Se Habla Espanol
Close
Mckenzie & Snyder LLP Logo
Back

Ouch! You Were Just Bitten By A Dog. Now What?

Mar 1, 2016
4 min read

Dog bites man's armA dog can be man’s best friend. However, a dog can also be man’s worst nightmare in the case of a dog bite or even worse, an attack. With over 80 million dogs in the U.S., it’s no wonder that over 4 million people per year fall victim to a dog bite. These injuries can range from mild scratches and scrapes to serious, life-threatening injuries and infections. It’s important to know what to do in the case of a dog bite or attack and also what your legal rights are in the case of such an attack.

Protect Yourself-Gather Information Immediately

If your injury does not require immediate medical attention, first gather as much information as you can at the scene of the accident. Most importantly, get the name and contact information of the dog’s owner (if available) and also the same information for any witnesses to the accident. If the animal is a stray or the owner is not able to be located, chances are you will be left with medical expenses and possibly even lost income as a result of the injury.

Take Out That Camera And Start Shooting

Photographs are extremely important in dog bite cases, as a photo is proof of the extent of the injury and serves as a timeline of the events, especially when no other witnesses are available. Be sure to take the photos BEFORE seeking medical treatment (as long as injuries are not life-threatening or serious) to document exactly what happened before a physician addresses the situation.

Seek Medical Treatment

If an injury appears to require medical attention, seek that attention immediately. Do not wait for days or weeks; a delay such as this will only impair your chances of ever seeking recovery of damages from the dog’s owner. If you have injuries to the face or other prominent areas on your body, demand that a plastic surgeon does the repairs. It’s better to have the job done right the first time than to have to embark on costly cosmetic surgery down the line to fix something. Also, allow the physician to determine whether or not a rabies shot is necessary, particularly in the case of a stray dog in which the medical history is unknown.

Report The Incident To Animal Control

Hospitals and physicians’ offices will often tell you that they are going to file a report to the animal control agency in your area. However, these reports are more often than not just for statistical purposes. It is imperative that you also file a report with the animal control agency in your area. This is sometimes the humane society, other times the police department, and also could be the animal control department of your jurisdiction. By filing a report on your own, you might be able to keep a dangerous dog from hurting another person in the future. Also, the agency is able to interview witnesses as well and possibly even help identify the owner of the dog if you were unable to do so.

Seek Legal Help

Dog bites are expensive! Medical expenses alone related to dog bites were over $160 million in the US at the end of the 1990s. Furthermore, dog bite victims in the U.S. suffer over $1 billion in monetary losses each year. Loss of wages due to inability to work, costly medical bills, and even long-term psychological consequences such as post-traumatic stress disorder all add up to big trouble for a dog bite victim. Most states in the U.S. have employed a “one bite” rule that states all dog owners are responsible for bites, even the first one.

You do have legal rights, and a legal professional at Mckenzie & Snyder can help you to understand what those rights are and work for you to make sure your rights are protected if you’ve been bitten by a dog.


Free Case Evaluation

Mckenzie & Snyder LLP Logo

Site Disclaimer - This site/article and any information contained herein are intended for informational purposes only and should not be construed as legal advice. Seek competent legal counsel for advice on any legal matter.

©2024 Mckenzie & Snyder LLP - All Rights Reserved | Privacy Policy