Dog bites are always a traumatic experience, even outside of the physical injuries you end up enduring. There’s the emotional trauma that comes with it, first and foremost, not to mention the turmoil of hospital bills and treatment costs that come after.
At such a time, it’s more than important to be informed on dealing with the situation. The entire process and the needed steps to take will determine your outcome in terms of receiving the compensation that is owed to you.
This article will give you a clear guide on what to do if you’ve fallen victim to a dog bite attack. Knowing the basics will not only allow you to protect yourself but also make your road to recovery a lot easier in terms of money and effort.
Understanding Your Rights After the Incident
In case you’ve been attacked by anyone’s dog, it’s worth remembering that the owner will always be responsible. The key time when this situation will be omitted is if you were unauthorized to enter someone’s property and were trespassing when their dog attacked you. Other exemptions include service dogs concerning police or military work, such as if a dog is defending itself while on duty.
If you were there on lawful grounds, even if you were delivering mail or entering as a guest while the dog attacked, it means you were there lawfully, even if the attack occurred on the owner’s property.
If you’re doubtful about your situation, it would help to consult with a legal professional. Personal injury lawyers specialize in doing just that and will critically assess your case if you are owed any compensation.
Steps to Take
If you find yourself in a situation where a dog is attacking you, always try to get to safety so that you’re able to prevent any further attacks. If you see bystanders around, always inform them that you’re in trouble so they can aid you, if possible.
If you end up being bitten:
- Always seek medical attention. A bite doesn’t always have to be a major one to do damage because even the most minor ones potentially expose you to diseases such as rabies, tetanus, and other infections. Go to an ER or a healthcare provider promptly.
- Identify the dog and try to find out who the owner is. This information will be critical for medical reasons, legal documentation, and determining liability.
- Report the incident to the relevant authorities. This includes your local animal control offices and the police. Doing so is necessary to file a report of the incident. It’ll also help verify if the dog was duly vaccinated.
- If you saw people around at the time of the incident, ask for their contact information so they can testify about it and act as your witnesses if your claim requires it.
- Seek legal counsel from a personal injury lawyer with experience dealing with dog bite lawsuits.
Some steps that you would need to take medically will include:
- Immediately wash the wound thoroughly with soap and water
- Cover the wound in a bandage
- Seek medical attention
- Get a tetanus shot if you haven’t received one in the last five years
- Follow your healthcare professional’s advice
- Keep checking for any signs of infection
- Document all your medical visits with receipts and records
The Legal Procedure
- Obtain Your Medical Records: Make a folder of all the medical reports, diagnoses, and treatment plans you receive, along with all the medicines you’ve been prescribed. Also, ensure you have the receipts for every dollar you’ve spent on medical expenses.
- Capture Images: Take photographs of your injuries at the time they happen and during your recovery. Taking pictures of the location where the incident happened will also be helpful.
- Obtain The Official Reports: Get a copy of all the reports that the authorities have drafted.
- Other Evidence: Keep all your witness statements and any communication regarding the incident with you. This includes communicating with the dog’s owner, insurance companies, witnesses, and lawyers. Also, keep a journal where you can document all the details pertaining to the incident. It should include the date, time, location, and what happened. Also, be sure to document how the incident has left you physically and emotionally and the impact it’s having on your life.
Your lawyer will take your personal injury case forward with the details you give them. Your lawyer will be responsible for reaching out to the concerned parties for filing your case. They will also be responsible for determining what laws apply to your case according to your case. They will also be responsible for sitting at the negotiation table to reach a final settlement. So be sure to choose the right one.
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