Facial dog bites are a relatively common injury affecting young children, and often require multiple plastic surgery procedures to combat persistent scarring, according to a recent report in the Journal of Craniofacial Surgery. In the study, which was published in March, the researchers concluded that “regardless of the severity of the trauma, most dog bite …
Facial dog bites are a relatively common injury affecting young children, and often require multiple plastic surgery procedures to combat persistent scarring, according to a recent report in the Journal of Craniofacial Surgery. In the study, which was published in March, the researchers concluded that “regardless of the severity of the trauma, most dog bite injuries result in permanent scars, and secondary revision surgery is frequently needed.” If you have suffered injuries in a dog bite accident in Oklahoma City, or elsewhere in Oklahoma, consult our reputable attorneys at Oklahoma Legal Center to discuss your legal options. You may have grounds to file a claim against the dog owner, in order to seek financial compensation for your injuries and costly medical expenses.
Dangerous Dog Breeds
From 1995 to 2005, lead researcher Dr. Barry L. Eppley treated 105 children with dog bites of the face, neck and scalp, with the average age of the injured children being six. It may come as a surprise that so many young children fall victim to dog bites, but statistics actually show that most dog bite victims are familiar with the dog involved in the attack. In fact, in 95% of dog bite cases involving children, the dog was known to the victim and the family, belonging either to the family itself or to a neighbor, friend or acquaintance. When the breed of the dog was known, the most common was pit bull, followed by Chow, German shepherd and doberman pinscher, and most of the bites were classified as “provoked,” which means the child was playing with, petting, or otherwise interacting with the dog at the time of the attack.
Dog Bite Injuries and Treatment
In 90% of the children involved in the dog bite accident study, the dog bites resulted in a combination of laceration, crush and shear injuries. While most of the bites could be closed with stitches, some required skin grafting or other reconstructive surgery, and one child was left with permanent injury to the facial nerve as a result of the attack. In more than three-quarters of the dog bite cases, the child victim underwent additional scar revision surgery in an effort to improve the aesthetic results of the treatment, and about one-quarter of patients required a second or even third revision surgery.
Consult Our Reputable Attorneys for Legal Help
The unfortunate truth is that dog bites are common injuries among children, with many of these injuries involving the head, face and neck. In light of this new study, which highlights the young age of dog bite victims and the extensive treatment often required for these injuries, parents and caregivers are strongly advised to keep young children away from “high-risk” breeds. If your child has suffered injuries in a dog attack in Oklahoma, your first course of action should be to contact our qualified lawyers at Oklahoma Legal Center. Our legal team has years of experience protecting the rights of Oklahoma dog bite victims, and will work diligently to help you and your family pursue the financial compensation you deserve for your child’s dog bite injuries.