Did A Dog Bite You? Learn What You Need To Do About It

Dogs are domesticated animals, and their owners are responsible for the damages they cause. This is not limited to physical property damage, but bodily harm as well. If you were bitten by someone's dog, you are entitled to receiving compensation for the damages that occurred to you. Here is what you need to do.

Identify Both The Dog And Their Owner

You will need to keep track of the dog that bit you, and their owner, for a couple of reasons. The most important reason is that you may need to ID the dog later if it is discovered that the dog has rabies. Identifying the owner is important for your pending personal injury case.

If you can identify both based on the home, make a note of the address for later. If the dog bite occurred away from the owner's property, make sure you take down their contact information. Snapping a photo of their ID with your smart phone will do.

Seek Medical Attention Immediately

Now is not the time to get into an argument with the dog's owner about who was at fault. Getting immediate medical attention is crucial to ensure that there are no complications. Even if the dog does not have rabies, the bite could cause a nasty infection. Having the bite documented will also help prove the extent of your injuries later.

Get A Police Report

Any time a dog bite occurs, a police report should be filed so the matter can be investigated. It is best that you do not interact with the dog's owner until the police officially become involved to take statements. They will be the ones that help determine why the dog acted in the manner that it did, as they will want to know if there is a risk that the dog could bite another person as well.

Hire A Personal Injury Attorney

Dog bites can cause a lot of damage, and there is a good chance you have a viable case for a personal injury lawsuit. You will need to be compensated for your medical bills at the very least, as well as any related damages.

A lawyer from a firm like Spiegal And Barbato LLP will work with the dog owner's insurance company by trying to reach a settlement before taking the case to court. As long as you took all the proper steps when handling the dog bite, you should have no problem getting the compensation you deserve.

Share