Dogs are many people’s favorite pets. Many families, but also single people, have a dog. Dogs come in all shapes and sizes. A small fierce dog, a big sweet dog and dogs that are on the list of the most dangerous dogs.
The list of the most dangerous dogs includes the Pit Bull Terrier, the Staffordshire Bull Terrier, the American Staffordshire Terrier and the Rottweiler. These dogs also often cause dog bites. But what to do with a dog bite and what can a personal injury lawyer (Dutch: letselschade advocaat) do for you if you have been bitten by a dog? For example, a personal injury lawyer in The Hague (Dutch: letselschade advocaat Den Haag) in case of a dog bite in this city.
A dog bite? Danger of an infection from the tetanus bacteria
As a result of a dog bite, you can suffer injuries, such as a disfiguring scar, damaged muscles and nerve damage. But there is also another major danger to your health. A dog bite can also cause a dangerous infection.
Dogs often carry the tetanus bacteria. These bacteria is very dangerous for humans. These bacteria can lead to stiffness. An infection of the tetanus bacteria can also cause painful muscle cramps that can cause muscle cramps and even swallowing problems and breathing problems. You can even cramp up completely and fractures and other very serious complications can occur.
It is therefore important in case of a dog bite that you always go to a doctor. He can give you a tetanus shot. This can prevent many medical problems.
Who is liable for a dog bite injury?
A dog bite can therefore cause a tetanus infection, but also damage such as bone fractures, scars, muscle damage, nerve damage and even amputation of fingers or a hand. In other words, you can sustain serious and permanent injuries from a dog bite. Damage is often caused by this injury. But who can be held responsible for this damage?
Of course, every legal system is different. In most legal systems, including in the Netherlands, it is stated that the owner of the animal is liable for personal injury caused by animals. So, if you are bitten by a dog, the dog owner is in principle obliged to pay compensation for your injury. Owners of animals are often insured against liability for damage caused by animals. It is then the insurance company that pays for your personal injury.
What to do after a dog bite?
Have you been bitten by a dog and have you sustained any injuries or complaints? Several things are important in order to successfully recover your personal injury claim. First, you need to know who owns the dog. If you do not know this, you can of course not hold this person liable. It is also important that you can prove that you have been bitten by the dog in question.
To prove that you were bitten by a dog, it is important that you have witnesses to the dog bite. Ask these witnesses to put a statement on paper and request the contact details of these witnesses. You can then ask them at a later stage to provide an additional statement, for example to the court.
What injuries are covered?
Is liability established? Then all damage will be compensated. Personal injury consists on the one hand of all costs you incur as a result of the dog bite. Think of medical costs or travel costs to practitioners. In addition, damage is compensated as income damage.
In addition to material damage, there is also a right to compensation for damages. This concerns compensation for the consequences that the accident has on your personal situation, such as pain complaints, anxiety complaints and psychological complaints.