A dog bite should never be taken lightly. Most people would agree that these can be incredibly painful, and the injuries they inflict are often severe. Sometimes, a dog attack can even result in long-term physical or psychological damage. However, as intense and life-changing as these incidents may be, many people underestimate the seriousness of a potential bite by not taking necessary precautions or seeking professional medical treatment immediately after the incident.
Things You Should Do if Someone’s Dog Bites You
1. Seek immediate medical attention.
Although most bites are not life-threatening, you must seek medical attention as soon as possible after you are bitten to prevent any complications. If you are the one that suffered the attack, seek medical care immediately at your nearest emergency room or hospital.
2. Complete an incident report.
It should detail all the information about the incident: who attacked you, what kind of dog was involved, and when it happened. Be sure to give this report to the police, who can use it as evidence in case of a lawsuit. If you are the one that was injured, this is important for future medical treatment.
3. Take photos of any injuries sustained by you or the dog involved.
It will help medical staff assess your injuries and give them an accurate idea of how severe they may be. Photographs can also be helpful in an insurance claim they may need to pursue.
4. Notify your insurance company.
If you have a homeowner’s or renter’s insurance policy, you will want to notify your insurance company of the incident as soon as possible. It includes keeping them updated on any medical expenses you incur after the attack and providing them with any documentation they might need regarding the attack.
5. Notify the authorities.
Once you have notified your insurance company, notify your local police department. They may be able to provide a police report that will be useful in case of any future legal proceedings.
6. Follow up with treatment.
You must keep up with the medical treatment and care you receive after the incident. The severity of your injuries will depend heavily on how quickly you seek care after you are injured and how well you follow up with your injury throughout the healing process.
7. Contact a Lawyer.
If you need legal advice regarding the attack, contact an attorney as soon as possible after the incident. If a pet owner did not correctly contain their dog and attacked you, this may be grounds for a personal injury lawsuit.
8. Seek help from a support group.
If you suffered psychological trauma from the attack, seek help from a support group. It may include joining an online community with others who have been through similar situations or talking to a mental health professional specializing in trauma rehabilitation.
9. Get help from your local animal shelter
Suppose you need immediate assistance from the authorities or your insurance company. In that case, the animal shelter can provide a report of all dog bite incidents during the past year of which they have been informed. If a dog is being kept illegally in your neighborhood, an animal control officer might also be able to provide you with information on this.
To be safe and protect yourself from a severe dog bite, you need to take the precautions listed in this article. If you should find yourself at risk of being bitten by a dog, do not hesitate to contact your local animal shelter or law enforcement agency as soon as possible to learn more about the rules surrounding this issue.
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