A dog bite can be extremely painful and risky.
Experts explain what you should also pay attention to in the case of minor injuries - and what legal consequences such an incident can entail.
A dog bite is no joke.
For both sides - the victim of the bite as well as for the dog owner - it is an extremely delicate situation that should be avoided in any case.
According to the
Verivox.de
portal , the statistics show that an estimated 30,000 to 50,000 people are bitten by dogs every year - and in many cases this results in injuries.
"A dog bite can range from a slight pinch to a severe bite, which can also be dangerous under certain circumstances.
Especially with a child, on the face or during pregnancy, the consequences can be serious and entail claims for compensation for pain and suffering or claims for damages, ”says the portal’s contribution.
But even with minor injuries, the bite wound could become infected, which is why you should always consult a doctor immediately.
The Verivox experts explain what those affected should also consider in the event of an incident and how the situation should be assessed from an insurance law perspective.
Infection, tetanus and rabies - dog bites and their possible consequences
Dogs' oral cavity is full of bacteria.
"If a bite occurs, these can get into the wound through teeth and saliva and cause tetanus or rabies," explains
Verivox
in its statement.
Most people have been vaccinated against these diseases and are therefore protected.
However, the risk of inflammation of the wound is often underestimated.
"If swelling, reddening and warmth persist a few hours after the dog bite, it may be that the wound has become infected.
In this case, care should be ensured by a doctor as quickly as possible,” is the important note.
“The treatment is usually with antibiotics.
Even if rabies is suspected, the doctor treating you is obliged to officially report the incident.”
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"Caution!
Dog” signs like this are meant to warn passers-by.
But such a sign alone is not enough.
© Heiko Küverling/Zoonar.com/Imago
Immediate measures after a dog bite
Why did the situation escalate?
In many cases, the situation is not always easy to assess in retrospect from a legal point of view.
The experts recommend what actions stakeholders on both sides should take immediately after a dog bite.
"Those affected should exchange addresses, and the bitten person should see a doctor."
"The dog owner should take their dog to the veterinarian, who will issue a rabies-free certificate, which the pet owner must provide to the bitten person."
"This rabies-free certificate can give the bitten person certainty that he could not have been infected and he may refrain from reporting it."
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Dog liability insurance can protect against legal consequences
What are the legal consequences of doubt?
In the best case, according to the experts, an out-of-court settlement can be reached between the dog owner and the bitten person.
"To achieve this, the dog owner can inform the victim immediately after the dog bite that he has dog liability insurance." This way, court proceedings can be avoided and both parties can save a lot of time and effort.
Dog bite compensation?
Otherwise, it can be expensive for the dog owner if their own four-legged friend has actually bitten someone: "In the event of property damage or an injury, the dog owner is always liable, even if the bitten person or his dog is partly to blame," explains Verivox in the
article
.
In most cases, it is the injured party who reports it.
In frequent cases, the owner of the biting dog then has to pay compensation for pain and suffering.
"A dog bite is not a criminal offence, but it can lead to a criminal complaint due to the doctor's obligation to report it," the article also says.
"This reporting obligation depends in turn on whether rabies is suspected in the biting dog or not."
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How much is compensation for pain and suffering?
According to Verivox.de,
that depends
on the individual case – and "after whether there was contributory negligence on the part of the injured party".
"It is not advisable to consult so-called compensation tables, as these are usually incomplete and the amount of compensation is adjusted depending on the individual case," the experts said, according to the article.
"It could vary from a few 100 euros for bites without open wounds to several 1,000 euros, depending on the severity of the injury or damage."
List of rubrics: © Heiko Küverling/Zoonar.com/Imago
