A dog bite can appear to be a relatively small wound while hiding deeper damage.
Teeth can penetrate muscles, tendons, nerves, and other tissues. Some injuries become more serious as swelling, infection, or nerve damage develops.
Puncture Wounds Can Hide Internal Damage
A bite may leave only a few visible marks while causing significant damage underneath the skin.
Medical evaluation is important when the bite breaks the skin, especially when the wound involves the hands, face, joints, or other sensitive areas.
Infection Can Complicate Recovery
Animal bites can introduce bacteria into wounds.
A victim may require antibiotics or additional medical treatment if an infection develops.
Nerve and Tendon Injuries Can Affect Movement
A serious bite to the hand or arm can interfere with nerves and tendons.
That can affect grip strength, sensation, and range of motion.
In severe cases, surgery may be necessary.
Facial Injuries Can Cause Permanent Scarring
A dog attack involving the face can create particularly serious consequences.
A victim may require reconstructive procedures and may be left with permanent scars.
For children, facial disfigurement can also create significant emotional and social consequences.
Emotional Trauma Should Not Be Ignored
A dog attack can be frightening even when physical injuries are relatively limited.
A serious attack may cause anxiety, fear of dogs, sleep problems, or other emotional effects.
Children may become afraid to walk outside or visit places where dogs are present.
Evidence Can Help Establish Responsibility
Important evidence may include medical records, photographs, witness statements, animal-control reports, and information concerning the dog’s ownership and history.
Ponton Law identifies dog bites as part of its premises liability practice and handles serious personal injury cases throughout Georgia.
A Serious Dog Bite May Have Long-Term Consequences
The true impact of a dog attack may not be known immediately.
A victim may face medical treatment, reconstructive surgery, rehabilitation, permanent scarring, lost income, and emotional trauma.
For that reason, a serious dog bite should be treated as more than a simple wound. When another party may be legally responsible, preserving evidence and documenting the full extent of the injuries can be critical to protecting the claim.