Dogs can be man’s best friend, but a bite from a dog can cause serious and possibly permanent injury. Lacerations, tissue damage, disfigurement and scarring, puncture wounds and broken bones can all result from the bite of a dog. If you were at a public place or a guest at someone’s property and you were bitten by a dog, it is important that you take steps to protect your rights, and get compensated for your injuries. A dog bite lawyer can help throughout the process.
The Steps to Take After a Dog Bite
The first thing you need to do after a dog bite is to attend to your medical needs and get the personal information of the dog’s owner. Get a clear description of the dog that bit you, and get the owner’s name, telephone number and other personal information. Take pictures of the dog and injuries, if possible.
The owners of the dog may be resistant to giving you personal information, but it is essential that you have it so you can report the incident to animal control and the department of health. At the very least get the owners phone number so that you or your lawyer can follow up with them later.
The dog’s owners information is also critical to be able to make a claim to their insurance company. If you are severely injured or bleeding, then getting medical help may be an even bigger priority than getting the person’s information, so ask witnesses and others at the area to help obtain the information.
See a doctor immediately and have your injuries attended to. Again, make sure to document and take pictures of all injuries so you can use those later to prove the extent of the damage. Contact animal control and the department of health as soon as possible to let them know of the incident and to check the dog’s rabies vaccination status. You likely will also need a rabies shot to protect yourself.
After you have attended to your medical injuries and are no longer in medical danger, it is time to ensure your legal rights are protected. A dog bite lawyer can help throughout the process.
Your Legal Rights in a Dog Bite Case Los Angeles
In California, California Civil Code section 3342 imposes strict liability on dog bite owners. This means you don’t have to prove that the dog owner was negligent or that the dog had a history of bites. If you were bitten by a dog, you can recover with the help of a dog bite lawyer. Most often, the dog owner will turn to his homeowners insurance policy to assume the liability, so you will likely be speaking to insurance agents or perhaps the dog bite lawyers of the insurance company.
You should contact a personal injury attorney with experience in dog bites as soon as possible after the incident in order to ensure your legal rights are protected and to ensure that you take all steps necessary to recover the damages that you are entitled to as a result of the dog bite.
Our law office specializes in personal injury cases like dog bites. If you have been injured in a dog bite, don’t hesitate to contact our office to speak to a lawyer to get help for your injuries. 1-877-702-7274
