Steps To Take When You Are The Victim Of A Dog Bite

As sweet and nice as most dogs are, some may be dangerous, and their bites could be deadly. Discover what steps to take if you get a dog bite, and what you must do to protect yourself legally if you have injuries from that bite and need to collect damages.

Dog bites are a common personal injury, and quite a few adults and kids are bitten by dogs every year in this country. A dog bite could be deadly, especially for smaller children. Dog bite survivors are left with permanent, disfiguring scars and lots of psychological trauma. If you have suffered a dog bite, you'll want to talk to a lawyer as soon as you can.

Sometimes you simply cannot determine if a pet dog will bite you or not. Even those dogs which have a record of being gentle and docile will attack if provoked. The laws governing dog bite injuries change from one state to another, but many states recognize and hold liable owners of dogs that bite if they attack someone. Many states have approved statutes in relation to dog bites, and a lot of the time the owner of the dog is liable, even if there is no previous record of biting or aggressiveness on the part of the dog.

When You Are Bitten By a Dog, What Should You Do?

When you are bitten by a dog, you need to:

• Stay calm. During the attack you should protect your head and face. Move away from the dog.

• Seek medical assistance as soon as you possibly can. Although you may think that you are not that seriously injured, the puncture wounds of the dog bite can readily become infected and exacerbate the situation. It's also imperative that you be aware that scarring is increased if a injury becomes infected. As with every injury, should you wait and don't seek treatment immediately, it could possibly complicate your recovery.

• Attempt to identify the dog. A dog can carry rabies, and if the dog which has bitten you does, you must begin medical vaccines at once.

• Make certain that you never make documented statements or sign any paperwork. Often, the dog owner, the property owner, or perhaps a representative of their insurance agency will attempt to obtain a statement from you, either written or recorded. They are not in your corner; their goal is to protect themselves from liability so that they do not have to fund your injuries, pain, suffering, and other costs.

• Make sure that you protect yourself legally.

If you are eligible for any compensation, then the dog bite attorney is able to assist you to receive it. You should be represented even if the dog owner's insurance company is attempting to settle with you. Many times, an insurer will offer a low-ball settlement to close the case out once and for all. Insurers are notorious for talking dog bite victims into settling for a figure which is just a small percentage of what's fairly owing to them. Your attorney can help you to preserve evidence from the attack and negotiate with the other party's insurance carrier. Your lawyer will also assist you in identifying anyone else that's accountable for your damages, and will focus on obtaining the compensation that's due you for such things as medical bills, damages, lost wages, suffering and pain, and future medical care.

Hopefully this article has given you good actionable steps to take if you're bitten by a dog so that you can do what's necessary to overcome your injury.