An animal attack can be a traumatizing event, especially if it is from a dog. Dogs are usually friendly beings who like to play with their human companions. However, you should always be careful when approaching a strange dog. They could very easily attack you if they feel threatened. Dog bites result in severe physical injuries, from lacerations to broken bones.
What is often overlooked in such accidents are the emotional consequences. A dog bite victim may develop a range of psychological issues that might not be apparent immediately. These may start showing once they get back to their normal life. If a dog attacked you or your child, talk to a personal injury lawyer specializing in dog bite cases.
Who is at risk of emotional trauma after a dog bite accident?
Anyone who gets bitten or attacked by a dog has a chance of developing psychological problems, such as depression, anxiety, cynophobia, agoraphobia, etc. However, children are much more vulnerable. One’s childhood shapes one’s personality, thinking, perceptions of the world, etc. When a dog attacks a child, it may not be able to go near a dog again.
When it comes to adults, the matter may not be as permanent. Adults have years of happy and uneventful experiences with dogs. One incident may not cause them as many issues. Their past positive experiences may be enough to cover one negative one.
Psychological problems after a dog bite accident.
- Depression: Depression is a common mental illness faced by victims of dog bites, mostly those with severe injuries and disfigurement. For example, a person who breaks a leg or loses a limb in a dog bite accident may no longer be able to participate in her favorite sports.
- Fear and anxiety: One of the most immediate reactions after a dog bite accident is fear and anxiety. The once-trusted relationship you may have had with dogs may be completely ruined. This fear can prevent you from taking routes where you might encounter dogs.
- Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder: Shortly known as PTSD, this condition affects people after the event. People suffering from PTSD may experience symptoms like flashbacks, nightmares, irritability, depression, etc.
- Guilt and self-blame: It is not uncommon to find victims of dog bite accidents feeling guilty and blaming themself. They may feel like the incident may not have happened had they been more careful. This can be more intense if someone close to them was hurt during the incident more than they were.
In Las Vegas, Nevada, there is a “one-bite” rule, which states that the owners are not liable if the dog bites someone for the first time and has never done something of that sort before. Understanding the laws and gathering evidence can be challenging. Hire a dog bite attorney today!
