Being bitten by a dog is not a fun experience. If you’re ever bitten by a dog, you should seek medical attention and contact animal control.
There are laws at the federal, state, and local levels to protect people from dangerous animals. Enlisting the help of competent dog bite attorneys will help you secure compensation for your injuries and financial losses.
Lorenz & Lorenz Accident & Injury Lawyers specialize in personal injury lawsuits, including car accidents and dog bites. They have focused on this area of law since their founding in 2001. They have a competent team with several years of experience.
Steps to take after being bitten by a dog
If you’ve been bitten by a dog, stay calm and follow these steps:
Get away from the dog
First, put yourself at a safe distance from the dog. Once you’re sure you’re not at risk of being attacked, apply first aid.
If your wound is serious, get medical assistance.
Get the owner’s contact details
Once you’ve applied first aid, you should contact the owner and obtain vital information such as whether the dog is vaccinated, the owner’s contact information, and the owner’s insurance details.
If the dog hasn’t been vaccinated, you run the risk of contracting rabies. In which case, you should get immediate medical attention.
Dog owners are required to have insurance that covers any injuries or accidents caused by their pets.
If the dog is unaccompanied, you should locate the owner or ask those nearby.
File a report with animal control and local police
You should file a report with local police and animal control. Animal control keeps track of any dangerous animals in a locality and should be notified of such incidents.
Document your injuries and recovery
You should document your injuries and your recovery process in detail to help fight your case. Having proper evidence will help you obtain fair compensation.
Possible complications
Dog bites can be risky and carry the possibility of:
Infection: Different strains of bacteria live in a dog’s mouth, so you stand the risk of being infected through dog bites.
Broken bones: Dogs have pretty powerful jaws that can break bones; if you’re unlucky, you may end up with fractured or splintered bones.
Nerve and muscle damage: Dog bites can rip through muscles and damage your bones. This can happen even if the surface wound doesn’t seem deep or bad.
Rabies: If the dog isn’t vaccinated, there’s a possibility you could contract rabies. Rabies is a viral condition that affects the nerves. Once the virus is active, it causes death in a few days.
Always check for injuries after a dog bite and get a medical checkup as soon as possible.
Prevention
There are always things you can do to keep yourself safe around dogs:
- Don’t tease or provoke dogs. Always treat them with respect and don’t crowd their space.
- If you don’t know the dog, it is unwise to approach it as it may not be vaccinated and may be aggressive.
- If a dog is acting funny, it may be infected with rabies or other dangerous diseases. Don’t approach such animals as there is a risk of contracting a disease.
Dog bites can be serious if not properly attended to. If you or someone around you is injured, seek immediate mental attention and contact local animal control.
