Dog Bite Scarring and Disfigurement

The Lifelong Impact of Dog Bite Scars

The most permanent and painful reminders of severe dog attacks are often the dog bite scarring and disfigurement they leave behind. Beyond the initial dog bite injuries, the resulting visible scars can last a lifetime, impacting appearance, confidence, and daily life. At Chicago Dog Bite Injury Lawyers, we understand how devastating dog bite scars and disfiguring injuries can be for victims and their families.

This guide explains the types of scarring caused by dog bites, the medical treatments available to improve scar tissue, and the legal rights that dog attack victims in Illinois have to hold the responsible dog owner accountable.

Whether you’re facing permanent scarring, facial scars, or the lasting emotional trauma that follows, this article will help you understand your options for healing, recovery, and financial compensation.

Why Scars from Dog Bites Are Often Severe and Complex

Dog bites create a mix of puncture wounds, tearing, and crushing forces that damage both skin and deeper tissue. This leads to jagged edges and irregular wounds, far harder to repair and more likely to leave obvious scars than clean cuts.

Many dog attacks, especially those involving children, strike the face and neck, where the skin is thin and highly visible. These facial injuries often cause large scars, lasting emotional trauma, and the need for reconstructive surgery, scar revision, and physical therapy to minimize permanent disfigurement.

Because of these factors, scarring and disfigurement are often severe, requiring prompt medical treatment and legal action to secure full recovery and compensation.

Common Types of Scars Resulting from Dog Bite Injuries

Different dog attacks can cause different types of scarring and disfigurement. The wound’s depth, location, healing process, and how the injuries occurred all affect scar formation. Each scar brings its own treatment challenges and emotional impact, especially when disfiguring scars appear on the face, neck, or hands.

Knowing these distinctions helps dog bite victims and healthcare providers choose the best scar treatment and supports fair compensation in dog bite claims.

Keloid Scars

Keloid scars form when scar tissue grows beyond the original wound. They are thick, raised, and may continue enlarging over time. Because dog bite injuries often have jagged edges and deep lacerations, they’re more likely to develop keloids, particularly in younger people or those with darker skin tones.

Keloids can cause significant pain, itching, and emotional distress, and they frequently require laser treatments, steroid injections, or even surgical techniques to achieve a smoother surface.

Hypertrophic Scars

Hypertrophic scars are similar to keloids but remain within the boundary of the original wound. Hypertrophic scars often form after dog bites due to the intense tissue damage and inflammation.

These severe scars may improve over time but still create physical and emotional challenges, including stiffness and restricted movement in the affected area. Treatments include silicone gel sheets, scar revision, and occupational therapy or physical therapy to reduce tightness and improve flexibility.

Atrophic Scars

Atrophic scars occur when healing leaves depressed or sunken areas of skin. They’re more common when nerve damage, skin grafts, or infections occur after dog bite injuries.

These scar formations can distort the surrounding skin, especially when injuries occur on the face, creating a highly visible reminder of the dog attack. Cosmetic surgery, dermal fillers, or lasers are often used to minimize scarring and restore a more even skin surface.

Contracture Scars

Contracture scars develop when the skin pulls tightly during healing, reducing movement and sometimes affecting deeper tissues, muscles, or nerves. They’re common in severe cases of dog bite injuries, especially when deep cuts or burns occur.

This type of permanent scarring can limit mobility of joints or facial expressions and often requires plastic surgery, skin grafts, and physiotherapy to regain function and prevent infection.

The Emotional and Psychological Toll of Disfigurement from Dog Attacks

Beyond physical injuries and noticeable scars, dog attack victims often endure post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety, depression, and social phobia. Dog attack scarring can damage self-esteem and body image, especially with facial scars or permanent disfigurement, affecting relationships, work, and daily life.

Illinois law allows victims to seek financial compensation for this emotional toll, alongside their medical costs and pain and distress.

Medical Treatments to Improve Dog Bite Scars

Modern scar treatment can help dog bite victims reduce disfiguring scars and improve function in affected areas. Common medical treatments include:

• Plastic or reconstructive surgery for severe facial scars and injuries
• Laser treatments or dermabrasion to smooth scar tissue
• Steroid injections to reduce hypertrophic or keloid scars
• Silicone gel sheets or scar creams to minimize scarring
• Skin grafts and revision surgery for permanent disfigurement
• Physical therapy for contracture scars to restore movement

These treatments, combined with careful medical documentation, can be crucial in proving medical expenses incurred and supporting compensation in dog bite claims.

Your Legal Rights Under the Illinois Animal Control Act

Illinois is a “strict liability” state for dog bites. Under the Illinois Animal Control Act, a dog owner is responsible for all damages from an unprovoked attack, including medical costs, lost wages, pain and suffering, and future revision surgeries, regardless of the dog’s past behavior or history.

This law allows lawfully present dog attack victims to pursue compensation for scarring, emotional suffering, and other damages suffered without having to prove negligence, barring instances where the victim provoked the dog.

In many cases, the dog owner’s insurance coverage (such as homeowner’s or renter’s insurance) can be used to pay these damages, helping ensure victims receive the compensation needed for their recovery.

Seeking Full Compensation for Disfigurement in Dog Bite Cases

Illinois law treats “disfigurement” as its own category of non-economic damages. Dog bite victims can seek compensation for medical bills and lost wages, as well as for the physical scarring, permanent disfigurement, and emotional suffering caused by a dog attack.

Because scarring and disfigurement can last a lifetime, victims may also recover the costs of future revision surgeries, reconstructive procedures, physiotherapy, and mental health care needed to cope with lasting emotional issues.

What Makes Us The Best Dog Bite Lawyer Team for Scarring Cases in Illinois?

At Dog Bite Injury Lawyer, our award-winning attorneys have secured over $450 million in settlements and verdicts for injured clients, maintaining a 98% success rate across thousands of personal injury cases.

With more than a century of combined legal experience, we’ve helped over 5,000 victims obtain justice and the compensation they deserve. Our team is available 24/7 for free consultations, so you can reach us anytime for trusted legal guidance and compassionate support.

Our lawyers have been honored by top legal organizations for their excellence in personal injury litigation, including:

• Million Dollar Advocates Forum
• Super Lawyers®
• American Association for Justice (AAJ)
• Illinois Trial Lawyers Association
• A+ Rating with the Better Business Bureau
• Contributing Author for The National Law Review
• AVVO Rating of 10/10

Our firm has achieved hundreds of millions in compensation for injury victims across Illinois, with a proven record of success. This experience means that when dog attack victims bring us cases involving serious scars or lasting disfigurement, they get a team that understands both the medical and legal complexities and fights for full and fair compensation.

Our Settlements for Dog Bite Injuries in Illinois

Our law firm has a proven record of winning substantial settlements for many dog bite victims across Illinois. Here are a few examples:

$1,200,000 Recovery Against Dog Owner for Toddler With Facial Injuries

A toddler was attacked by a relative’s Doberman Pinscher, suffering severe facial wounds and lasting scarring. This policy-limit settlement ensures both immediate and future medical care for the child’s recovery.

$885,000 Settlement for Teen Injured at Cookout

A teenage boy was attacked by a large, aggressive dog at a cookout and pushed into a bonfire, sustaining serious burns and dog attack injuries. The settlement covers long-term medical expenses and the emotional toll it has caused.

$700,000 Settlement for Nerve Damage and Scarring

A victim suffered nerve damage and significant scarring from a dog bite attack. This settlement compensates for treatment costs, future revision surgeries, and emotional distress.

Critical Steps to Protect Your Legal Claim

Taking the right actions immediately after a dog attack can protect your health and strengthen your dog attack lawsuit. Follow these key steps:

1. Seek immediate medical treatment to address puncture wounds, prevent infection, and document your medical records.
2. Report the incident to your local animal control agency or police to create an official record of the attack and identify the dog owner.
3. Take clear, well-lit photos of your injuries right away and as they heal over time to show the full extent of visible scars and tissue damage.
4. Contact an experienced dog bite lawyer before accepting any insurance offer to protect your rights and obtain damages for medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering.

Illinois Dog Bite Scar & Disfigurement FAQs

How Much Is a Dog Bite Scar Case Worth in Illinois?

The value depends on factors like medical expenses incurred, the severity of evident scars, and the impact on your daily life. Illinois law also allows recovery for suffering, emotional distress, and future scar revision or reconstructive procedures. Settlements and verdicts can range from tens of thousands to well over a million dollars in extreme cases.

Does Health Insurance Cover Plastic Surgery for Dog Bite Scars?

Many health insurance plans cover plastic or reconstructive surgery when it’s medically necessary to treat dog attack injuries, restore function, or prevent complications such as contracture scars. However, purely cosmetic procedures may not be fully covered. An experienced dog bite attorney can help you pursue compensation for any uncovered costs.

How Long Do I Have to File a Lawsuit for Dog Bite Injuries in Illinois?

Under Illinois law, most dog bite claims must be filed within two years of the attack. However, exceptions exist for minors, which can extend the timeframe. Acting quickly helps preserve patient records, witness statements, and evidence needed to prove your dog attack claim and secure damages.

Schedule a Free Consultation With an Illinois Dog Bite Lawyer

If you or a loved one has suffered serious injuries from a dog attack, you don’t have to face the recovery process alone. Our legal team offers a free, confidential consultation to discuss your injuries, legal options, and the best way to pursue full compensation.

We will handle every step of your dog bite claim, from gathering medical records to negotiating with insurers, so you can focus on healing. Our lawyers work on a contingency fee basis, meaning you pay nothing unless we win your case.

Let us fight to secure the resources you need for your complete physical and emotional recovery, including medical treatment, scar revision, and ongoing mental health support. Contact us today to schedule your free consultation and start your path toward justice and healing.