No matter how much of an animal lover you may be, if you have the misfortune of being bitten by a dog, then you’re likely to come away from the incident feeling frightened and angry. Although most domestic dogs aren’t carriers for dangerous diseases such as rabies, a dog bite can be a serious source of injury in and of itself. Some types of dog bites end up requiring stitches as part of the treatment, and depending on the circumstances involved, plastic surgery could end up being part of the equation. For this reason, it’s important to know what steps to take if you ever happen to get bitten by a dog.
Robert Dewey of the Dewey Law Firm is a Charlotte, North Carolina personal injury lawyer with over 30 years of experience under his belt, and he’s represented his fair share of dog bite victims. According to Dewey, the first and more important thing to do following a dog bite is to call for help or arrange to get to a hospital. If you’re injured, then you’ll need to seek out medical attention before your physical situation gets worse.
If your injuries are such that you’re able to take a few moments to collect your thoughts and do a little legwork, then you should also try to get as much information about the dog – and its owner - as you possibly can. In Dewey’s experience, many dog bites end up occurring in close proximity to their owners’ homes. If you happen to be walking down the street when your neighbor’s dog gets excited and decides to pounce, then the act of pinpointing the suspect shouldn’t be too difficult. However, dog bites in public places are a whole different story. When a dog attacks you on the street or in a park, it can be much more difficult to figure out who its owner is. If you happen to notice that the dog is wearing a collar, then chances are that it’s not a stray. On the other hand, a collarless canine is rarely a good sign when it comes to the potential for rabies, so if you’re certain after the fact that you didn’t see a collar, then you’ll want to notify animal control and get yourself to the hospital immediately.
If your situation is such where an ambulance needs to be called to the scene, then the authorities are likely to arrive and question any witnesses on your behalf. However, if you’re able to take yourself to the doctor, then before you head off, try to get the names and contact information of any witnesses that may have seen the attack. This could end up helping you if the case eventually ends up going to trial.
Once you’ve received medical treatment for your dog bite, the next thing to do is to contact a personal injury lawyer and see what rights you have under the circumstances. Obviously, you can’t sue a dog for his violent behavior, but you can sue its owner for negligence depending on the circumstances involved. After all, it’s bad enough that you have no choice but to suffer the physical pain of dealing with a dog bite. Why should you have to suffer financially by getting stuck with medical bills and lost wages during your recovery period?
If you’re going to get an attorney to represent you in the matter, then try to make contact with one as quickly as possible. The sooner you get a lawyer on board, the better equipped he’ll be to evaluate your injuries and start mapping out the circumstances of your case. (Along these lines, try taking photos of your injuries as soon as possible in order to best illustrate the extent of the damage.) Also, if the situation is such that you can’t easily identify the owner of the dog in question, then you’ll want to hire a lawyer as soon as possible so that he can help you track down the person who’s ultimately responsible for your injuries.
There’s no question that getting bitten by a dog can be an extremely scary and disturbing occurrence. If you end up being the victim of a canine attack, then contact a personal injury lawyer who will do his best to ensure that you can come away from the situation in a manner that, at the very least, leaves you financially unscathed. After all, a dog might not know better than to sink its teeth into a random stranger, but a human being should know better than to leave his dog unattended.
This article is for informational purposes only. You should not rely on this article as a legal opinion on any specific facts or circumstances, and you should not act upon this information without seeking professional counsel. Neither publication of this article nor your receipt of this article create an attorney-client relationship.
