According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), dog bites injure more than four million people every year. The most common injuries caused by dog bites are bruises, cuts and scratches. In addition, some injuries are occasioned by contact with dog’s teeth. While dogs can cause these injuries, it is also true that dog bites may result in other grave concerns, most of which may surprise people who are not familiar with laws that surround injuries from dogs.
Effect of a Dog Bite
Dog bites are known to cause emotional injuries. Victims of dog bites undergo emotional
injuries, which may affect their daily lives. One common characteristic of such victims is that they develop a deep fear for dogs. This way, such individuals cannot visit certain places or engage in activities that at some point in their life where enjoyable. In the same way, if a dog bite results in a disfiguring or scary injury, it may make the victim develop depression and a feeling of anxiety.
Dog bites may cause post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). This disorder is highly associated with soldiers who have witnessed different events during combat. PTSD affects people who have gone through dangerous and frightening events. However, this disorder may be caused by emotional stress such as experiencing dog bites or car accidents. In most cases, individuals who have developed PTSD experience flashbacks of bad events. In addition, they usually have bad dreams and numerous uncontrollable terrifying thoughts. Often, the symptoms of PTSD may be disruptive to the point of preventing people from attending to their normal routines such as going to school or work or doing the activities that they once enjoyed.
Debunking Myths
Most people believe that dogs have cleaner mouths than humans. This belief may not be true since dogs’ mouth contains dozens of harmful bacteria . Moreover, out of five dog bites, one will result in infection. Once infected, an individual should seek intensive medical care. Antibiotics are used to treat the infections. In some extreme cases, some infections have caused people to lose their limbs.
An individual who has been bitten by a dog should not hesitate to enlist the services of a personal injury lawyer in Michigan. Owing to their vast legal experience, these lawyers can build a strong case for their client’s injury claim. Contact Michigan Legal Center to for a free consultation with an experienced personal injury attorney.