If you are a dog lover, there are times when you might want to go up to and greet a furry companion playing or just hanging out with its owner. While a dog might appear friendly on the surface, you can never know for sure if it will return your greeting in kind.
Some canines can be aggressive, while otherwise friendly pooches can turn vicious without notice. Also, some dog owners might not be vigilant enough to keep them from harming humans or other dogs. If you are the innocent victim of a dog bite, you can protect yourself medically, financially, and legally by taking some crucial steps immediately after being injured.
1. Seek Medical Care
The moment after a dog bite is not yet the time to lodge a complaint or involve animal control. Instead, seek immediate medical attention, no matter how minor the injury seems to be. If the bite created a puncture wound or something more serious, infection could set in. Also, the dog that attacked you might not be adequately vaccinated against rabies.
2. Exchange Information
Immediately after the incident, exchange information with the dog’s owner or custodian to make it easier to contact each other afterward. Be sure to collect the owner’s name, address, contact information, dog breed, and further details about the animals. You should also ask for documentation that verifies the dog’s vaccination record.
3. Gather Witnesses Statements
Getting witness accounts and collecting their contact information can be beneficial if you decide to file an insurance claim or lawsuit. Reports from eyewitnesses can back up your story and verify the severity of your injuries.
4. Contact Animal Control
Be sure to file a report with your local animal control department. Doing so might prevent future attacks from the same dog. Also, animal control will likely launch their investigation, which could help your case.
5. Gather Documentation
Keeping a detailed record of events leading up to and after a dog bite is essential, no matter how minor the injury seems. It could prove helpful when dealing with insurance or filing a claim against the owner. As soon as possible after the attack, write down the events as they happened in detail. Use your smartphone to take pictures of the bite area to document its size, severity, and type.
Make notes of any effects the dog bite has had on you since the incident. Maintain a record of pain, movement limitations, or decreased functioning because of the injury. Also, document any expenses that have resulted, such as medical bills, lost wages, or travel.
6. Contact an Attorney
Dog bites occur more often than you might think. There are qualified lawyers in Cincinnati who specialize in helping dog attack victims with insurance claims, lawsuits, and settlements. Dog bite attorneys understand the impact of this kind of attack and the financial and medical stress that can persist.
A dog bite attorney in Ohio can deal with an insurance company on your behalf, which can reduce much stress on your part. They will know what kinds of tactics the other party’s insurance company might use, and they can leverage this insight to represent you well.
Your lawyer will know how much compensation you should receive based on your injuries and the circumstances of the attack. Their knowledge of state laws enables them to calculate pain and suffering, lost wages, and other damages. They can also determine the extent to which a dog owner acted negligently, which can impact the outcome of your case. Cincinnati dog bite attorneys are also familiar with the consequences of similar dog bite cases and can anticipate the kind of settlement you are likely to obtain.