You should be able to take a walk in your own neighborhood or park area without encountering a vicious dog. If you are the victim of a dog bite, you should know that you do have rights. Suffering from the effects of a dog bite can be more serious than most people may think, so read on to learn more about ensuring that you are fairly compensated for your medical expenses, lost wages, and more when bitten by a loose dog.
Serious complications
Even relatively minor bites can lead to more serious problems. Ascertaining whether or not the dog is vaccinated against rabies should be a top priority, since it could drastically affect your treatment options. Even if the dog was fully vaccinated, the wound could require a trip to the emergency room, stitches, and weeks of painful recovery. No matter how minor your wound, seek medical help immediately. Dogs carry dangerous and plentiful amounts of bacteria in their mouths, so the danger of an infection is real. If you are in an immunocompromised position, the result could be life-threatening.
Pain and suffering
No matter how severe your injury, you may now be facing piles of medical bills and losing time from work. Additionally, your ability to take a walk in your own neighborhood or other public location has been altered, leaving you fearful of another dog attack.
Compensation
Be sure to get the dog-owner's contact info, and alert the police if they try to be evasive or leave the area.
Speaking of reporting, it's vital that you file a report with the animal control agency (or police) in your city. Many cities now have a "one bite free" rule, so your report could help get a dangerous dog away from the careless owner. To prove your case, take the following steps:
- Take some time to gather any physical evidence. Pictures can speak a thousand words, so try to get a photo of the dog and take some photos of the injuries to your body as well.
- Keep up with your time lost from work and be prepared to submit pay statements.
- Keep good records of your medical expenses.
- Don't forget to account for any property lost, such as shoes, pants, a dropped cell phone, etc.
Insurance
In some cases, the homeowner's insurance policy will cover your damages, but if not, you may need to file a personal injury claim against the owner. Speak with a personal injury attorney to learn more about your rights when you've been bitten by a dog.
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