Dog Bite Injuries

Dog Bite Injuries Attorney in Bozeman, Montana

Dogs and Montana go hand in hand. Many individuals and families in Montana have great interactions and close relationships with theirs and others canine companions. However, dogs can be unpredictable, especially those that are improperly trained or not used to being around kids. More than 4.5 million people per year are bitten by dogs in the United States. In 2021, there were approximately 81 fatal dog attacks. Children are the most common victims of dog bites and the most likely to be severely injured by a dog. If you or your loved one suffered a dog bite injury, then you may need to seek the assistance of a skilled personal injury lawyer who has experience with dog bite claims. 

 

 

You can seek monetary compensation for your dog bite injuries. It is possible that many parties may be liable for your injuries. These include the owner or occupier of the land where the dog bite occurred, as well as the owner of the dog. It is also possible for you to seek financial compensation from your insurance company. Keep reading to learn more about Montana dog bite claims and cases.

Dog Bite Cases vs Dog Attack and Severe Dog Bite Cases

You may be wondering, “Do I have a dog bite case?” or “Should I hire a lawyer for my dog bite case?” Generally, you can, and often should, file an insurance claim or ask the dog’s owner to pay the costs for any dog bite that results in medical bills and was not provoked or the victim’s fault. The answer to the initial two questions above, however, likely depends on whether you or a loved one was the victim of what we often refer to as a standard dog bite or a victim of a dog attack or severe dog bite.

In insurance claims and injury lawsuits, there is often a big difference between a standard dog bite case and a dog attack or severe dog bite case. While a claim or lawsuit can be filed for either, dog attack and severe dog bite cases are often the type of cases that would warrant and justify litigation and filing a lawsuit.

How do lawyers distinguish these? Generally, it is the extent of the injury and the long-term impacts. Standard dog bite cases are those in which the bite may require medical treatment, but the wound heals completely with no long-term effects resulting from the bite and minimal medical bills. Insurance claims can and often should be filed in relation to these incidents, and they should be reported to the appropriate authorities. However, these are not the kind of events that usually result in or warrant litigation. Standard dog bites also do not normally warrant hiring an attorney to handle the claim. At AFJ Law Firm PLLC — Personal Injury, Car Accident & Insurance Coverage Law, we rarely take on standard dog bite cases that involve minimal injuries and no long-term effects.

Standard dog bite cases that usually do not warrant hiring an attorney often have the following types of characteristics:

• Minimal or no puncture of the skin;
• Minimal or no medical attention is required or received;
• Minimal or no medical bills;
• No counseling or mental health treatment is required or received;
• Minimal or no related counseling/psychological treatment bills;
• No resulting infection;
• The bite was often a single short snapping bite with no tearing, shearing, ripping, or prolonged penetration; and
• No long-term effects.

Victims of standard dog bites that cause little or no lasting injury do not usually need an attorney to process or help with their matter.

Dog attack cases and severe dog bite cases are completely different matters. With dog attacks and severe dog bites, the victim often has substantial injuries and suffers long-term effects. The victim requires medical treatment, and their injuries may never heal. Some dog attacks and severe dog bite victims even die from their injuries. Those who survive often require counseling and mental health treatment due to psychological trauma that results from the dog attack or severe dog bite. These types of injuries require medical attention and a report to the authorities. Dog attack and severe dog bite victims often incur substantial amounts of medical expenses. Some victims’ families are left having to pay for a funeral and similar costs.

Dog attacks and severe dog bites are the kind of events that almost always warrant hiring an attorney. Insurance companies often refuse to pay full and fair compensation to injured victims and their families who are harmed by a dog attack or severe dog bite, but do not have an attorney. Instead, the insurance company often minimizes the injuries and losses and sends a low-ball offer to those who are unrepresented by a lawyer. Thus, dog attacks and severe dog bites typically warrant hiring an attorney to handle the claim. At AFJ Law Firm PLLC — Personal Injury, Car Accident & Insurance Coverage Law, we regularly take on and represent victims and their families who have been harmed in dog attacks and severe dog bite incidents that have significant injuries and long-term effects or that lead to death.

Dog attack cases and severe dog bite cases that usually warrant hiring an attorney often have the following types of characteristics:

• Deep and significant penetration of the skin;
• Significant medical attention is required and received;
• Significant medical bills;
• Severe injuries or death;
• Facial injuries;
• Psychological impacts that warrant counseling or mental health treatment;
• Significant counseling/psychological treatment bills;
• Resulting infection;
• Bone penetration and/or penetration of the skulls of young children;
• Hospitalization;
• Injuries from tearing, shearing, mauling, ripping, or prolonged penetration; or
• Long-term effects and impacts.

Victims of dog attacks and severe dog bites that cause significant injuries and lasting effects almost certainly need an attorney to help with their claim or file litigation to recover full and fair compensation for their losses.

Different Types of Dog Bite Injuries 

Dog bite injuries can lead to severe infections and scarring. Dog bite injuries can cause victims, particularly child victims, to experience post-traumatic stress disorder and anxiety. A person who witnesses a family member being attacked by a canine may also suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder. The medical bills and rehabilitative treatment associated with a dog bite injury can cause financial insecurity and psychological distress.

Thousands of people seek medical treatment for dog bites or other dog-related injuries each year in the United States. The majority of dog bite injury victims are senior citizens and children. These vulnerable individuals are unable to defend themselves against dog attacks. Unfortunately, some dog bite injury victims die due to their injuries. Some of the most common, but sometimes unexpected, types of dog attack and severe dog bite injuries include the following: 

Skin penetration, tearing, and shearing injuries: The biting force of dogs, largely depending on breed, varies from 310 kPa to nearly 31,790 kPa. This force can easily penetrate, tear, and shear human skin. These higher forces can also penetrate or crush bones, particularly those of children and older individuals. When dogs attack or bite to harm, they often bite with a “hole-and-tear” effect where the dog’s teeth penetrate and anchor the victim while the dog violently swings and shakes its head side to side, creating more severe tearing and shearing of the skin.

Infections: More than 50% of dogs carry the Pasteurella multocida pathogen – literally named the “killer of many species.” Ultimately, about 20% of dog bites become infected.

Rabies: Rabid dogs are extremely dangerous. If it is not possible to test the dog for rabies, then the dog bite injury victim must receive rabies treatment, which consists of multiple injections. Treatment must be provided to the victim immediately after the dog bite. 

Traumatic brain injuries: A dog may bite a victim’s face or head. Many dogs’ jaws produce sufficient power and force to fully puncture the skull and brain of a child or even an adult. Other victims may fall on the ground during a dog bite attack. Many dog bite victims experience both minor and severe traumatic brain injuries. 

Bone fractures: A victim may fall during a dog attack and suffer a bone fracture. Specific dog breeds may be able to fracture bones when they bite a victim.

Disfigurement: Dogs often bite a victim’s face or throat, particularly children who are shorter and closer to the dog’s mouth. These bites can cause disfigurement and leave large and painful scars that even plastic surgery cannot fully remove.

These are only some of the injuries we see as a result of dog attacks and severe dog bites.

Dog Bite Occurrences by Breed

People often ask, “What dog breeds are most likely to bite someone?” A university meta-analysis of dog bite statistics by breed found that certain breeds are significantly more likely to bite a person than other breeds. The study found that dog bites were most likely to come from the following breeds (in order of the highest incidents):

• Pit Bull
• Mixed breed
• German Shepard
• Terrier
• Rottweiler

The study also found that the highest-risk breeds were both most likely to bite and most likely to cause significant tissue injury.

Fatal Dog Bites by Breed

Some people wonder, “What dog bites cause the most fatalities?” or “What dog breeds kill the most people?” Analysts have compiled statistics on the most dangerous dog breeds. The dog breeds most involved in fatal attacks on humans in the United States over a 13-year time period are as follows:

• Pit Bulls (284 fatal attacks ~ 65.6%)
• Rottweiler (45 fatal attacks or ~ 10.4%)
• German Shepherd (20 fatal attacks or ~ 4.6%)
• Mixed-breed (17 fatal attacks or ~ 3.9%)
• American Bulldog (15 fatal attacks or ~ 3.5%)
• Mastiff/Bullmastiff (14 fatal attacks or ~ 3.2%)
• Husky (13 fatal attacks or ~ 3.0%)
• Labrador Retriever (9 fatal attacks or ~ 2.1%)
• Boxer (7 fatal attacks or ~ 1.6%)
• Doberman Pinscher (6 fatal attacks or ~ 1.4%)

The incidents where pit bulls are involved in a fatal attack seem to be increasing. In the first six years of the study, pit bulls were involved in approximately 58% of fatal dog attacks. In the last seven years, pit bulls were involved in 71% of fatal attacks, an increase of 13 percentage points. This may be because the ownership of pit bulls is on the rise in the United States.

Dog Attack and Dog Bite Insurance Claims, Settlements, and Judgments

Many homeowners’ insurance policies provide coverage for injuries caused by an insured’s dog. In 2024, homeowners’ insurance policies paid $1.570 billion in liability claims related to dog attacks and dog bites, according to the Insurance Information Institute and State Farm. The number of dog bite claims also rose, increasing from 19.062 in 2023 to 22,658 in 2024 – an 18.9 percent increase.

What Is a Dog Bite Case Worth?

The particular facts of your case will dictate the value of your dog attack or dog bite case. The Insurance Information Institute found that the average cost per dog bite insurance claim in 2024 was $69,272. However, this average says little to nothing about the value of your potential case. The value of your case will be controlled by facts such as the severity of injuries, how long the injuries will affect you, the amount of medical bills, the facts of what happened, and the owner’s negligence or maliciousness. Contact us today for a free consultation about your dog attack or severe dog bite claim.