Dog attacks are sudden and often violent incidents that can leave a victim with lasting damage that is both physical and emotional. One potential outcome of a dog bite injury is long-term or permanent nerve damage, which could interfere with a victim’s quality of life. If you suffer nerve damage from a dog bite injury in Texas, find out how to seek fair financial compensation with the help of a San Antonio dog bite lawyer.
Symptoms of Nerve Damage After a Dog Bite Injury
If you notice any of the following symptoms at the site of the dog bite injury or anywhere in your body after an animal attack, you may have nerve damage:
- Acute or chronic pain
- Pain that worsens over time
- Weakness or difficulty moving the affected area
- A burning sensation
- Tingling or prickling (“pins and needles”)
- Numbness or a loss of sensation
- Sensory changes, such as unusual reactions to hot or cold temperatures
- Difficulty feeling touch or pressure
- Muscle atrophy (shrinking) over time
- Partial or total paralysis of the affected area
Even a small or minor dog bite injury can penetrate the soft tissues and impact the underlying nerves, resulting in temporary or permanent nerve damage.
Types of Nerve Damage Caused by Dog Bite Injuries
When a dog bites, its sharp teeth can puncture the skin and sever or damage the underlying nerves. The compression or force of the bite could also crush, stretch or tear the nerves from the power of the dog’s jaw.
Three main types of nerve damage that can result from a dog bite injury are:
- Neuropraxia: a mild type of nerve injury where nerve conduction is impaired but not severed, often resulting in a temporary loss of nerve function in the affected area.
- Axonotmesis: a moderate type of nerve injury that damages the axons or nerve fibers but keeps the connective tissues intact to allow for potential nerve regeneration. Recovery can occur but may not be complete.
- Neurotmesis: A severe type of nerve injury that completely destroys or severs the nerve, resulting in loss of all nerve function that may be permanent or irreversible.
How much a nerve damage injury affects you will depend on the location and severity of the dog bite. The effects can also vary based on how well you respond to treatments, which may include medications, physical therapy, rehabilitation and surgical intervention. Each patient is unique.
Can You Seek Compensation for Nerve Damage From a Dog Bite?
In Texas, if a dog has bitten someone previously or otherwise exhibited signs of vicious or aggressive behaviors, the owner of the pet can be held liable, or legally responsible, for any subsequent dog bite injuries. This is known as Texas’s one-bite rule.
If you or your San Antonio injury lawyer can prove that the pet owner knew or had reason to know of the dog’s vicious propensities but failed to prevent the attack that injured you, you can receive compensation from the pet owner’s property insurance company.
If you suffered nerve damage because of the dog bite injury, it is important to document this with medical evidence. Request copies of your medical records and diagnostic test results, as well as notes from your doctor. Keep all medical bills. It may also benefit you to keep an injury journal where you document how you feel day by day.
When you are ready to seek financial compensation for your dog bite injury, including any subsequent nerve damage, contact Hill Law Firm Accident & Injury Attorneys to request a free case consultation. Call us today.