Personal Injury From A Dog Bite?
Consult A Personal Injury Attorney Before Filing A Report With The Animal Control Department
Walk down any street and you’re likely to see, or hear, a dog. When you consider that there are close to 75 million domesticated dogs in the United States, it’s likely hard to go anywhere without being exposed to one of our four-legged friends. For the most part dogs you come in contact with are friendly and non-aggressive, however there are dogs that react with unnatural aggression to even the most non-threatening situation and will bite without provocation.
When you consider that there are thousands of dog bite cases annually – and many dog bit victims are children, personal injury attorneys are kept busy with personal injury suits brought forth by those who’ve been bitten. While emergency rooms treat close to 400,000 people a year for dog bites, there are likely even more individuals who are bitten but don’t report it.
Bear in mind that whether your dog bites a family member or a stranger or visitor to your house, the owner of the dog is legally liable for their dogs’ behavior. Canine-bite lawsuits are typically filed when the bite is serious enough to have caused hospitalization, emotional distress, loss of work/wages, or visible scarring.
What you should do if bitten or attacked
Immediately following a dog bite or an attack from a dog – whether it’s your own or a stranger’s – is to seek medical attention. Regardless of the size of the bite you need to be treated to prevent tetanus or infection. You will want to report the dog bite to the local authorities and give them as much information about the situation as possible:
- What kind of dog it was
- Did it have any kind of collar or dog tags on it
- Where did the bite or attack happen
- Do you know who the owner is or from what house or location the dog came
The best case scenario is that the dog will be found and its owners have the dog’s vaccinations and rabies shots up to date. It is crucial to determine whether the dog has rabies or has been vaccinated as it can save you from having to undergo painful rabies vaccinations. Even if you don’t have time to call the police at the scene, the emergency room doctors will have paperwork for you to complete regarding the dog bite and the situation under which it occurred.
Many individuals find it best to consult a personal injury attorney before they file a report with the animal control department. Your attorney will make certain you don’t write anything in the report that can hinder your rights in the event you file a personal injury lawsuit for the dog attack. Take photos of the wound before they are treated and if you think about it, you should take a photo of the dog.
Bear in mind that if the dog’s owner is found, their insurance company will likely contact you to help quickly settle the case. The insurance company will want to pay you the smallest amount of money possible to settle the case and you need to remember to not do or say, or sign, anything until you have sought legal counsel. The last thing you will want to do is say something that will ultimately result in your inadvertently waiving your right to file a personal injury claim.
Common sense and caution should always be used around dogs that you don’t know. Even the most well-mannered dog has the propensity to become aggressive so it’s always best to teach your children how to treat animals and to never approach an animal that they don’t know. If you do become the victim of a dog attack, remember to immediately contact a personal injury attorney that is experienced in these types of lawsuits.