Steps You Should Take Immediately After A Dog Bite Injury
Posted on June 27, 2022 in Personal Injuries
Every year, millions of people are bitten by dogs and some of these bites result in life-threatening injuries. While dogs are generally friendly animals and provide good companionship, they can also turn aggressive especially when they feel threatened, and react by biting.
Dog bite injuries can have significant legal, medical, and financial repercussions. It is thus important to know what to do after a dog bite. Here are some of the steps you should take immediately after a dog bite injury.
Medical Care
This is the most important step as your safety and health are paramount. Regardless of the severity of your injuries, you should receive immediate medical care to ensure that the wound is properly cleaned and treated to prevent further infection. You should also seek medical advice from a doctor.
For more serious puncture wounds and injuries, you should also call for an ambulance. This is because some dogs are not vaccinated against rabies and common diseases, and wounds can be infected. The speed of medical care is thus critical to ensuring your recovery and wellbeing. If possible, you should also document your wounds before they are treated.
Identify the Dog and Documentation
Make sure that there is ample distance between yourself and the dog so that you will not be bitten again. You should also take photos or videos of the dog if possible and find out if it has an owner or is a stray dog. If the dog has an owner, you should exchange your contact information with them and find out about the dog’s vaccination history. This would help to ease your mind especially if the dog has been vaccinated against rabies and other common diseases.
You should also document the dog bite and record any injuries associated with the bite and the effects of those injuries such as decreased mobility, pain, or inability to perform certain functions. If possible, write down and record as many details as possible about the incident while your memory is still fresh.
You should also exchange contact numbers with any witnesses that saw the dog attacking you and obtain relevant CCTV footage regarding the incident. Try to obtain as many documents and evidence as possible as you may have to deal with a lawsuit or an insurance company. By having more documents and evidence, it will be easier for you to receive fair compensation for your injuries.
Dog Bite Attorney
It is ideal to contact a dog bite attorney to estimate the proper amount of compensation you should receive for the injury. Dog bite attorneys are specialists who have worked with numerous dog bite victims and cases before and are thus critical in dealing with the other party’s insurance company and negotiating a fair settlement for you.
They are also familiar with the state’s dog bite laws and can make use of the evidence provided to craft the best argument on your behalf. With a dog bite attorney, you can further explore various legal options to ensure that you are fairly compensated.
Are you seeking compensation for a recent dog bite injury? Consult with our personal injury attorneys today.