We think of dogs as precious members of our households, but it’s important to remember that they can cause serious harm if provoked. A significant number of dogs bites occur in the United States every year, resulting in debilitating injuries, lifelong scars, and even death. While any dog bite can be painful and possibly life-threatening, the location of the bite on the body significantly influences the severity of the injury. Proximity to vital organs and nerves and the risk of infection can vary depending on where a person is bit, requiring victims or their caretakers to understand when urgent medical care is required.

If you or a loved one are attacked, consider speaking to a dog bite attorney in Jackson to review your legal options. Even if you did not suffer serious harm, irresponsible dog owners should be held accountable for their lack of proper monitoring of their pet.

Injuries to the Head or Face

The head and face are particularly dangerous areas to be bitten. This is particularly true if the victim is a child or adult of smaller stature. Bites to the face, head, or neck can cause damage to the eyes, ears, nose, lips, or jaw. In addition to physical trauma, a vicious dog attack can cause significant emotional damage. Injuries to the face frequently require reconstructive surgery and may leave the victim with long-lasting emotional trauma. The risk of infection is also heightened for bites to the head, face, or neck.

Injuries to the Neck and Throat

The neck and throat contain several major blood vessels, such as the jugular vein and carotid artery. A dog bite to the neck can cause rapid, uncontrollable blood loss that can quickly prove fatal. Damage to the victim’s airway can cause obstruction or asphyxiation, and injury to the vocal cords can cause permanent voice impairment. Even trained medical professionals may struggle to effectively contain bleeding from a neck or threat wound, and the potential for shock requires an urgent medical response.

Damage to the Hands or Arms

Bites to the hands and arms pose a significant risk of nerve damage and subsequent loss of function. Damage to tendons, nerves, or bones can impact the victim’s grip strength, fine motor skills, and dexterity. Victims of animal attacks commonly suffer defensive wounds on the arms or hands as they attempt to ward off the attacker. Bites to the hands can cause long-term impairment, since they have a complex structure of small bones and tendons and relatively poor circulation to the fingertips.

Injuries to the Legs and Feet

If you are bitten by a large dog or attacked from behind, it’s likely that you’ll be bitten on the leg or foot. Bites to the legs or feet can cause deep tissue damage, mobility limitations, or bone fractures. Since your feet are almost always touching the ground, which can be dirty, bites are more likely to result in an infection. If you are bitten by a dog, receiving a vaccination for tetanus and monitoring for signs of an infection can help you prevent further harm.

What to Do After a Dog Attack

Following a dog attack, your first priority should be to put distance between yourself and the aggressive canine. Even seemingly minor bites can carry a risk of infection, so you should seek medical care as soon as you are safely away from the aggressive animal. Call 911 if you or someone else is suffering from deep wounds, uncontrolled bleeding, or shows signs of infection.

If you can safely take photos of the scene of the attack without risking further injury, do so. Try to identify the dog and its owner so you can verify whether it was vaccinated for rabies and get the owner’s contact information for future claims. Report the bite to animal control or the relevant local authorities, and consider seeking legal advice to protect your rights to compensation.