How to Recover the Compensation You Deserve for Dog Bite Scars

Key Points

If you’ve been attacked by a dog, then you know the pain and suffering the resulting injuries can cause. But even after the pain begins to fade, the scars from dog bites can be life-long reminders of the trauma you faced and lead to emotional distress, anxiety, depression, and low self-esteem.

Following a dog attack, scarring can also impact your social and professional life, and treatment to reverse scarring can be expensive. Fortunately, victims of dog bite scars may be entitled to compensation for their medical expenses, pain and suffering, lost wages, and other damages.

At The Millar Law Firm, we have successfully defended dog bite victims for three decades. Here are the facts you should know and how to seek compensation for your lasting injuries and scars.

Table of Contents

What Can Cause Scars from Dog Attacks

The severity of dog bite scarring can depend on several factors related to the bite itself and the victim’s personal health. Here are some factors that can determine the likelihood of scarring from a dog bite:

• Severity of the bite: The deeper and more damaging the bite, the more likely it is to leave a permanent scar.
• Location of the bite: It’s more likely that scars will form on areas of the body that have thin skin, like the face, neck, and hands.
• Victim’s healing process: Age, health, and other factors all play major roles in how well a victim heals and impact the appearance of scars.
• Infection: If a dog bite becomes infected, it’s more likely to leave a scar.

It’s important to note that even a small dog bite can cause scarring. If you’ve been attacked by any dog, regardless of its size or the size of your injury, seeking immediate medical attention can be beneficial in preventing or minimizing lasting scars.

How Are Dog Bite Scars Treated?

Treating dog bite scars can be a long process and can require multiple procedures. Some treatment options that may be recommended to help minimize scarring are:

• Steroid injections can help reduce the inflammation and swelling of the scar tissue, which can make them less noticeable overall. Usually performed in a doctor’s office or a cosmetic surgery clinic, these injections typically require local anesthesia.
• Dermabrasion is a medical procedure that uses a special device to essentially “sand down” the top layer of skin, including the scar tissue. The dermabrasion process lets new skin grow in place of the old, and with multiple treatments, can help reduce the appearance of scars over time.
• Laser resurfacing is a common and popular cosmetic procedure that uses lasers to remove the top layer of skin. Laser resurfacing can help improve the appearance of scars and other skin imperfections, including those that result from dog bite injuries.
• Chemical peel is a popular cosmetic medical procedure that uses a chemical solution to remove the top layer of skin and is also a very common elective procedure for the general public. For dog bite victims, though, the appearance of old scars is reduced as the patient’s new, healthy skin regrows.
• Cryotherapy is a treatment that uses extreme cold temperatures to destroy tissue. In the case of dog bite scars, cryotherapy helps to break down the scar tissue. This can help to improve the appearance of the scar in general by making it less raised and less red. Cryotherapy is a non-surgical procedure, which means that there is typically little risk of infection or scarring!
• Surgical revision is a more extreme type of surgery used to improve the appearance of major scars. It is often used to treat dog bite scars that are raised, red, or discolored.

In surgical revisions, the doctor makes an incision in the scar tissue and removes it completely, then close the incision with stitches or staples. Surgical revisions can be an effective treatment to help severe scars appear flatter and less noticeable. However, because it is a surgical procedure, there is some risk of complications, such as infection or additional scarring.

Each procedure will have a different recovery process and timeline and may require you to take time away from work or school. Depending on the severity of your scarring, multiple treatments of the same kind or even a combination of different treatments may be required for the best results. Additionally, because these procedures can be expensive, you’ll want to consult with an experienced attorney who can help you receive compensation for the treatments you need as a result of your dog bite injury.

How a Settlement Is Impacted When a Scar Is Permanent

The amount of compensation a victim can recover for scarring from a dog bite will depend on the severity and location of the scars, the treatment(s) needed, and the overall impact the scarring has on the victim’s life.

Some factors that may be considered when determining the value of a dog bite compensation claim that involves scarring include:

• The victim’s age: Since younger victims have more years of life ahead of them to deal with the emotional and physical impacts of the scarring, they are more likely to be awarded more compensation for scarring.
• The victim’s occupation: Victims who have jobs requiring them to be seen by the public, such as actors or models, may be awarded more compensation for scarring since it could have a long-term negative impact on their ability to earn a living.
• The location of the scars: Scars on the face or neck often result in more compensation because of their location – they’re significantly more visible and can have a greater impact on a victim’s self-esteem and quality of life.
• The victim’s emotional state: Victims who suffer from emotional distress due to their scarring may be awarded more compensation from a dog bite claim.
• The cost of medical treatments needed: Additionally, the cost of any medical treatments the victim received for the scarring will also be considered when determining the value of the claim.

Permanent Disfigurement

Permanent disfigurement includes scarring, loss of limbs or other body parts, or other significant changes in the victim’s appearance that are unlikely to heal on their own or with medical treatment.

These types of permanent injuries can significantly impact a person’s life, both physically and emotionally. Disfigurement can make it difficult to find a job, socialize, or even just perform everyday tasks. In some cases, permanent disfigurement also leads to ongoing psychological problems, such as anxiety and depression.

The amount of compensation you may be able to recover for permanent disfigurement will vary depending on the severity, location, and overall impact of the disfigurement on your life.

Generally, the more severe the disfigurement, the higher the settlement amount. Disfigurement on the face or neck typically results in a higher settlement, too, as these locations are more noticeable than other parts of the body. Disfigurement that has a significant impact on your life, both in the present and in the future, such as causing you to lose your job or have difficulty socializing, will also result in a higher award amount.

Compensation for Dog Bite Scarring

Scarring can be both physically and emotionally devastating, and can have a significant impact on the victim’s quality of life. In settlements for dog bite injury cases, scarring is usually compensated for in the following ways:

• Medical expenses: You may be able to recover the cost of any medical treatments you received for the scar, such as the scar revision surgery, laser therapy, or cryotherapy.
• Pain and suffering: You may also be able to recover compensation for the pain and suffering, both physically and emotionally, that you experienced due to the scar.
•  Lost wages: If you are unable to work due to the scar or the recovery process, you may be able to recover compensation for your lost wages.
• Emotional distress: You may also be able to recover compensation for emotional distress, anxiety, depression, and low self-esteem due to the scar.

If you’ve been injured in a dog bite attack that resulted in scarring, speak with an experienced dog bite attorney as soon as possible to discuss your legal options. A trusted attorney can help you determine the value of your claim and pursue a settlement for you!

At The Millar Law Firm, we offer a free first consultation. At this meeting, we will learn the details of your story and assess your claim to discover what and how much compensation you may be entitled to recover.

If we all agree to move forward with your claim, we’ll gather evidence and begin the process of recovering full and fair compensation for your damages. We have decades of experience representing dog bite victims, and this gives us a clear advantage when it comes to winning the best compensation package possible for our clients. Allow us to help put the trauma of a dog attack behind you, so you can move on with your life!