What Should You Do When Bit By A Dog?
Suffering a bite from a dog can be extremely painful, but it can also be costly. If you have been bitten by a dog that was not yours, it is a good idea to talk with a lawyer about what steps you need to take to make sure your expenses are covered. Here are a few steps to take immediately following a bite.
Identify the Dog
If you know who the dog belongs to, you will want to make sure you get pertinent information from the owner. You will need to have the dog's shot record, as well as veterinarian information, so he or she can be contacted about known behavior issues. It is also a good idea to photograph the dog and the surroundings you were in when you were bit. If you do not know who owns the dog, then you will want to make sure you can describe the dog to the animal control officers and law enforcement.
Take Photographs
In addition to taking photographs of the dog and your surroundings, you want to make sure you take several photographs of your wounds. You want to take photographs of the wounds before they are treated, during treatment, and then some during the healing process. Dog bites can take several weeks to heal, and the pictures will help you monitor the progress.
Seek Medical Attention
You should always seek medical attention if you receive a bite from a dog that you do not own. You need to make sure you have the proper treatment plan implemented, and it may be possible that you will have to start rabies treatment. Furthermore, dog bites can cause extensive damage that may require cosmetic surgery. These are bills that your insurance may not cover, and if you are not at fault, you should not have to pay for. When you seek medical attention, make sure you keep track of all appointment dates, prescriptions, and bills so you can turn them into your lawyer and show that you are truly hurting.
Careful Who You Talk To
When you have been bitten, you want to make sure you are careful who you talk to and what you say. You will need to work closely with law enforcement, animal control, and medical professionals. However, when you talk with other people, you want to make sure you do more talking and asking questions. You do not want to talk about who is responsible, or discuss any type of payment agreements. Finally, you never want to be tape recorded unless you have a lawyer (such as one from Burke Schultz Harman & Jenkinson Attorneys at Law) present to help you with word choices and selecting which questions to answer. Your lawyer will help make sure you get the help you need, without preventing you from getting a full settlement for the injury.
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