6 Steps To Take After Dog Bite Injuries

Dog bites are scary injuries. They can happen when you least expect it and can occur at any time, with a strange dog or a beloved family pet. Whenever you are bitten or attacked by a dog it’s important to protect both your health and your rights. Listed below are six critical actions that every Madison injury attorney at our offices recommends be taken after dog bite injuries.

6 Actions To Take After A Dog Bite

Taking action right after a dog bite injury is the best way to protect your health as well as your legal right to pursue compensation under personal injury law. It all comes down to documentation. The following steps can help you build a strong dog bite injury case, which can help pay for medical expenses and lost wages following an attack.

1. Obtain Medical Treatment. If you are ever bitten by a dog, seek medical care right away. Minor injuries can be treated at home just as you would care for any other type of cuts or open wounds. Carefully wash the injured area with mild soap and water and use a clean cloth to stem blood flow. Apply an antibiotic cream and cover it with a sterile bandage, then make an appointment to see your doctor.
2. Document the Injury and Gather Information. Take pictures of the injury and gather contact information from the dog owner. Include pictures of the bite itself as well as any other injuries you may have suffered (such as if you fell down). Also include pictures of damage to your clothing and the area surrounding the attack if there is any damage. Collect contact information from witnesses. Ask them what they saw and write it down.
3. Contact the Authorities. If you have been attacked you should contact the police and/or local animal control agency where you can file a report. This will help establish a pattern of behavior and can be used to determine if the dog has been involved in similar attacks. It also adds to your documentation evidence and the information collected can be used to determine if the dog is current on his/her rabies vaccinations.
4. Verify the Dog’s Vaccinations. If you are able, contact the dog’s owner and ask for proof of the dog’s vaccinations, particularly the dog’s rabies vaccination. Alternatively, you could ask for the contact information for the dog’s veterinarian and check the status of the dog’s vaccines that way.
5. Collect the Owner’s Insurance Information. In most situations, the dog owner’s home insurance may cover your medical costs, lost wages, if any, pain and suffering, and other damages related to the injury. Ask for the owner’s insurance information while on the scene.
6. Contact an Injury Attorney. A personal injury or dog bite attorney can provide advice and guidance after a dog bite and can even contact insurance companies and medical providers on your behalf as you pursue compensation for dog bite injuries. A Madison injury attorney can also be counted on to file a dog bite lawsuit if your insurance claim is denied.

Contact Eisenberg Law Offices For Dog Bite Injuries

If you have been injured by a dog bite, contact the personal injury attorneys at Madison’s Eisenberg Law Offices for a free case consultation. We will review the facts of your case and help you determine your legal options.
Call 608-256-8356 or email Info@EisenbergLaw.org to arrange your free consultation with a Madison injury attorney.