After A Dog Attack: What You Need To Know
After an attack by a dog, there are some important things you need to do immediately. The owner of the dog will inevitably be responsible for your injuries, so you need to make sure everything is properly reported and documented. The following are some of the things you need to do after you are attacked by a dog:
Report the Dog Attack to Law Enforcement
Right after the attack occurs, you need to call the police if you are able. If you cannot do it, have someone call for you. It is essential that the police report the incident. The police report will be the crux of your claim, as it will contain all the pertinent information regarding the incident. The police also need to be involved if the animal control authorities are called in to handle the dog. If the dog is deemed dangerous, it will be taken away. None of this will occur if the police are not called.
Get Medical Treatment
As soon as you can, you need to have your injuries evaluated by a doctor. You should do this even if the injuries do not seem significant. You also can ask for a detailed medical report regarding your injuries along with an itemized list of your expenses. If you require any follow up treatment, you need maintain documents on those visits as well. This will allow your attorney to seek an accurate amount of compensation from the dog owner.
Obtain the Contact Information of the Dog Owner
If you do not know the owner of the dog, be sure to get his or her contact information as soon as you can. A working phone number and address is all you should need. Your dog bite lawyer will do the bulk of the communication with the dog owner on your behalf to ensure you are compensated.
Find Out if There Were Witnesses
If you think someone saw the dog attack you, find out who they are and get their contact information. A witness is a very valuable tool if the matter goes to court. The owner of the dog could try to deny that you were attacked, so a witness testimony will be crucial.
If you suffer an injury from a dog that belongs to someone else, you need to call your attorney as soon as possible. If the dog has bitten or attacked other people before, you need to ensure that information is documented by police.
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