You may receive compensation for dog attack scars in San Bernardino.
Our experienced San Bernardino dog bite lawyers at LA Century Law explain why dog bite scarring can be so devastating, and how you can get the compensation that you deserve.
Types of Scarring Caused by Dog Attacks
Common types of dog bite scars are hypertrophic, keloid, atrophic, and contracture.
Hypertrophic scars
Hypertrophic scars result from abnormal dog bite healing. When dog bite wounds are deep, the body produces collagen as part of the repair process. If the body makes too much collagen, the result is a raised scar. A hypertrophic scar occurs when the extra tissue grows within the original wound area.
Hypertrophic scars are more likely to occur in areas where the skin is tight and has no slack. The scar looks pink or red. Appearance may improve over time.
A study in World J Otorhinolaryngol Head Neck Surg. reports that 3.25% of dog bite victims develop hypertrophic scarring.
Keloid scars
Keloid scars occur when overproduction of collagen extends beyond the original wound site. Scars are thick and raised, often appearing red, brown, or purple.
Infection after a dog bite can contribute to keloid scarring. There may be a genetic component, but we don’t know for sure why some people develop them.
Unlike hypertrophic scars, keloid scars don’t go away on their own. The scar may continue to grow. Keloid scars can be itchy and irritating.
Atrophic scars
Atrophic scars are permanent indentations because of tissue loss. They occur when the injury destroys the underlying skin faster than the body can repair it.
If the wound is too large for the body to heal from the sides, the body may repair the wound from the bottom up. This process can involve an intense inflammatory reaction and granulation tissue that allows the epithelia to cover the wound. As the inflammatory response resolves, wound contraction can occur, leaving an atrophic scar.
Atrophic scars may occur when the trauma is deep or when healing is interrupted or impaired.
Contracture scars
Contracture scars occur when skin thickens and contracts after a dog bite injury. Contracture scars can be especially problematic because they can result in loss of range of motion.
They can appear on the skin, but they happen in muscles, joints, ligaments, and other soft tissue. They can cause deformity. Contracture scars can impair the movement of the hands, arms, knees, and ankles. If the dog bite injury is on the face, contracture scarring may impair facial expressions.
Plastic Surgery and Reconstructive Treatment Costs
Plastic surgery can be a critical part of treatment for dog bites. Scar revision can minimize the appearance of scars. The process often involves cutting out the old scar and closing the wound to create a thinner line. It may also include repositioning skin flaps to help the scar blend in with other skin.
Costs may include consultation, surgeon’s fees, anesthesia, medication, post-operative dressings, and facility expenses. Depending on whether the surgery is medically necessary due to limited mobility, it may or may not be covered by insurance.
In addition to plastic surgery, dog attack scars may be treated with laser resurfacing, dermabrasion, and injections. Several factors determine the best course of action and whether plastic surgery is appropriate. These reconstructive treatments can be a significant part of a claim for dog bite compensation.
Studies about plastic surgery for dog bites
A study in Cureus reports that the lip is the most common dog bite face injury. An avulsion injury tears the skin away. Facial reconstruction may be necessary.
Another dog bite study found no correlation between the type of medical professional performing reconstructive surgery (emergency physician or surgeon) and scarring rates.
Calculating Dog Bite Disfigurement Settlement Value in California
Dog bite disfigurement settlement value is based on how the injuries affect the victim:
Financially. The injured person usually has medical expenses. They may need scar treatment. More indirectly, injuries can impact a person’s ability to work in the short term. Scars can even impact long-term earning potential if they limit range of motion or appear on the face, neck, arms, or hands.
Physical pain. Dog bite injuries can be physically painful. Scars can itch and cause irritation. If scars limit mobility, the limitations can be painful.
Emotional anguish. Dog bite scars can cause psychological trauma. California law recognizes emotional anguish as a type of loss that can result from a dog bite.
Visible scars. The change in appearance from dog bite scars is a loss and is worthy of compensation. The location and severity of scars may influence the appropriate amount of compensation.
Limited range of motion. Limited range of motion and mobility changes are losses that can be claimed from a dog bite.
Your dog bite scar compensation amount
Generally, the more severe the dog bite and the worse the scars, the higher the compensation award. A dog bite is severe because it is costly to treat, physically traumatic, or emotionally devastating. All these factors can impact the appropriate award. There are other factors, too, like the availability of insurance to pay damages.
Children and Dog Bite Facial Scars: Higher Compensation
Children who suffer from dog bite facial scars can claim higher compensation. Because of their smaller size, their injuries may be especially severe.
Their young age may mean that the dog bite affects them for most of their life. Future medical costs may be a significant factor. The child may face psychological trauma that they only realize as they age.
These factors can make a dog bite scarring claim especially high when it involves a child. When a lawsuit is brought on behalf of a child victim, there are procedures to ensure that the child’s rights are protected and that the funds benefit the child.
Facial dog bite injuries in children: A study by B. Eppley and A. Schleich
A study in J Craniofac Surg followed 107 children with dog bites to the face, scalp, and neck. All bites resulted in permanent scars. 77% of victims received scar revision treatment 9-18 months after the injury. 36% of injuries resulted in a monetary compensation claim.
LA Century Law Maximizes Dog Bite Disfigurement Claims
LA Century Law represents adults and children in San Bernardino dog bite claims. We know that scars from a dog bite can be devastating. Our attorneys help clients maximize dog bite disfigurement claims.
Call or message us now.
Call Us Today - It's Free!