Hairdresser Left Scarred for Life After Pit Bull Tore Off Her Nose

Ashley Unger, a 31-year-old hairdresser from Illinois, has been scarred for life and left with post-traumatic stress disorder after her nose was torn off by a pit bull in one of her client’s homes, The Daily Mail reports. According to the article, Unger was playing with the dog that belonged to her customer’s roommate in between touching up her hair when it suddenly attacked. The pit bull sank its teeth into Unger as she attempted to leave. The dog ended up tearing her nose off during the horrific attack. The traumatized stylist was rushed to the hospital while holding her face together with the bone exposed where the doctors stitched together her flesh. Unger’s sister, Melissa Schmidt, has launched a GoFundMe page to raise $20,000 for reconstructive surgery.

Severe Physical and Psychological Damage

Unger said it was the first time she had met the dog, but had been playing with the dog for a few hours before it suddenly attacked. Unger said she was in so much shock from the attack that she has PTSD and has flashbacks to the attack. She also has a severed septum and cartilage and now cannot breathe through her nose. Doctors have said Unger will need multiple reconstructive surgeries and will probably be scarred for life. She has already received 36 stitches across her nose, five across her eye and two across her upper lip. She also says she can only breathe out of her mouth, with the worst-case scenario being that the surgery doesn’t improve her nasal airways. The traumatic incident has left Unger terrified of dogs, she said.

Compensation for Victims

Ashley Unger’s story is an example of how dog attacks can leave individuals with not just physical injuries and scars for life, but can also cause significant emotional and psychological damage. Like Illinois, where this dog attack occurred, California is also a strict liability state when it comes to dog attacks. This means that dog owners can be held financially responsible for the injuries caused by their pets regardless of whether the dog had a prior history of aggression or biting. Injured victims in such cases may be able to seek compensation for damages including medical expenses, lost income, cost of hospitalization, cosmetic surgery, rehabilitation, psychological therapy, scarring and disfigurement, permanent injuries, pain and suffering and emotional distress. An experienced dog bite lawyer will be able to stay on top of the investigation and make sure victims’ rights are protected every step of the way. Source: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10856659/Illinois-hairdresser-31-left-scarred-life-pitbull-tore-NOSE.html