Dog Bite Injuries in Pennsylvania

A dog bite is a common and at times catastrophic injury.  The injuries sustained often require stitches and can leave the victim with noticable scars.  Sometimes the scars can be eliminated or minimized by a plastic surgeon but very often the victim is left with a permanent reminder of their injury.

The physical scar is not the only harm sustained by the victim.  Many people suffer emotional scars; self consciousness over the physical scar and a long lasting fear of dogs.  When a person has a scar on a prominent part of the body, the face for example, the trauma and the self consciousness is substantially greater.  Younger victims of a dog bite may feel even more self conscious because of the inherent insecurity of adolescence.

Doctors can help with the physical and emotional injuries from a dog bite, but what can an attorney do?  We can provide a client with what the law allows us to provide, assistance with a claim for money damages for the injuries sustained.  T0 make a case, we have to prove that the dog attack could have been prevented or avoided.  We have to show some propensity on the part of the dog to cause an injury.  If a dog has previously bitten a person, this may prove the dangerous propensity of the dog.  There are other means of proving a risk associated with a dog but the clearest evidence potentially available to prove this part of the claim is prior dog attacks.

If we can prove a dangerous propensity for a dog, we can then make the claim for money damages for a dog bite claim.  The value of the case depends on the extent of the injury.  When a dog bite results in a significant scar on a person’s face, for example, the case is worth significantly more than if there is a minor mark left on an ankle.  The extent of medical treatment is also a factor.  Should a person require extensive surgery to repair a dog bite wound, a settlement is likely to be more substantial.  Cases where catastrophic injuries are sustained from a dog attack may be limited only by the extent of insurance available through the defendant.

When a person suffers from a dog attack they face many issues.  The injuries from the dog bite may be significant, the emotional stress of the injury may be difficult to deal with, and the legal issues that arise often are too complex for the average person to handle on their own. It is worth the effort to contact an attorney for assistance with the legalities of a dog bite injury.

For further information, please visit my website at http://www.matveylaw.com/PracticeAreas/Dog-Bites-Animal-Law.asp or at http://www.matveylaw.com/.

Serious injuries or wrongful death may occur from automobile accidents, truck accidents, boating accidents, slip and fall accidents, dog bites, or other incidents of personal injury. Often, these “accidents” could have been avoided if reasonable preventative measures had been taken. At Palmieri & Matvey, we are a full-service personal injury law firm based in Aliquippa, Pennsylvania. We represent victims and their families who are fighting for justice and fair compensation for their injuries. For a free consultation, Contact us today. We can discuss what your case could be worth, what the insurance company involved owes you, and whether you do in fact need an attorney to represent you.  Dog Bite Attorney Thomas Matvey.

From offices in Center Township, Aliquippa, law offices of Palmieri & Matvey, P.C. serves the personal injury and estate administration needs of Western and Southwestern Pennsylvania including the communities of Aliquippa, Center Twp, Beaver, Ambridge, Baden, Beaver Falls, Bridgewater, Chippewa Twp, Conway, Coraopolis, Cranberry Twp, Economy, Ellwood City, Freedom, Harmony, Hopewell, Leetsdale, Midland, Monaca, Moon Twp, New Brighton, New Castle, Patterson Twp, Pittsburgh, Rochester, Shippingport and Vanport; as well as Beaver County, Allegheny County, Washington County, Butler County and Lawrence County and other areas of Western PA.