fbpx

Bit by a Dog? Here Are the Next Steps to Take

A brown lab bitting someones hand.

A brown lab bitting someones hand.

I

 f you’re living in the suburbs, you probably don’t worry too much about being attacked by an animal, but would you know what to do if you were bit by a dog?

Dog bites can happen to anyone, and even the most friendly neighborhood dog can have bite unexpectedly.

So what do you do if a dog bites you? Read on to know the best way to react legally and otherwise:

Work With The Owner

If you’ve been bit by a dog, determine who owns the dog and contact them right away. In some situations, dog bites are covered by the dog’s owner’s homeowners’ insurance.

Some owners might be defensive about their pet and insist that you provoked the animal. Try to remain polite and calm while explaining that you need to get the situation taken care of. Get the full name and address of the owner and determine if they do have insurance.

Free Consultation

If You’ve Been Bit By A Dog, Learn All You Can About The Dog’s History

Try to get all the information you can about the offending dog. You might have to ask other nearby neighbors as well. There may be others nearby who have been harassed or bitten by the same dog. Try to determine if the dog has attacked anyone else before.

Ask the owner if the dog is up on all its shots. You might have to contact the local Animal Control to see if they have any records on the dog including any past attack records. Even if the dog has a clean history, the dog’s owner is still liable for any injury it may cause to another person so long as the dog was unprovoked.

Seek Immediate Medical Attention

You can’t just take the owner’s word for it that the dog is healthy and doesn’t have rabies. Even if the bite seems minor, you need to be examined by a doctor as soon as you can.

A dog bite can develop an infection which could grow in seriousness if not treated which could further harm your health. Depending on how serious the bite is, you may even have to get stitches.

Preserve Any Proof Of The Attack

If you’ve been bit by a dog, it’s important to record any evidence of the attack that you can. Take pictures of the dog if you’re able and take several pictures of the injury in good lighting. Don’t wait for the wound to start to heal before you take pictures.

If you can record some eye-witness statements to back up your details on the attack, you’ll be in a better position to prove your case.

Contact A Professional Lawyer

The help of an experienced lawyer is beneficial when prosecuting what might be a complicated claim. So if you’ve been bit by a dog, don’t wait, contact our office today. We have an expert team of professional attorneys who can help you with your case.

We offer free consultations so don’t hesitate to speak with us. We’ve helped many dog-bite victims in getting compensated for their injuries and we can do the same for you.

Available 24/7 | Click to Call