In Calgary, a boy recently suffered severe injuries to his face after a dog bite accident that sent the child to Alberta Children’s Hospital. Doug Anderson, the bylaw services inspector, told Global News that he believes the dog to be a “pit bull mix.” Two people were charged in the incident, while they wait for a judge to determine the consequences. They might receive a fine of up to $10,000, as their dog is their responsibility.
Cases such as this one are quite frightening, as dog bites are most commonly sustained to the face. A study conducted in Colorado looking at dog bite injuries to the face, further concluded that seventeen of 1,201 (1.4%) of children that sustained dog bite injuries to the face also sustained facial fractures. Fourteen of the seventeen patients in the study were also in need of surgical repair after the dog bite incident occurred. A dog bite lawsuit can easily be filed if an owner does not take responsibility for their animal after a bite occurs, as compensation is deserved for such severe injuries.
Toronto Public Health: Dog Bites
In Toronto, if a dog bite occurs, there is certain protocol that is followed in the aftermath of the incident. Toronto Public Health must:
- Begin an animal to human exposure investigation;
- Ask the person who has been bitten to take a Rabies Exposure Report; and
- Contact the owner of the dog (if known) and order the owner to confine and isolate the animal.
It is important that you receive medical attention immediately after the bite occurs, to prevent an infection or more serious injuries.
Steps to Take After a Dog Bite
If a dog bite does happen to occur, it’s important that you follow a few important guidelines that will ensure your health and safety and strengthen your dog bite lawsuit. Here are important steps to follow:
- Identify the dog owner and the dog that bit you.
- Seek medical attention.
- File a dog bite report.
- Hire a Toronto personal injury lawyer.
- Gather as much information as you can.
- Take photos.
- Document the progression of your injury over time.
By following these guidelines, you are making sure that you pick up as much information as you can on the dog owner and the dog that bit you. A Toronto personal injury lawyer will help you file a dog bite lawsuit if an owner is unwilling to take responsibility for his or her dog’s actions.
Hiring a Toronto Personal Injury Lawyer
A Toronto personal injury lawyer has experience dealing with dog bite incidents and will help you gather enough evidence to prove that the dog owner is liable in your case. It is important that you file a dog bite report to prevent other people from enduring a similar attack by the same animal. Book an appointment with a Toronto personal injury lawyer at Sokoloff today for more information.
Sources:
http://www1.toronto.ca/wps/portal/contentonly?vgnextoid=79a393d7ceb31410VgnVCM10000071d60f89RCRD&vgnextchannel=2f9316b657f61410VgnVCM10000071d60f89RCRD
http://globalnews.ca/news/2199830/2-charged-after-calgary-boy-suffers-serious-dog-bite-to-his-face/
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23511998