When most people think of a dog bite, they usually focus on the physical harm. However, what many don’t consider is that the damage dog bite attacks actually go far beyond that. In certain instances, the emotional and psychological toll these injuries can have on victims can be equally as severe as the physical damages, if not more severe.
It’s important to recognize the emotional and psychological toll dog bites can take, often lasting long after the physical wounds have healed. Victims may require years of expensive therapy, experience a reduced quality of life, and suffer other lasting consequences, all of which deserve compensation.
What are Examples of the Psychological Trauma from Dog Bite Attacks
Fear and anxiety are commonly felt after a dog bite, especially when the victim is around dogs. The feelings of mistrust, anxiety, and fear can eventually spread to other aspects of life, leading to complications in social situations and raised stress levels all around, ultimately impacting the victim’s day-to-day life.
Dog Bite Attacks on Children
Children are particularly susceptible to these consequences after a dog bite injury. A single dog-related event can cause individuals, especially children, to develop lifelong phobias affecting how comfortable they are with pets. These phobias and challenges even change how they approach friendships or group activities.
Some children’s phobia develops so deep-rooted that it prevents them from enjoying playgrounds, parks, or going over to friends’ houses where dogs might be present.
Typical consequences of dog bites in children are post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), nightmares, and symptoms of anxiety and avoidance behaviors. Treatment of dog phobias can be challenging to deliver. However, discussions with a therapist or psychologist can be very helpful, even for younger children.
More recently, virtual reality offers a potentially safe and controlled environment for cognitive behavioral therapy regarding dogs.
Adult Trauma from Dog Attacks
Adults can experience psychological difficulties as well. Depression is a common problem amongst victims, and those struggling will often experience feelings of loneliness or anxiety when they attempt to do things they used to like, like going for walks in the neighborhood or visiting parks. A seemingly normal and insignificant encounter with a dog might set off a spiral of anxiety and dread that lowers a victim’s quality of life overall.
Based on their observations of various dog bite patients, doctors have outlined several life-altering psychological effects, including:
- Fear of dogs and people
- Repeated nightmares and sleep issues
- Emergence of new fears and phobias
- Changes in appetite leading to weight fluctuations
- Changes in personality
- Explosive emotional reactions
- Speech problems such as stuttering
Dog Owner’s Responsibility for Dog Bite Trauma
Under the Michigan dog bite law, dog owners are responsible for any “damages” that occur from the dog bite. This includes not only scarring, bleeding, and nerve damage, but also the emotional and psychological trauma that results from these attacks. Emotional wounds like fear of animals, fear of social events, and ongoing nightmares are all part of the damage element for dog bite cases in Michigan. Proving the value of this emotional trauma is important. That is why it is so important to hire the best Michigan dog bite lawyers so you can obtain a full recovery for what you are going through.
Michigan Dog Bite Lawyers – Psychological Injury Specialists
If you or someone you know has been affected by a dog bite, it is important to consider the emotional and psychological effects along with the physical ones. The dog bite injury lawyers at the Lee Steinberg Law Firm have been handling the physical and emotional effects of dog bites for over 50 years. We are more than happy to answer any questions that you may have regarding your dog-related injuries.
Our team of Michigan dog bite lawyer experts has obtained tens of millions in settlements for dog attack victims. If you have any questions, contact us today.
Call us at 1-800-LEE-FREE for guidance as you navigate this difficult time. We are here to help you through the healing process, every step of the way.
