Dog bites often lead to severe health complications, including infections or the possibility of rabies exposure. These complications can require costly medical treatments and long recovery times. If you’ve been bitten by a dog and have contracted an infection or faced the risk of rabies, you may be entitled to compensation for your medical bills, pain and suffering, and other damages.
We’re here to help you pursue infection-related claims and hold the responsible parties accountable.
Understanding Rabies and Infection Risks After a Dog Bite
What You Need to Know About Rabies and Dog Bite Infections
When a dog bite breaks the skin, it opens the door to serious infections and diseases. Two of the most common concerns are:
- Rabies: Rabies is a life-threatening viral infection transmitted through the bite or saliva of an infected animal. Immediate medical intervention is required, including a series of rabies shots, to prevent the virus from causing severe and fatal health issues. If the dog’s rabies vaccination status is unknown, immediate post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) treatment is necessary.
- Bacterial Infections: Dog bites can introduce bacteria into the body, including Pasteurella, Staphylococcus, and Streptococcus. These infections can lead to symptoms such as swelling, redness, pus, fever, and in severe cases, sepsis. Infections can spread quickly and require antibiotics or even hospitalization to treat.
Both rabies exposure and bacterial infections can lead to long-term health consequences, including nerve damage, tissue loss, and emotional trauma.
How We Can Help You Pursue a Rabies or Infection-Related Claim
Seek Compensation for Medical Bills, Lost Wages, and Pain and Suffering
If you’ve been exposed to rabies or suffered an infection due to a dog bite, you shouldn’t have to bear the costs alone. We can help you recover compensation for:
- Medical Expenses: Including emergency care, rabies shots, antibiotics, hospital stays, surgeries, and follow-up treatments.
- Lost Wages: If you were unable to work due to your infection or the recovery process, you can seek compensation for lost wages and any future loss of earning capacity.
- Pain and Suffering: The physical and emotional pain caused by infection and rabies exposure can be included in your claim.
- Long-Term Health Complications: In severe cases, infections can lead to long-term health problems like nerve damage, scarring, or chronic pain. We’ll ensure these are factored into your compensation claim.
We understand the serious health risks associated with rabies and infections, and we’ll fight to make sure you receive the compensation you deserve for all medical and emotional damages.
Signs You May Have an Infection After a Dog Bite
How to Recognize Infection Symptoms and When to Seek Medical Help
Dog bite infections can escalate quickly, so it’s important to monitor the injury and seek medical attention if you experience any of the following symptoms:
- Redness and Swelling: If the area around the bite becomes red, swollen, or warm to the touch, this could indicate an infection.
- Pain and Tenderness: Increasing pain or tenderness around the bite area can be a sign that an infection is developing.
- Pus or Discharge: The presence of pus, blood, or other discharge from the wound is a common sign of infection.
- Fever or Chills: If you develop a fever or chills, it may indicate that the infection has spread into your bloodstream.
- Difficulty Moving the Affected Area: If the bite is near a joint or muscle, and you’re having difficulty moving that part of your body, it could mean the infection is spreading.
- Fatigue or Malaise: General feelings of weakness or being unwell can indicate that your body is fighting an infection.
If you experience any of these symptoms, seek medical care immediately. Early treatment is crucial to prevent the infection from worsening and to avoid severe health complications.
Who Is Liable for Rabies and Infection-Related Injuries?
Holding the Dog Owner Responsible for Your Health Complications
In most cases, the dog owner is responsible for injuries caused by their pet. If you’ve suffered an infection or been exposed to rabies due to a dog bite, you may be able to hold the dog owner accountable for your injuries. Liability can be established if:
- The Dog Was Unvaccinated or Had Unknown Vaccination Status: In Virginia, dog owners may be held liable for rabies exposure if they neglected to vaccinate their dog, especially if the dog was known to have aggressive tendencies or was allowed to roam unsupervised.
- The Owner Violated Local Laws: In Virginia, dog bite liability can arise if the owner violated local leash laws or acted negligently, such as allowing an aggressive or unvaccinated dog to roam freely or failing to secure it on private property.
- The Dog Owner Failed to Prevent the Attack: Negligence on the part of the dog owner, such as not securing the dog in a fenced area or allowing the dog to roam freely, can be grounds for a negligence claim.
Our legal team will investigate the details of your case and determine the best way to hold the responsible parties accountable for your infection-related injuries.
How We Prove Liability in Infection and Rabies Claims
Building a Strong Case for Maximum Compensation
We are experienced in handling complex infection-related claims and will take the following steps to build a strong case:
- Gather Medical Records: We will collect your medical records to document your treatment for the infection or rabies exposure and show the severity of your injuries.
- Prove the Dog Owner’s Negligence: By gathering evidence such as witness statements, veterinary records, and proof of local law violations, we’ll demonstrate the dog owner’s negligence in allowing the attack to occur.
- Work with Medical Experts: We collaborate with medical professionals who can provide expert testimony on the severity of your infection or rabies exposure and the long-term health effects.
- Negotiate with Insurance Companies: Our team will handle negotiations with the dog owner’s insurance company to ensure you receive fair compensation for your medical expenses and emotional suffering.
- Litigate if Necessary: If a fair settlement is not offered, we are prepared to take your case to court and fight for the compensation you deserve.
We’ll be with you every step of the way, ensuring that you receive the full compensation needed to recover from your injuries.
Frequently Asked Questions
FAQs About Rabies and Infection-Related Claims in Dog Bite Cases
How do I know if the dog that bit me has rabies?
Rabies can only be confirmed through testing of the dog, which is often done by animal control authorities. If the dog is unavailable for testing or the vaccination status is unknown, your doctor will recommend immediate rabies treatment to prevent infection.
Can I still file a claim if I didn’t get rabies but was treated for it?
Yes. Even if you did not contract rabies but were required to undergo post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) treatment due to the risk of rabies, you can still seek compensation for the cost of treatment and related damages.
What should I do if my dog bite becomes infected?
Seek medical care immediately. Infections can spread quickly and cause severe complications. After receiving medical treatment, contact a lawyer to discuss your options for pursuing a claim against the dog owner for your infection-related damages.