What Kind Of Permanent Injuries Can A Dog Bite In North Carolina Cause?
Key Highlights:
- Permanent dog bite injuries North Carolina, include scarring, facial disfigurement, nerve and tendon damage, infections, restricted motion, loss of sensation, and emotional damage.
- A North Carolina dog bite injury claim should consider more than just doctor visit bills; future care, scar surgery, therapy, and how much the injury affects your daily life are also important.
- Dog bite scarring compensation may include costs related to plastic surgery, dermatologists, reconstructive surgeries, scar revisions, and emotional trauma from having a visible scar.
- If a child is bitten by a dog on their face, head, hands/arms, or other visible/highly functioning areas, they may be more likely to have long-term residual effects.
- The laws in NC regarding dangerous dogs will determine whether the injury sustained by the prior victim is serious enough to be prosecuted for dog bite injuries.
If you are asking what kind of permanent injuries can a dog bite in North Carolina cause? A dog bite (a serious one) can cause long-term problems such as the following:
- Scarring
- Face Disfigurement
- Nerve Damage
- Tendon Injury
- Loss of Sensation
- Reduced Function Of Your Hands Or Arms
- Infection-Related Damage
- Chronic Pain
- Long-Term Psychological Or Emotional Distress
A victim may have one or more wounds that heal smoothly. Some wounds will not heal smoothly, and a dog bite will potentially cause significant pain or damage. After being bitten by a dog, a child may experience fear when approaching dogs, and this may impact their future activities, such as going to school, playing sports, taking pictures, and their adult lives.
My name is Robert Tatum, and I am an attorney at Tatum & Atkinson Law Firm. I have been in practice since 2005, and for over 65 years, my firm has been helping victims of horrific dog bite injuries throughout North Carolina. We will fight for your rights!
What Permanent Injuries Can A Dog Bite Cause?
A dog bite can present more than simply a puncture wound. Dogs can have an extreme amount of force in their bite; therefore, their bite can create injury not just to the skin but also to muscles, tendons, ligaments, nerves, blood vessels, and bone.
Because of this, serious dog attack injuries should be closely examined by medical professionals from the very beginning, as the outside of a wound may seem small while internally it can create more damage.
The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons explains the complicated nature of animal bites; they may create injuries ranging from crushing or tearing of the bone, muscle, tendon, ligament, and nerve to infections caused by broken skin. Their explanation of animal bites helps understand how deeper structures may also be involved.
Common long-term injuries after a dog attack
Some examples of long-term permanent injury could include:
- thick scar tissue
- raised scar tissue
- dark scar tissue
- markings/scars on the face
- numbness or tingling
- weakness to grip
- damage to tendons/nerves
- chronic pain and
- fear of dogs
Not all cases will result in all of these injuries. When the bite is deep, as well as on the face/hands, or requires surgery, there is a greater risk of long-term injury.
How Can Dog Bites Cause Lasting Nerve Damage?
When teeth cause injury to an area of skin that has a nerve underneath it, this is called permanent nerve damage dog bite. Nerves are essentially wires in the body that communicate signals. When the wire is damaged, communication may never work quite the same as before.
You might feel a variety of sensations depending on how badly the nerve is injured or compressed. Numbness, burning, tingling (paresthesia), shooting pain, weakness, less control, and/or deadness to touch (for instance, if you try to use your hand after a dog has bitten you). Additionally, certain areas of your body may experience both sensations.
A dog bite nerve injury in your hand, wrist, arm, face, or leg is particularly concerning because it controls everyday functions such as movement and sensation.
Can nerve symptoms appear later?
Yes, all swelling and scar tissue formation, along with the typical healing process, will impact the way symptoms develop over time. If you continue experiencing any of these types of symptoms (numbness or weakness), your doctor may suggest:
- further testing (electrophysiological and/or imaging)
- specialist consultations
- physical therapy and
- surgical repair.
Can A Dog Bite Leave Permanent Scarring Or Disfigurement?
Yes, scarring occurs in a large number of individuals after a dog bite occurs. A scar may be raised or flat, wide or tight, red or a darker color, shiny, and/or painful. Some scars develop tension; others limit mobility.
A facial disfigurement dog bite injury may be especially painful because you have to see it every day of your life (remember the functionality of body parts). For example, if a child has a facial scar, they may be asked about it every single day at school. If an adult has a facial scar from a dog bite, they may feel self-conscious or uncomfortable when they are at work, in social situations, or having their picture taken because they have an injury that has an emotional impact beyond the ‘battle scars’ themselves. You’ll never understand this until you have had to deal with a dog-bite facial injury yourself. Then you will understand.
Dog bite scarring compensation, including medical treatment, scar revision, plastic surgery, dermatological treatment, mental and emotional counseling, and the impairment of functioning as a result of having a visible body part/joint/limb that is substantially damaged or altered due to a dog bite.
Can A Dog Bite Damage Tendons, Muscles, Or Ligaments?
Yes, there are soft tissue structures that enable mobility for our hands, arms, legs, joints, etc. A tendon connects a muscle to a bone, while a ligament connects two bones and/or stabilizes a joint. A severe dog bite could cause injury to a tendon or ligament, therefore affecting mobility, causing pain, and/or weakness. A dog bite to the fingers of your hands, for example, may not seem severe in size and/or severity, but it could change your quality of life in every way.
Injury Type |
Possible Long-Term Effect |
| Nerve damage | Numbness, tingling, burning pain, weakness |
| Tendon injury | Reduced finger, wrist, arm, or leg movement |
| Muscle damage | Weakness, pain, reduced strength |
| Scarring | Tight skin, visible marks, limited motion |
| Infection complications | Tissue damage, delayed healing, and worse scarring |
| Psychological trauma | Fear, anxiety, nightmares, avoidance of dogs |
Hands contain a high density of nerves, blood vessels, tendons, ligaments, and joints that are located in a very small space. If a single structure fails, completing an everyday task will change.
Why Do Children Face Greater Risks After Dog Bites?
Children have unique risks compared to adults due to their smaller stature, proximity to a dog’s mouth, and lack of ability to protect themselves if attacked by a dog.
The CDC discourages leaving young children unattended near dogs and states that dog bites cause pain, injuries, nerve damage, and infections. The CDC has also published recommendations on preventing dog bites.
Children may experience long-term repercussions from being bitten by a dog. Long-term effects of dog bites scars, anxiety towards animals, disturbed sleep patterns, embarrassment at school, bullying, needing therapy, and trouble getting treated for their scars as they continue to grow, can all occur as a result of a dog bite.
Many parents may see the first signs of the long-term effects of a dog bite in a child when they love to be around dogs and avoid them. Another warning sign could be the child hiding their face from a camera when having their picture taken. These signs mean something.
How Can A Dog Attack Affect Mental Health?
After a dog bites someone, their emotional scars could last long after the physical wounds have healed. The victim may re-live the incident in their minds, stay away from public places like parks, become fearful of barking dogs (especially big ones), or feel unsafe in their own neighborhood.
The impact of a serious dog attack may also change how the victim sleeps, their overall mood, how they do at school and work, and how well they interact with their family. Children may nightmare or be very clingy to their parents, while adults may be embarrassed by how long they have been able to feel afraid.
When emotional injury from a dog bite is supported by medical documentation, counseling notes, family observations, or records, it is considered by the NC courts when determining a dog bite compensation claim NC for a dog bite victim.
What Medical Treatment May Be Needed After A Severe Bite?
An injured person will require different types of medical treatment depending on how severe the bite wound is; some may require…
- Merely cleaning of the wound,
- Stitching, antibiotics,
- Rabies exposure evaluation,
- Receiving tetanus shots,
- Imaging studies, while others may involve surgery followed by additional wound care.
Individuals who suffer from deep dog bites may require specialized treatment such as orthopedic care, hand surgery, plastic surgery, physical therapy, occupational therapy, and scar revisions. When determining treatment for facial bites, the doctor will focus on restoring the injury’s function and appearance. When treating a hand injury, the doctor will focus on restoring the grip, range of motion, and touch sensation.
Why future care matters
Reconstruction surgery is an option for repairing tissues, reducing scars, and improving function, as well as repairing any disfigurements. Though it will not eliminate the injury, reconstruction surgery is an option that will assist with it.
When negotiating a dog bite settlement North Carolina, one must also consider if future treatment will be necessary. Future treatment for children, as well as future treatment for facial injuries, traumatic nerve damage, traumatic tendon damage, and/or traumatic scarring, are examples of future treatment that could be required.
How Does North Carolina Law Treat Serious Dog Bite Injuries?
In addition, North Carolina has dangerous dog laws, and these laws may have a bearing on you following an attack on you by another dog. Under Chapter 67 of the North Carolina General Statutes, a “dangerous dog” is defined as a dog that has killed or caused serious physical injury to a person without provocation. The owner of a dangerous dog is strictly liable in any civil action for damages to any person and/or property as a result of such dog. For reference, you may view the North Carolina General Statutes, Chapter 67, Article 1A (Dangerous Dog Statute).
When pursuing a dog attack injury lawsuit NC, negligence may be an area of focus in the case (i.e., failure to restrain the dog, failure to secure the dog from wandering into the street, previous history of biting, previous warnings of biting, dangerous conditions of the property where the attack occurred, etc.).
Facts matter a lot.
What Compensation May Be Available For Permanent Dog Bite Injuries?
A North Carolina dog bite injury claim can include damages for past medical expenses, future medical treatment, lost wages, pain, emotional suffering, scarring, disfigurement, loss of use of an affected limb, and reduction of overall quality of life.
Damage Type |
Examples |
| Medical costs | Emergency care, stitches, surgery, prescriptions |
| Future treatment | Scar revision, therapy, reconstructive surgery |
| Lost income | Missed work, reduced ability to work |
| Pain and suffering | Physical pain, fear, and sleep problems |
| Permanent harm | Scarring, nerve damage, loss of function |
Insurance companies evaluate factors such as the location of the wounds, the visibility of scars, the extent of medical treatment provided to the victim, photographic documentation, whether reattachment of a limb was needed, the victim’s age, and, most importantly, whether the injury affects the victim’s ability to perform daily activities.
Insurance companies will look for reasons to reduce the amount of compensation that they will pay to the victim and will try to convince you that your injuries are minor or are expected to improve, and they may even minimize the long-term psychological damage that can occur as a result of an injury.
This is where documentation is extremely important!
What Evidence Helps Prove Permanent Dog Bite Injuries?
Good evidence provides a complete picture not only of the initial trip to the ER, but also solid evidence may include:
- Photographic documentation of the wound over time, medical records, surgical notes, expert physician/researcher opinions, PT/OT records, functional measures of scarring, prescription records, and projections of future care.
- Animal control reports, witness statements, dog owner/landlord contact info, info about any past incidents involving this dog, letters from insurance companies, doctor’s notes about the impact of injuries on the use of hands/time away from school/work, and psychological treatment records.
“In serious dog bite injury cases, the visible scarring is only part of the story. We have to consider the nerve damage, strength of hand movements, anticipated additional treatment, anxiety/fear issues, and how it affects daily living.”
When you file a dog bite compensation claim NC, good evidence will make your case more compelling when it’s clear that the injuries, treatment, long-term risks, and effects on daily living are all distinctly expressed with good-quality documentation.
When Should You Contact A North Carolina Dog Bite Lawyer?
If you experienced scarring, nerve problems, tendon injury, face injuries, infection, surgery, trauma, or time off work because of your dog bite injury, then it is very important to speak with an attorney.
You will also need to work with an attorney if the victim is a kid, the dog owner is claiming that they have no responsibility for the dog, the insurance company is contacting you immediately, or if the animal control company is involved in the situation.
The attorney can help preserve evidence, evaluate the laws regarding dog bites in North Carolina, figure out the maximum amount of insurance available, document the long-term damage caused by the injury, and push back against the insurance company if the insurance company tries to devalue the claim.
Talk To Tatum & Atkinson Law Firm About Permanent Dog Bite Injuries In North Carolina
If you or your child suffered from permanent dog bite injuries North Carolina, Tatum & Atkinson Law Firm has a team of experienced lawyers to assist you in understanding your legal rights and protecting your future compensation claim. We offer a free consultation to discuss your case and will charge no legal fees unless we recover money for you or your child. Please call us at 800-529-0804 now!
FAQs About Permanent Dog Bite Injuries in North Carolina!
Can a dog bite cause permanent numbness in the affected area?
Certainly, injuries to the nerves from a severe bite may result in permanent damage leading to numbness, tingling, burning sensations, weakness, or decreased feeling in the impacted area.
Are facial dog bite injuries more likely to result in permanent scarring?
Certainly, facial bites can leave obvious scars and will sometimes require reconstructive/lifting-style surgery, scar revision, or long-term follow-up care.
Can psychological trauma from a dog attack be long-lasting?
Certainly, some people who were injured from animal bites may develop anxiety, fear, nightmares, or distress long after the healing process has been completed. An individual may also avoid dogs and lose sleep as a result of their experience.
What happens if a dog bite damages tendons in a hand or arm?
An individual who suffers from tendon damage following a bite will likely experience weakness, stiffness, pain, and/or an inability to move normally. Surgical repair, rehabilitation, and long-term care often will be required.
Can children experience different long-term effects than adults after a dog bite?
Children who are harmed due to animal bites can expect to experience growth-related scarring, facial disfigurement, an increased fear of dogs, embarrassment while attending school, bullying, and the possibility of future medical treatment.
