Although we’d like to believe otherwise, man’s best friend isn’t always friendly.
Sometimes even the most well-behaved dog can snap or bite without any apparent cause, and always when you least expect it.
This happens roughly 5 million times each year in the United States alone.
More often than not a dog bite is more the fault of the owner than the dog itself – dogs only react to people in a way they are trained to react.
But the fact remains that dog bites must be treated seriously.
There are potentially significant costs involved, which you should not be expected to cover for any reason.
That’s why it’s so important you pay attention to the content of this article – your life could depend on it.
1. Locate The Owner
Once you get over the initial shock of the bite – which can take a few moments – your next step is to find the owner of the dog involved.
Once you’ve identified the owner you’ll need to make note of their personal information including their full name, address and ideally a telephone number.
You’ll also need to ask them if the dog has received an up-to-date rabies vaccination.
If you can’t identify the owner of the dog then look for eye witnesses in the area who might know the dog, and/or home owners with CCTV or webcam footage of the attack.
2. Document Your Injuries
Wherever possible take photographs of your injury or puncture wounds before receiving medical treatment.
While it’s obviously very important to seek medical attention as quickly as possible, you need to be aware that treatment (sutures, bandages, etc.) will ameliorate the appearance of your injuries. This will often make them less severe in appearance than the “raw” footage.
Most smartphone cameras are more than adequate for this purpose.
3. Seek Medical Assistance
Even if the dog bite didn’t puncture your skin, it’s still important that you seek immediate medical attention.
A dog’s mouth is home to some pretty nasty types of bacteria, any of which can cause serious infections. In fact, most dog owners would never allow their canine friend to lick their face if they knew just how much bacteria a dog’s mouth contains.
You then also need to factor in the risk of a rabies infection, which could be life threatening.
Never assume or take somebody’s word for whether or not a dog was rabid – leave that to doctors who are trained to diagnose and treat that and other medical conditions which could be caused by a dog bite.
Attending an ER or family doctor will also generate a medical record of the fact you were bitten by a dog. You should also retain all receipts or invoices so you can seek compensation for them from he owner of the dog.
This is an important step if you wish to take legal action after you’ve had some time to recover.
4. Establish A Paper Trail
After you’ve documented your injuries, and had them treated by a doctor, you should then look to file a complaint with local authorities in relation to the attack.
The exact process for filing such a complaint varies from state to state, but you’ll find that either your city or town council and/or police will have a protocol to follow in situations like this.
You may also find that other people in the area have been bitten by the same dog, which would add weight to your case when that time comes.
5. Engage legal counsel
And finally, always seek professional legal advice before taking matters any further.
Ideally, your attorney should have experience with successfully pursuing dog bite cases. Failing that an experience personal injury lawyer will be more than capable of taking your case on.
An attorney’s guidance can make all the difference in the final outcome of your case, especially in something as specific as being bitten by a dog.