Long-Term Costs of Dog Bite Scarring and Plastic Surgery

Dog attacks can be incredibly violent, causing lasting physical and emotional harm in addition to financial costs. In severe cases, dog bite victims can experience significant scarring and disfigurement. Dog bite scarring can have a range of long-term consequences and effects that extend far beyond just medical expenses.

Medical Costs

The financial costs of serious dog bite injuries can be immense. A victim may require intensive medical treatment, multiple surgeries and ongoing care – especially in cases involving damage to sensitive areas such as the face. Plastic surgery alone after a violent dog bite injury can cost hundreds of thousands of dollars.

The medical bills associated with a severe dog attack may include:

• Hospital stays
• Initial wound debridement and stitches
• Surgical repair and reconstruction
• Skin graft operations
• Multiple plastic surgeries
• Revision surgeries
• Follow-up appointments
• Medications
• Medical devices
• Physical and occupational therapies
• Rehabilitation

A dog bite victim may require weeks, months or even years of medical treatments to repair extremely damaged parts of the body, regain lost abilities, and manage the long-term effects of scarring or disfigurement. The costs associated with this much care could reach into the millions over a victim’s lifetime.

Lost Wages

Depending on the nature of a dog attack, a victim may be temporarily or permanently unable to return to work. Permanent scarring can lead to physical disabilities, such as skin contractures (the tightening of skin due to scar tissue) that permanently limit the victim’s range of motion. 

Severe dog attacks that affect the face and head may also lead to a loss of vision and/or hearing for a victim. These disabilities can affect the ability to work and result in lost wages over the victim’s lifetime. Functional impairments from dog bite injuries can lead to lifelong wage reductions if the individual has to take a job at a reduced capacity or cannot work at all.

Emotional and Psychological Costs

Violent dog bite injuries that result in serious scarring or disfigurement not only have financial costs, but emotional and psychological ones, as well. Living with permanent scars from a dog attack can affect peace of mind, self-esteem, self-image, self-confidence, quality of life, relationships with others and enjoyment of daily activities. 

Dog bite victims often struggle with lasting trauma from their experiences, such as post-traumatic stress disorder, chronic anxiety and depression. They may require professional counseling, therapy, support groups and medications to treat related mental health conditions. 

How to Fight for Fair Compensation for a Serious Dog Bite Injury in Texas

Treatments for dog bite injuries can be highly expensive due to the added costs of reconstructive surgery. When dogs attack, they often target vulnerable areas such as the face, head and neck. This can lead to highly visible scarring and the need for multiple reconstructive surgeries. 

Even with treatments, scars typically cannot be erased entirely. The victim may have to live with an altered appearance for the rest of his or her life, potentially having mental and emotional effects.Recovering fair financial compensation for the medical, physical and psychological costs of a devastating dog bite injury may take help from a dog bite injury attorney. Legal representation can allow a victim to achieve the best possible results for a dog bite injury claim through smart and aggressive legal strategies. Contact the Doan Law Firm for assistance today.