What to Do After A Dog Causes Serious Harm From Biting You
Whether you’re playing with a friend’s dog or you’re walking down the street, sometimes dogs become aggressive and lash out. Dog bites are incredibly serious and can cause real harm. According to the Centers For Disease Control and Prevention, nearly 4.5 million dog bites occur in the United States every year. If you experience this, here are some of the necessary steps you need to take after the incident.
Treat the wound
If a dog bites you, you want to make sure you treat it before you do anything else. Take these seven steps right away after a dog bite:
- Press on the wound gently to cause some bleeding to help flush out as much bacteria as possible.
- Wash the wound with mild soap and water.
- Slow the bleeding with a clean cloth.
- Apply an over-the-counter antibiotic cream if you have it.
- Wrap the wound in a sterile bandage. Keep the wound bandaged until you seek medical attention.
- Change the bandage several times a day once your doctor has examined the bite.
- Watch for signs of infection, like redness, swelling, increased pain, and a fever.
Talk to the owner
After the dog bite occurs, you need to speak to the dog’s owner. Calmly and without combativeness or hostility, inform the dog’s owner that you’ve been bitten by their dog. This is to learn if the pet is up to date on shots and vaccines. Then, get any information you can regarding the dog’s breed and history.
Once you’re sure that your wound is properly cared for and the dog is up to date on their shots, you must take legal action.
Call a personal injury lawyer
It’s extremely important to contact a lawyer immediately after the dog bite incident occurs so the lawyer can adequately investigate the claim. Dog attacks are usually covered under the dog owner’s homeowner’s insurance policy. Trying to fight a big insurance company without legal representation can be extremely difficult.
You deserve justice, and a personal injury lawyer defends your rights to help you through the case. If you get attacked by a dog, please call the offices of Skip McManes so we can promptly investigate the matter.
