Dog bites often lead to severe health complications, including infections or the possibility of rabies exposure. These complications can require costly medical treatments and long recovery times. If you’ve been bitten by a dog and developed an infection or required rabies treatment, you may be entitled to compensation for medical bills, pain and suffering, lost wages, and other related damages.
We’re here to help you pursue infection-related claims and hold the responsible parties accountable.
Understanding Rabies and Infection Risks After a Dog Bite
What You Need to Know About Rabies and Dog Bite Infections
When a dog bite breaks the skin, it opens the door to serious infections and diseases. Two of the most common concerns are:
- Rabies: Rabies is a rare but deadly viral infection transmitted through the bite or saliva of an infected animal. Immediate medical treatment is crucial because once rabies symptoms appear, the disease is almost always fatal. Post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) treatment, which includes a series of rabies vaccines, is typically required if the dog’s vaccination status is unknown or if the dog is unvaccinated. Immediate medical intervention is essential and usually includes a series of post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) shots to prevent the virus from spreading to the nervous system, as rabies is nearly always fatal once symptoms appear.
- Bacterial Infections: Dog bites commonly introduce harmful bacteria such as Pasteurella, Staphylococcus aureus, and Streptococcus. In more severe cases, Capnocytophaga canimorsus and other bacteria can cause life-threatening infections that require immediate treatment.
Both rabies exposure and bacterial infections can lead to long-term health consequences, including nerve damage, tissue loss, and emotional trauma.
How We Can Help You Pursue a Rabies or Infection-Related Claim
Seek Compensation for Medical Bills, Lost Wages, and Pain and Suffering
If you’ve been exposed to rabies or suffered an infection due to a dog bite, we can help you recover compensation for costly treatments such as post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP), antibiotics, and hospital stays. We can help you recover compensation for:
- Medical Expenses: Including emergency care, rabies post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP), antibiotics, wound cleaning, hospital stays, surgeries for severe tissue damage, and necessary follow-up treatments to prevent further complications.
- Lost Wages: If you were unable to work due to your infection or the recovery process, you can seek compensation for lost wages and any future loss of earning capacity.
- Pain and Suffering: The physical and emotional pain caused by infection and rabies exposure can be included in your claim.
- Long-Term Health Complications: In severe cases, infections can lead to long-term health problems like nerve damage, scarring, or chronic pain. We’ll ensure these are factored into your compensation claim.
We understand the serious health risks associated with rabies and infections, and we’ll fight to make sure you receive the compensation you deserve for all medical and emotional damages.
Signs You May Have an Infection After a Dog Bite
How to Recognize Infection Symptoms and When to Seek Medical Help
Dog bite infections can escalate quickly, so it’s important to monitor the injury and seek medical attention if you experience any of the following symptoms:
- Redness and Swelling: If the area around the bite becomes red, swollen, or warm to the touch, this could indicate an infection.
- Pain and Tenderness: Increasing pain or tenderness around the bite area can be a sign that an infection is developing.
- Pus or Discharge: Pus or Discharge: The appearance of pus, fluid, or other discharge from the bite wound is a strong indication of infection and should prompt immediate medical evaluation.
- Fever or Chills: If you develop a fever or chills, it may indicate that the infection has spread into your bloodstream.
- Difficulty Moving the Affected Area: If the bite is near a joint or muscle, and you’re having difficulty moving that part of your body, it could mean the infection is spreading.
- Fatigue or Malaise: General feelings of weakness or being unwell can indicate that your body is fighting an infection.
If you experience any of these symptoms, seek medical care immediately. Early treatment is crucial to prevent the infection from worsening and to avoid severe health complications.
Who Is Liable for Rabies and Infection-Related Injuries?
Holding the Dog Owner Responsible for Your Health Complications
New Mexico follows a negligence-based approach to dog bite injuries, meaning the dog owner can be held liable if they failed to take reasonable steps to prevent the attack. Liability depends on whether the owner acted negligently in controlling the dog, such as violating leash laws or failing to secure the dog properly.
Liability can be established if:
- The Dog Was Unvaccinated or Vaccination Status Was Unclear: New Mexico law requires dogs over four months old to be vaccinated against rabies. If the dog was not vaccinated or its vaccination status was unclear, the owner could face increased liability. However, under New Mexico’s negligence law, the dog owner can still be held liable for injuries even if the dog’s vaccination status was compliant, provided the victim was lawfully on the premises and did not provoke the dog.
- The Owner Violated Local Laws: If the dog owner violated local leash laws or animal control regulations, or failed to restrain a dangerous dog known to pose a threat, they may be held liable for the resulting injuries and complications, including infection or rabies exposure.
- The Dog Owner Failed to Prevent the Attack: Negligence on the part of the dog owner, such as not securing the dog in a fenced area or allowing the dog to roam freely, can be grounds for a negligence claim.
Our legal team will investigate the details of your case and determine the best way to hold the responsible parties accountable for your infection-related injuries.
How We Prove Liability in Infection and Rabies Claims
Building a Strong Case for Maximum Compensation
When building a case for compensation, we will need to prove that the infection or rabies exposure was directly caused by the dog bite and that the dog owner’s actions contributed to the risk. In cases where the dog was unvaccinated or the owner violated local laws, this may strengthen your claim for compensation.
We are experienced in handling complex infection-related claims and will take the following steps to build a strong case:
- Collect Medical Documentation: We will gather comprehensive medical records, including documentation of your initial treatment, any follow-up care, antibiotics prescribed, and any surgeries or treatments required for long-term complications such as nerve damage or scarring.
- Prove the Dog Owner’s Negligence: We will gather evidence such as witness statements, veterinary records, and proof of violations of New Mexico’s rabies vaccination or leash laws to demonstrate the dog owner’s negligence in allowing the bite to occur and causing any subsequent infections or rabies exposure.
- Work with Medical Experts: We collaborate with medical professionals who can provide expert testimony on the severity of your infection or rabies exposure and the long-term health effects.
- Negotiate with Insurance Companies: Our team will handle negotiations with the dog owner’s insurance company to ensure you receive fair compensation for your medical expenses and emotional suffering.
- Litigate if Necessary: If a fair settlement is not offered, we are prepared to take your case to court and fight for the compensation you deserve.
We’ll be with you every step of the way, ensuring that you receive the full compensation needed to recover from your injuries.
Frequently Asked Questions
FAQs About Rabies and Infection-Related Claims in Dog Bite Cases
How do I know if the dog that bit me has rabies?
Rabies can only be confirmed through testing of the dog, which is often done by animal control authorities. If the dog is unavailable for testing or the vaccination status is unknown, your doctor will recommend immediate rabies treatment to prevent infection.
Can I still file a claim if I didn’t contract rabies but received treatment for it?
Even if you did not contract rabies but underwent post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) as a precaution, you can still seek compensation for treatment costs, as this is standard medical protocol when rabies exposure is suspected.
What should I do if my dog bite becomes infected?
Seek medical care immediately. Infections can spread quickly and cause severe complications. After receiving medical treatment, contact a lawyer to discuss your options for pursuing a claim against the dog owner for your infection-related damages.