One of the most difficult aspects of a dog bite is often its unexpected nature. A person can be around a normally placid animal that, if unrestrained, can choose to behave in unpredictable ways. Adding to this element of surprise is the fact that dog bites can happen anywhere, even inside a local town hall.
On February 4, according to the Saugus, Massachusetts police department, a dog bit an 18-month-old child inside the Saugus Town Hall. The animal reportedly bit the child’s face twice as the girl’s father opened the door to the building. The dog was apparently on a leash at the time; the dog was also licensed and vaccinated, according to a local canine control officer. That officer was supposedly told by a town manager not to issue comments on the case as it is still under investigation.
A dog bite injury can cause a variety of ills, including physical pain, emotional pain, scarring and disfigurement, trauma and more. To a small child, an animal bite injury can be devastating anywhere on the body, but particularly if the child has been bitten on the face. In this incident, the young child was taken to Boston Children’s Hospital for treatment.
As this incident demonstrates, a dog bite can occur in the unlikeliest of places. Parents of small children may find themselves suddenly confronted with the financial and emotional cost of a medical emergency. Fortunately, help is available. An experienced animal bite injury attorney can explain the process of obtaining compensation for damages suffered as the result of a dog bite in Massachusetts.
