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What To Do If You Are Bitten By A Dog

By Autumn Lockwood

Republish: EasyPublish™ Published: 25May2011 Word count: 2093 Viewed: 133 time(s) Get Free Content For Your Site

Dog bites are a common personal injury, and many adults and children are bitten by dogs each year in this country. A dog bite can be deadly, especially for smaller children. Dog bite survivors are left with permanent, disfiguring scars and untold psychological trauma. A dog bite attorney should be consulted as soon as possible following the attack.

It is sometimes not possible to know if a dog will bite. Even dogs that appear docile and gentle have been known to attack. The laws governing dog bit injuries vary from state to state, but most states recognize and hold liable the owners of dogs that bite when they attack someone. A large number of states also have passed statutes regarding dog bites, and in most instances, the dog owner is held liable, even if the dog has not shown aggressiveness or has never bitten someone else.

What to do If You Are Bitten

If you are bitten by a dog, you should:

• Remain calm. Protect your face and head during the attack. Get away from the dog.

• Seek out medical care as soon as possible. Even if you believe that you are not that seriously injured, the puncture wounds of a dog bite can easily become infected and exacerbate the problem. What is more, if a wound becomes infected, scarring will be increased. The longer you wait to seek treatment, the more complicated your recovery may be.

• Try your best to identify the dog. The dog could have rabies, and if it does, it is important that appropriate medical vaccines are begun at once.

• Do not sign any papers or make any recorded statements. Often, the dog owner, the property owner, or a representative of their insurance carrier will attempt to get a statement from you, either written or recorded. They are not on your side; their goal is to avoid liability so that they do not have to pay for your injuries, pain, suffering, and other costs.

• Obtain legal representation. A dog bite attorney can help you to receive the compensation that you are entitled to. You should be represented even if the dog owner's insurance company is trying to settle with you. Many times, an insurer will offer a low-ball settlement to close the matter out once and for all. Insurers are notorious for talking dog bite victims into settling for a figure that is just a small percentage of what is fairly due to them. Your attorney can help you to preserve evidence from the attack and negotiate with the other party's insurance company. In addition, your attorney can help you to identify other people who may be liable for your damages, and to take the steps that are necessary to get you the compensation that you deserve for damages, medical bills, future medical care, lost wages, pain and suffering, and other compensation that you may be entitled to.

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