What To Do If You Get Bit By A Dog

If you were bit by a dog, regardless of whose dog it is, you have rights. This is a personal injury and one that might result in a lawsuit. Before you start entering the legal proceedings, you should know exactly what to do and in what order. This will help you win your case against the dog's owner.

Inform the Dog's Owner

When you are bit by a dog, try to find the dog's owner and inform them that you have been bit. They need to know as soon as possible so they can put their dog inside their home or in an otherwise safe location. You may be filing a claim for the bite, which is another reason they should know about the bite right after it happens.

Contact Animal Control

This only needs to be done if you don't know the owner of the dog. If you were bit by a stray dog, that dog puts others at risk as well. It is running around on the streets without a tag and may bite more people, even children. Contact animal control to have it picked up.

Learn About the One-Bite Rule

The one-bite rule states that you are only liable for your dog biting someone after it has already bitten someone once. It protects dog owners who had no idea their dog is prone to biting people. Once their dog bites someone, they can then be sued for the bite and might need to face consequences as it related to owning that dog. You should know about this rule if you are bitten and find out if the dog has ever bitten someone before. If so, you should have a good chance at filing a claim against them.

Find Out if There Are Statutes

Some states will have statutes that state you can also sue for injuries caused by a dog in certain settings. For example, you might be able to file a claim if their dog actually bit someone, but not if the dog caused an injury by knocking them down or in other ways. Research the dog bite laws in your area or ask an attorney to explain them to you.

Get a Lawyer

After you have gotten medical attention, call a personal injury attorney like one from Stapleton Law Offices. They will look at the evidence you have and contact the owner. If they can't work something out with the dog owner, you may need to head to court for your injuries.