It’s harder to find a group of people that love their dogs more than Americans. According to the American Veterinary Medical Association, there are an estimated 76.8 million dogs in the US!
With so many, there’s bound to be a person who’s been bitten by a dog. It might even have been you!
Want to know what to do? Keep reading to find out, it’s critical to act quickly!
Step One: Treating a Dog Bite
At some point in life, there’s bound to be a dog that snapped at you. Generally, they won’t draw blood or injure, as it could be play or surprise.
But sometimes in a dog bite accident, you get a dog bite injury. These aren’t wounds that you only put a bandaid over and walk away from. You must get treatment.
Dog bites have a high risk of bacterial infection. You might even have to treat yourself before help arrives. The first step is to call 911 for an ambulance, if there’s significant bleeding or think you have a crushed or broken bone.
If you don’t think it’s so serious you need an ambulance, have someone drive you to the closest urgent care clinic or hospital as soon as possible.
Some important information is the dog owner’s name, telephone number, and vet’s contact info. You’ll want to record their legal form of ID.
Don’t forget the vaccination history of the dog, most notably for rabies.
If it isn’t known, you’ll have to get vaccinated for rabies as soon as possible.
If it’s a minor bite with unbroken skin, washing with warm water and soap with an antibacterial lotion should do to prevent infections.
Step Two: Legal Repercussions
This part is often forgotten and awkwardly handled. That ID you recorded before will come in handy here, along with any 911 call to report you’ve been bitten by a dog.
A police report could lead to an inspection of the dog’s residence for signs of aggression or uncover previous aggressive behavior. Making a report immediately also generates a paper trail that is essential to getting compensation.
Experts on suing a dog owner like Spiros Law, P.C. need as much help as you can get to either settle out of court or win the case. They can also advise you on what you need most, such as:
- Doctor’s record of immediate assessment and treatment
- Vet’s assessment of the dog with video testimony
- Police report
- 911 call
- EMTs on the scene (whether you take the ambulance or not)
Unfortunately, by the time lawyers get involved, the time for gathering the most important information has passed.
Bitten by a Dog: You Know What To Do
If you or a loved one has been bitten by a dog, don’t worry. You have what you need to treat the wound and get compensation. You don’t need to worry quite so much about lost work time or disability if you follow this advice.
The trick is to act smart and prepare yourself. The law is determined by evidence and being thorough.
Speaking of being thorough, Amazing Viral News has thoroughly scoured the internet for the best information and news to make you prepared for anything!
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