When Children Suffer PTSD After a Dog Bite Attack in St. Petersburg

If your child has suffered injuries in a dog bite attack in St. Petersburg, know that you are not alone. According to the Center for Disease Control, 4.5 million Americans are victims of dog bite attacks each year, a fact that a St. Petersburg dog bite attorney will be able to prove for your personal injury claim.

Of these instances, 1 in 5 results in injuries requiring medical attention. The likelihood of receiving medical attention for a dog bite attack is higher for children than adults, especially among children 5-9 years old.

By nature, children are generally more curious than adults and are therefore more likely to become involved in situations that expose them to harm. The injuries resulting from a dog bite attack can be both physical and psychological, short-term or long lasting.

Injuries Suffered in a Dog Bite Attack in St. Petersburg

Physical injuries - a crushing wound, a bite mark-are generally easier to diagnose than emotional ones - post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression. While they may require extended and/or multiple treatments, the damage can be visibly assessed.

Psychological injuries, however, are more difficult to diagnose. Children who are direct victims of or witnesses to dog bite attacks can develop PTSD. Classified as an anxiety disorder, PTSD is caused by exposure to a psychologically traumatic event.

Child victims of a dog bite attack in St. Petersburg who develop PTSD may experience:

• flashbacks/nightmares;
• regression into earlier childhood behaviors;
• depression or withdrawal;
• anxiety;
• anger; and
• difficulty sleeping.

These are only a handful of the symptoms of PTSD, and a child victim of a dog bite attack in St. Petersburg may experience some or all of them.

Psychological damages are not always immediately apparent - it can take months for PTSD symptoms to develop. For this reason, it is imperative to seek the input of a St. Petersburg dog bite attorney following a dog bite attack in St. Petersburg involving a child.

Under the principle of negligence per se, it is a dog owner's duty to take the necessary precautions to prevent their animal from harming another being. As psychological damages fall under the umbrella of harm, a St. Petersburg dog bite attorney can assist you in proving that your child indeed experienced a traumatic event and has been adversely psychologically affected by it.

A personal injury attorney who handles dog bite attacks in St. Petersburg will work to prove that the owner of the dog was acting negligently. Under Florida law, a dog owner is responsible for any attacks their dog inflicts regardless of previous instances of vicious behavior.

Contacting a St. Petersburg Dog Bite Attorney

Filing a personal injury claim as the result of a Florida accident can be complex. In cases such as these, it's best that you have an experienced and trustworthy St. Petersburg injury attorney on your side.

To consult with a St. Petersburg injury attorney about your Florida dog bite claim, contact the Law Offices of William K. Saron at 727-345-4566 or 866-836-4947.