What To Do If Your Child Is Injured In A Dog Bite Attack (Part A)

We want our children to develop a healthy relationship with, and respect for, the animal companions that often intersect our daily lives. After all, what kid doesn't love a dog? But sometimes, man's best friend can quickly turn on an unsuspecting child and the results of a dog bite can be devastating and even deadly. If your child has been seriously injured because of a dog bite that occurred in the Philadelphia area, you may be eligible to file a child injury claim to recover damages.

The Center for Disease Control (CDC) estimates that each year, as many as 4.5 million people in the United States will suffer a dog bite injury or animal attack. About 20% of those dog bites necessitate medical attention, and children are the most likely victims to need emergency care after a dog attack. If your family has experienced this trauma first-hand, you will need to act quickly to protect your child's best interests and your child injury claim.

Report the Dog Bite to the Proper Authorities

Once you are done addressing the immediate medical needs of your child after a dog bite has occurred, report the dog bite to the Bureau of Dog Law Enforcement, the division of the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture which handles dog bites and dangerous dog complaints.

Next, contact your closest police department to report the dog bite. In addition to creating a paper-trail of evidence for your potential child injury claim, you may help prevent additional injury, or even death, in the case of a dangerous dog that is prone to attacking children.

Pennsylvania Dog Bite Laws and Your Child's Injury Claim

Pennsylvania dog bite laws, including the Dangerous Dog Law, offer very specific protections for victims of dog bites and dog attacks. The statutes governing these types of injuries can get complicated and the compensation and recourse dictated by law will vary depending on the circumstances of the attack.

Contact a Philadelphia Dog Bite Lawyer

A Philadelphia dog bite lawyer can examine the facts of your case and help you to make sense of the legal recourse available to you. Your family will likely face steep medical bills as you help your child to recover from his or her dog bite injuries. You should not have to bear the burden of these costs because of a negligent dog owner's disregard for the safety of others.

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