What to Do After a Dog Bites You
If you were injured by someone else’s dog and would like to learn about your legal rights, call Cohen & Cohen today to speak with a top dog bite lawyer Washington DC offers. Our attorneys have helped thousands of clients recover monetary damages from injuries caused by dog attacks.
An experienced Washington DC dog bite lawyer can help you obtain fair compensation from the dog’s owner. Dog bite injuries can be extremely serious — and sometimes even fatal. Speak to one of our experienced attorneys to learn about your rights and how our legal team can assist you. Also, the following information might be helpful to you.
Dog Bite Statistics
In the United States, approximately 4.7 million people are injured every year from dog bites. About half of those victims are children between 5 and 9 years of age. A skilled dog bite lawyer Washington DC provides can help protect your or your loved one’s rights after getting attacked. Medical costs can add up quickly, and the dog’s owner should be held responsible for paying your costs, which might also include lost wages.
- The Centers for Disease Control reports that one in five dog bites require medical attention.
- More than 90 percent of all animals bites are caused by dogs.
- More than 27,000 dog bite victims require reconstructive surgery to address their wounds. If your injury is serious, it may be important to contact a dog bite lawyer Washington DC residents trust as soon as possible.
- Dog bites may cause damage to bones, muscles, nerves, and minor or major blood vessels.
- Rabies and tetanus infections might result from dog bites.
- Surgical repairs might increase the risk of infection, but may also reduce the degree of scarring from a bite.
Steps to Take Following a Dog Bite
Immediately after a dog causes an injury, it is likely difficult to think clearly. If the wound is serious, it may be challenging to remain calm. However, it may become extremely difficult to recover damages from the dog’s owner if certain steps are not taken immediately following a dog bite incident. The Washington DC injury lawyers residents recommend will likely need as much relevant documentation as possible. Thus, it may be beneficial to follow these steps immediately after a dog bite incident:
- Gather contact information. Get the name, address, and phone numbers of the dog’s owner, or the person responsible for the dog when it attacked if the owner was not present, and any potential witnesses.
- Photograph the wound. You may use a cell phone or a camera to photograph the injury prior to treatment, during treatment, and after receiving treatment. If someone is with you, have them take the photographs. If you hire a dog bite lawyer Washington DC respects, he or she will need to see these photos.
- Get medical documentation. Get copies of the medical report from the attending physician or emergency first responders. If the doctor recommends additional treatment, get this in writing as well. When determining your total damages, an experienced dog bite lawyer Washington DC victims rely on will likely consider future medical costs as well as other costs.
- Report the attack to animal control. Contact the animal control agency in your area and file a report about the dog attack. Provide full cooperation to the officer who investigates your case. Request a copy of the completed report. Your dog bite lawyer in Washington DC may choose to include this documentation in your claim or lawsuit. In place of, or in addition to, reporting the attack to animal control, you may wish to report the attack to the police. If the police are involved, be sure to get a copy of the police report.
The Importance of Getting Immediate Medical Attention
Dog bites are prone to infection. They can get very serious very quickly. You may require antibiotics or even plastic surgery.
The physician will examine the dog bite to determine if it’s possibly damaged any tendons, muscles, bones, or nerves. After the examination, the doctor will thoroughly clean the wound with a special antibacterial soap. It is very important at this stage that there is no dirt, bacteria, or dead tissue in the wound.
At any time after getting injured, even if you have already seen a doctor, if you experience any of the following symptoms, seek medical attention immediately:
- The bleeding will not stop.
- The puncture wound is deep.
- The dog is not familiar to you and so you do not know if it is current on its rabies shots.
- There are any signs of infection in the area of the wound:
- Swelling
- Redness
- Pus discharge
- Warmth
Information the Attending Physician May Need From You
When you receive medical attention, there are several standard questions that dog bite victims are often asked. After hiring a dog bite lawyer, Washington DC accident victims may be asked the same questions by their attorney. These usually include the following:
- If you are not the owner of the dog, do you know who owns it?
- Is the dog current on its rabies and other vaccinations?
- How did the attack happen?
- Do you have any health concerns such as:
- Diabetes
- Liver disease
- An autoimmune disease
- Any condition that makes you more susceptible to severe infections
Protect Your Rights
Dog bites can be very serious and may require serious treatment. Even if you will not need plastic surgery, your medical costs and lost wages may be substantial. The dog owner should be held responsible for your damages. If you would like to speak with a dog bite lawyer Washington DC trusts, call us today at Cohen & Cohen for a free consultation.
