Having a dog can bring unlimited joy to your life and your family. They make wonderful companions during some of the best and worst times in our lives, and always become a somewhat of an additional sibling in many ways.
However, dogs are animals. They are instinctual, and do not always think before they act – which means that you or anyone else can suffer from a dog bite. Whether or not you have been bitten by your own dog or someone else’s dog, here are some immediate steps to take before you file a personal injury lawsuit caused by a bite:
- Gather information: Immediately following a dog bite, be sure to find the dog’s owner. It’s important to have all of their contact information on hand, including their name, address, phone number, and insurance information. To help your case, be sure to collect the information from nearby witnesses. However, if the dog’s owner is nowhere to be found, be sure to take a photo of the dog, or document its physical description before you seek medical attention.
- Photograph the injury: In an effort to help your case, you’ll want to take photographs of your injury. Be sure to do this both before and after the wound has been cleaned/treated, in order to show the full scope of the injury.
- Find treatment: The severity of dog bites can vary from superficial to deep wounds. However, seeking treatment in any of these cases is of the utmost importance. After you’ve gathered as much information as possible from the dog’s owner, seek immediate medical attention. For superficial bites, it’s best to drive yourself, or have someone drive you to the nearest emergency room. If the bite is deep or if the bite came from a dog without an identifiable owner, call 911. If left unattended, the bite can become infected, resulting in a far more dangerous or even life-threatening situation.
- File a report: After you’ve been treated by medical professionals, contact your local police station to file a dog bite report. The sooner you file this report, the better chance you have to seek legal assistance and pursue a lawsuit.
- Contact Hastings & Hastings: Our team of legal experts has dealt with a wide range of dog bite cases. Help yourself and help your case by calling us today.
