Bitten By A Dog? Here’s What Not To Do

Dog bite injuries affect millions of people every year in the U.S., with the majority of the bite severity affecting children under the age of 10. Animal companions are a cherished part of many people’s lives, and while there are a lot of things that you can do to stay safe around dogs, accidents still happen. Whether you were bitten by your own pet while playing, bitten by a neighbor’s dog while walking by, or another scenario, it’s important that you know what to do next. Especially if your injuries are serious enough to possibly seek a personal injury lawsuit, the more thorough you can be with your post-bite action, the better.
However, many people make mistakes following a dog bite, and end up complicating things instead. If you or someone you love is bitten by a dog, here are a few things that you should avoid:

1. Downplay or ignore your injuries

Too often, people will brush off their injuries and avoid admitting how bad they are, either to stay out of the spotlight or preserve someone else’s feelings. If you downplay your bite injuries, you may not seek the proper treatment, and may lose your opportunity to bring personal injury charges on the responsible party.

2. Fail to seek medical care

Many people avoid going to the doctor or the ER, even when they really should. Don’t attempt to treat your dog bite injuries at home! Make sure you go to a qualified medical provider and get checked out, even if it’s just to have the medical evidence on hand for your case.

3. Forget to document the evidence

If you wait too long after your dog bite incident, you won’t be able to put together any strong evidence of your injury and the circumstances. Do your best to take pictures of the place the bite occurred, your actual wounds, and the dog in question. Also try to gather statements from witnesses as soon as possible.

4. Make a big scene

Even when you’re hurt or scared, it’s good to remember that accidents do happen, and these dogs are often people’s personal pets. It won’t help your case to make a huge scene, threaten the dog or their owner, or engage in any form of harassment. In all likelihood, the dog’s owner feels bad about your injuries, but even if they don’t, legal cases always go smoother when all parties are calm and collected.

Have you been bitten by a dog? Do you need an experienced dog bite attorney to help you? Reach out to Brockman Law Firm today and request your free consultation!