There are many dogs and dog owners in New York. Unfortunately, most dog bite attacks happen between a person and a dog they are familiar with. This goes against the assumption that dog attacks come from random, vicious strays. What happens if a dog bites someone? What do you do when bitten? How do you cope with the damage that follows? Today we will look at the unseen damage. This includes the mental and emotional impact bite injuries have on a victim.
What Happens if a Dog Bites You?
What are the non-physical impacts of bite attacks?
People focus on the physical damage of bite injuries most often. This makes sense, as this damage is visible right away. But a victim does not only suffer physical damage during an attack. Many victims have long-lasting traumatic responses to bite attacks as well.
For example, victims with a history of anxiety have their anxiety triggered again. They may experience panic attacks. Their anxiety may worsen. The same happens to people with a history of depression. Bite attacks may trigger another episode. This leaves the victim despondent and unable to do daily tasks.
Bites, phobias and PTSD
Experts have observed severe issues like post-traumatic stress disorder in victims. Alongside PTSD, phobias also often appear. This includes cynophobia and agoraphobia. Cynophobia is a fear of dogs. It is a trained traumatic response to the violence a victim experienced. Agoraphobia is a fear of leaving the home. Many victims develop this because they fear running into another dog outside.
Do you want to learn more about dog bite attacks? Are you curious about the long-term ramifications these bite attacks have on victims? Contact an Albany dog bite lawyer at our firm today.
