JENKINTOWN PERSONAL INJURY ATTORNEYS

We’ve posted several articles about preventing childhood dog bites. While children account for 60 percent of dog bite victims, they are not the only ones at risk of being attacked by dogs. Many Pennsylvania dog bite victims are seniors.

The physical changes that accompany aging can increase the risk of being injured in a dog attack. For many seniors, walking is difficult. If an elderly pedestrian is threatened by a dog, the only option is to back away slowly. An elderly dog bite victim may not be physically able to fight off a dog like a younger adult.

But, seniors aren’t just more likely to become dog bite victims. They are also more likely to suffer serious injuries and dog bite complications in a dog attack.

Why Dog Bite Injuries Are Especially Dangerous to the Elderly

• Seniors don’t have to be bitten to suffer a dog attack injury. An elderly person can suffer serious injuries simply from being knocked over by a dog. Non-bite dog attack injuries can include broken hips and traumatic head injury.
• Many seniors have pre-existing medical conditions that make it difficult to fight infection or recover from injury.

Sometimes a dog bite injury is severe enough to force a senior to move into a nursing home. This loss of independence can be devastating to the dog bite victim and to family members who can only watch their love one’s decline.

Pennsylvania dog owners are responsible for making sure their dogs don’t cause injury. If your elderly family member was attacked by a dog, you deserve accountability and compensation. The dog owner may be liable for your loved one’s medical bills, pain and suffering and loss of quality of life. To learn more, please contact Mednick, Mezyk & Kredo at 888-807- 9675.