As unfortunate as it is, dog bites do occur. Whether a dog feels that it is protecting itself, or their owners, or if it is an accident – bites can and do happen. Our dog bite attorney wants to remind you: after a dog has bitten you – or a loved one – is to remain calm.
Here are some important tips for what to do next:
- Obtain names and addresses of the witnesses
- Get the dog owners name and/or the people who had custody of the dog at the time it bit you
- More than likely you will be entitled to receive compensation from the animal’s owner
- depending upon the damage – you may need to be compensated for your medical bills, reimburse you for lost income, pay for cosmetic surgery, and help you overcome pain and suffering from the injuries
- More than likely you will be entitled to receive compensation from the animal’s owner
- Take photographs of the wounds
- take pictures before you treat the wound and then again after treatment
- See a doctor and document the incident and obtain treatment
- dog bites may cause infections, so it is important to seek medical attention right away
- over 1,000 Americans go to the emergency room everyday because of dog bites
- make sure you are following the instructions of your physician – the decision to get a rabies shot will be at the discretion of your doctor
- Give a report to Animal Control
- this can either be with the city or county – check jurisdiction – sometimes the Humane Society will take these reports
- this is important because emergency rooms and physicians only take the report for statistical purposes and don’t necessarily inform Animal Control
- If the dog owner is insured, and they file a claim, the insured party’s insurance company will call you – make sure you get the following:
- name of insurance company
- insurance company address
- telephone number
- claim umber
- name of the insured
- amount of money available to pay medical expenses
- DO NOT DO ANY OF THE FOLLOWING:
- Do NOT Discuss money, payment of money, settlement, injury value or ANYTHING else involving money
- Do NOT set up an appointment
- Do NOT write a letter or memo
- Do NOT allow yourself to be tape-recorded
- Do NOT allow yourself or the victim to be photographed
- Do NOT discuss who is responsible
- Do NOT accept any money
Are you suffering from injuries due to a dog bite? Contact a dog bite attorney today!
The best advice we can give you after all of this, is to consult with a personal injury attorney who is experienced in dog bite cases. Do not hesitate to contact us to discuss your case. The first consultation is always free!