What Should You Do if You Get Bit by a Dog?

We have all been there before: walking down the sidewalk or playing in the park and an adorable dog walks by or comes up to us. So often we hear a dog owner tell us, “Don’t worry, he/she is friendly!” And while that particular dog might be friendly the vast majority of the time, they are still an animal and can be unpredictable. Whether it’s just a matter of the dog being out of their element or feeling threatened for one reason or another, sometimes they will bite. Unfortunately, dog bites are a very common type of personal injury claim. It is a good idea to hire an attorney to help you with your settlement for any type of personal injury that you suffer, including dog bites. Here at Page & Eichenblatt, our personal injury attorneys work with people who have suffered injuries that are not their fault after being bitten by a dog. Today we wanted to discuss what you should do if you are the victim of a dog bite.

Steps to Take After Suffering a Dog Bite

If you are ever the victim of a dog bite, here are the steps that you should take in order to help build your case properly and get the fairest settlement possible.

1) Talk to the Owner and Witnesses

Be sure to find out who the owner is so you know who to make your case against. Just like with a car accident, get their information to protect yourself legally. Also, speaking to any witnesses and getting their contact information can help you in court.

2) Take Photos of the Dog and the Bite

Take photos of the scene: the dog, the injury, the location. Photo evidence is key, especially since photos taken on smartphones are time stamped.

3) Call Police and Seek Medical Help Immediately

A police report of the event can help immensely with building your case. Also, the closer to the incident that you receive medical attention the better because it helps prove to insurance companies that your injuries are from this specific incident.

4) Get an Attorney and Avoid Insurance Companies

The other person’s insurance company might try to contact you for a statement, and while they may pose this as a casual summary of events, they might be trying to get you to say something that will later be used to hurt your case. Hire an experienced personal injury dog bite lawyer and refer any insurance companies to your attorney.

Give Us a Call if You Were Bitten by a Dog

Being bitten by a dog is a scary and painful experience, and you should hire an experienced personal injury lawyer to help you get compensated with a fair settlement. Give Page & Eichenblatt, P.A. a call at (407) 386-1900 or use our form to submit a request to receive a free case evaluation from us. The bite itself and subsequent medical treatment is enough stress for you to go through, let our team handle the rest. For more than 25 years we have been helping with settlements for folks who have been the victims of dog bites and other types of personal injuries.