My precious 5-year-old son, Nathan, was bitten in the face at a relative’s home in Phoenix, Arizona. Before this, I was completely unaware of the realities of dog bites, but now, I am part of a victim’s family and have learned a lot. If you’re reading this, I know you have questions—the same ones I had.
Should you get a lawyer? Absolutely—75% of dog bites happen from dogs within the family.
Can you preserve family relationships throughout this ordeal? Yes.
Are we going to sue everyone for all they are worth and destroy relationships? Absolutely not.
But the most important question is this: My child has been permanently disfigured—accidentally or otherwise—what can I do to give him or her the best possible care for the future?
The Attack
Nathan was at his aunt’s house with his mother. The dog had been in the family for a long time and was used to being around children. But as three kids walked from one room to another, the dog suddenly stood up, singled out my son, pushed him onto his back, and attacked his face and head.
The house erupted into chaos. When it was over, Nathan’s mother sat curled up with him in the kitchen, holding his right cheek together with a towel, in complete shock, as they waited for the paramedics to arrive.
Rushing to the Hospital
When I got the call, I broke several traffic laws driving 27 miles to the hospital. I barely had time to process what had happened. When I entered the pre-op room, I saw my son lying there, still holding the towel to his face, not even crying.
In that moment, he was the brave one—he looked at me and, in his own special way, nodded and assured me he was okay. The scene felt surreal. But one thing was clear: I would accept nothing less than the best care for my son.
I told him: “Don’t worry, Nate. Your mom and I will do the best of everything for you, and we’ll get through this.”
That was my promise—and it would guide every decision I made.
Surgery and Responsibility
Nathan was rushed into emergency plastic surgery to reconstruct his right lip, cheek, and upper neck. He had multiple deep lacerations from being shaken by the dog.
While he was in surgery, the inevitable conversation happened. In the waiting room sat:
- Me
- Nathan’s mother
- Her sister and her husband (the dog owners)
- My own mother, who arrived for support
The dog owners were apologetic and confused about why this had happened. We all agreed that we would band together for Nathan’s recovery.
When Nate came out of surgery, the surgeon told us he had received over 400 stitches to repair the damage to his head and face. Later, as he woke up from sedation, his first words were: “Where’s the remote for the TV?” We all knew, in that moment, that our brave boy was still himself.
The First Decision: Who Pays?
The dog owners immediately offered to pay for everything, right there on the spot. In the chaos of the moment, I told them I wasn’t ready to discuss it yet, but I appreciated their generosity.
A few days later, Nate came home. As we cared for him, the big questions set in:
- Should we accept cash from the dog owners for medical expenses?
- Should we let the insurance companies handle it?
- What about Nate’s medical needs for the next 20 years?
- What about the ¼-inch of his lower lip that was missing?
I didn’t have answers. So, I did what any parent would do—I searched online. That’s when I found DogBiteLaw.com.
Reaching Out for Help
I sent Ken Phillips a long, detailed email. Within a day, he wrote back.
But I had doubts.
- He was in Los Angeles; I was in Arizona. Could we even work together?
- Would this turn into a full-blown lawsuit?
- Was every joke I had heard about lawyers and ambulance chasers true?
- Would I be able to preserve the family relationship?
After several emails, we moved to phone calls. Quickly, I realized: securing legal counsel was the right thing to do.
Ken gave me the greatest piece of advice:
“This isn’t about suing family. It’s about keeping your promise to Nathan and making sure he gets the best of everything.”
I had been obsessing over family ties, but Ken helped me see the bigger picture. This wasn’t about them—it was about Nate.
Making It Official
Nathan’s mother and I agreed to retain Ken Phillips.
- I paid nothing upfront.
- Ken expected nothing until the case was resolved.
- His team took care of everything, so we could focus on Nate.
With Ken handling the legal side, we could focus on:
- Finding the best plastic surgeons
- Ensuring Nathan’s recovery
- Helping him adjust back to school
We even arranged a “show and tell” day at school, where Nate explained his story to his classmates. It stopped the whispers, and the other kids respected him even more.
The Outcome
Months later, the legal process ended. Here’s what happened:
- $105,000 total insurance settlement
- Ken received 25% plus minimal expenses
- I was reimbursed $2,200 for lost wages and medical visits
- $5,000 covered immediate medical expenses
- $10,000 was placed in a restricted account for future medical/psychological needs
- $60,000 was invested and will grow to $148,000 for Nathan when he turns 18
These were great results!
The Family is Intact. Nobody Was Sued.
The insurance company was happy to settle. The dog owners cooperated. In the end, everyone did the right thing.
Nathan is doing wonderfully.
He even has a dog as a family pet and is not afraid of animals. He is healing, physically and emotionally.
As I told Ken Phillips today:
“I kept my promise to Nate. His future is secure. I couldn’t have done it without you.”
Thank you, Ken and Mary.
You have my permission to publish this letter for other parents who may be facing this difficult journey.
Sincerely,
Ernie, Patti, Nate, Preston, Brad, and Nancy