute (III) dog bites and dog attacks cost insurance companies $387 million in claims in the United States alone. All in all, dog bite claims made up a shocking 33% of all homeowners insurance liability claims and rose nine percent from last year, as almost half of dog bite injuries take place on the property of the dog owner. The average cost of an individual dog bite claim was just over $24,000.

Why are the costs so high? The Center for Disease Control reported that 30,000 dog bite victims required reconstructive plastic surgery to minimize scaring and deformations caused by serious dog attacks. These surgeries may take several step and can cost tens of thousands of dollars.

In many cases, these medical costs should be the responsibility of the dog's owner, not the dog bite victim. If you or your child have been involved in a dog bite or dog attack, talk to an experienced North Carolina dog bite lawyer today.

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