Protecting Children Injured by Dog Bites
Children are the most frequent victims of dog bites and suffer the most severe injuries. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that children between the ages of 5 and 9 have the highest rate of dog bite injuries, and children are far more likely than adults to require medical treatment — including emergency room visits, hospitalization, and reconstructive surgery. Because of their small stature, children are often bitten on the face, head, and neck, resulting in devastating injuries and permanent scarring.
At Roden Law, our child dog bite lawyers understand the unique physical, emotional, and legal dimensions of these cases. We fight to ensure young victims receive the medical care and compensation they need for recovery, including coverage for future surgeries as the child grows.
Why Children Are at Greater Risk
Several factors make children uniquely vulnerable to dog bites and dog attacks:
- Eye-level exposure: Young children’s faces are at the same height as many dogs, increasing the risk of facial bites
- Unpredictable behavior: Children may pull ears, step on tails, or approach dogs during feeding, unknowingly triggering defensive or aggressive reactions
- Inability to read warning signs: Young children cannot recognize growling, bared teeth, and other pre-attack signals
- Smaller body size: Children suffer proportionally greater injuries because a dog’s bite force impacts a smaller body
- Familiarity with the dog: Most child dog bites involve a dog known to the family — a family pet, neighbor’s dog, or relative’s animal
Georgia and South Carolina Laws Protecting Child Bite Victims
Georgia’s dog bite statute (O.C.G.A. § 51-2-7) does not distinguish between adult and child victims, but courts recognize that children cannot be held to the same standard of care as adults. A defense of provocation or trespassing is much harder to sustain against a young child who did not understand the risk. South Carolina’s strict liability statute (S.C. Code § 47-3-110) imposes liability on the dog owner without requiring proof of prior dangerous propensity, providing strong protection for child victims.
Both states also have special procedural rules for lawsuits involving minors. A parent or legal guardian must bring the claim on the child’s behalf as “next friend,” and any settlement must be approved by the court to protect the child’s interests. Georgia law (O.C.G.A. § 29-3-3) and South Carolina law (S.C. Code § 62-5-433) require judicial approval of minor settlements exceeding certain thresholds.
Long-Term Impacts of Child Dog Bite Injuries
Child dog bite injuries often have consequences extending far into adulthood:
- Facial scarring: Scars on a child’s face grow and change as the child develops, often requiring multiple revision surgeries over the years
- Psychological trauma: Children frequently develop PTSD, severe anxiety around animals, nightmares, and behavioral changes after a dog attack
- Nerve damage: Bites to the hands and face can damage developing nerves, affecting sensation and motor function
- Infection risk: Children’s developing immune systems are more susceptible to bacterial infections from dog bites
- Social and developmental impact: Visible scarring and trauma can affect a child’s social development, self-esteem, and school performance
Damages in Child Dog Bite Cases
Compensation in child dog bite cases accounts for both current and future impacts, including emergency medical care and hospitalization, current and future reconstructive surgeries, psychological counseling and therapy, pain and suffering, future medical costs as the child grows, and impact on the child’s quality of life. Courts in both Georgia and South Carolina give significant weight to the long-term impact of disfiguring injuries on a child’s future.
Why Choose Roden Law for Child Dog Bite Cases
Our attorneys handle child dog bite cases with both compassion and aggressive advocacy. We work with pediatric plastic surgeons, child psychologists, and life care planners to document the full scope of the child’s injuries and future needs. We also ensure court-approved settlements are structured to protect the child’s financial interests until adulthood. There is no fee unless we win your child’s case.
