What Happens if a Dog Attacks My Child?
Children love dogs, and with their generous nature, they assume that all dogs are friendly. This is especially true if they have dogs at home. However, not all dogs love children. Dogs that aren’t used to children may have a difficult time dealing with the aggressive way that kids express affection. Plus, a child’s size might make them vulnerable to a dog’s attack. So, it’s no wonder that so many dog bite victims are children.
If your child has been injured by a dog attack, they might have suffered serious injuries. Your child deserves compensation for these injuries, and a Denver dog bite attorney at Pushchak Law can help you get it. Contact us today for a free consultation and learn how we can help you get compensation for your child’s injuries after a dog attack.
Get Medical Attention for Your Child
After a dog bite, it’s important to get medical care for your child. You might not think the injuries are severe, but some are worse than they appear at first. The doctor can tell you what to look for in injuries that worsen after the initial attack. At any rate, it is useful to document the injuries immediately, which a doctor or nurse can do at the hospital or emergency room.
Remember, not all injuries are physical. If your child shows signs of trauma and might need counseling to recover from a dog attack, document this as well.
The Dog Owner Might Try to Avoid Responsibility
In Colorado, almost every dog bite victim has a right compensation for their injuries. Unless your child was working as a vet assistant or dog groomer or was attacked by a police dog, you are likely due compensation from the dog owner.
However, a dog owner might try a few defenses to get out of paying. First, they might say that your child shouldn’t have been where they were – that they were trespassing. It’s important to document the circumstances of the attack, including the location of the attack. If you were on public property, your own property, or on the dog owner’s property for valid purposes, you deserve compensation.
Second, a dog owner might claim that your child was taunting the dog. To avoid this defense, you need to be prepared to talk in detail about the circumstances of the attack. You should also be prepared to talk about your child’s character, and maybe even talk about their previous experience with dogs. Witnesses can also help establish your child’s actions before the attack.
Will the Dog Be Destroyed?
Many people are reluctant to seek compensation for their child’s injuries because they or their child doesn’t want the dog to be killed. However, a dog isn’t automatically destroyed after an attack. Instead, Colorado has a “one bite rule” that means a dog won’t be killed after its first attack.
Even if a dog has attacked before, it won’t automatically be destroyed after attacking your child. Instead, you can request that a dog be destroyed if you like. Rarely, the court might decide that a dog should be destroyed for public safety, but in those cases, it is for the best, because a dog has likely been involved in multiple serious attacks.
Why Choose Pushchak Law after a Dog Attack
If your child has been attacked by a dog, Pushchak Law is ready to help. With our Informed Decisions™ approach, we work hard to ensure a fair outcome in your case. We believe in keeping the person at the center of a personal injury case. You matter to us. That means we’ll take the time to get to know you and your needs. We make sure you have all the information you need to prioritize your needs, and make the best decisions for you and your child. We make ourselves personally available to you so that you can talk to us about your case.
To learn more about how Pushchak Law can help after a dog attacks your child, please contact us today for a free consultation. We serve clients in Denver and throughout Colorado.
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