Russell & Hill, PLLC

We love pets and it seems that the most popular pet to have in the United States is a dog. Nobody ever expects to get bitten by a dog, but when it happens, the results can be disastrous. You may be surprised to find out how many dog bites send people to the hospital each year. Even minor bites can end up costing large amounts of money. More serious bites can have life-long consequences.

When you need a Bellevue dog bite accident attorney, you can count on Russell & Hill, PLLC to help you recover the compensation you deserve.

US Numbers

When we turn to the Centers for Disease Control for some statistics, we see that there are approximately 4.7 million dog bites each year in the United States. Out of those, nearly 800,000 require medical treatment of some kind. There are a variety of reasons these bites could need medical treatment:

  1. If a bite becomes infected, it could lead to serious complications beyond the site of the injury.
  2. Emergency surgery could be required to repair some of the damage.
  3. Sometimes plastic surgery is necessary to restore functionality and appearance to a bit area.

Any time medical care is needed, the expenses can become overwhelming, especially if the insurance companies do not offer enough to pay for everything.

Beyond the physical injuries, dog bite victims often report emotional trauma in the aftermath. These incidents are scary, especially for children who are particularly vulnerable to dog bite injuries. There may need to be counseling for dog bite victims which can increase the overall cost.

Why They Happen

All too often, these injuries happen because a dog’s owner does not follow leash laws in their area. When a dog is off of its leash, there is no way to control it if it decides to attack someone. Dog owners also need to ensure that all enclosures are maintained so their dog cannot get out.

If a dog has a history of aggression, the owner must follow proper precautions before they take their dog out. If they do not and someone gets hurt, they should be held responsible for any injuries that happen.

Always contact law enforcement or animal control in the aftermath of a dog bite that is caused by another person so the incident can be documented.

What You Can Do Moving Forward

If someone else’s negligence has contributed to your dog bite injury, you need to consider seeking legal assistance. Filing a claim against a person’s insurance for these injuries can become complicated, but we will handle it for you. At Russell & Hill, PLLC, our Bellevue injury attorneys will make sure you get the compensation you deserve. This can include:

  • Coverage of medical expenses
  • Pain and suffering damages
  • Possible punitive damages

You can contact us for a free consultation by clicking here or calling 800-529-0842. We know this has been a scary situation, so let us help get things back to normal.

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