After a dog bite, you should wash the wound, control any bleeding, get medical care when needed, and gather information about the dog and its owner. Quick care may lower the risk of infection and help doctors decide whether you need treatment for tetanus or possible rabies exposure.
Once your health is addressed, you may have questions about medical bills and who is responsible for the attack. A dog bite lawyer from Sweet James can investigate what happened, identify available insurance coverage, and pursue damages when another person is legally responsible for your injuries.
Steps to Take After a Dog Bite
What you do in the hours and days after a dog bite can affect your health and the information available if you later file an injury claim. Start with the wound and medical concerns, then document and report the attack once you are safe.
Sweet James can review what happened after the immediate medical issues have been addressed and determine what information may help support a dog bite claim.
Clean and Protect the Dog Bite Wound
Start by getting away from the dog and moving to a safe place. Wash the bite with soap and running water. For most animal bites, washing for at least five to 10 minutes can help remove dirt and germs from the wound.
If the wound is bleeding, place a clean, dry cloth over it and apply steady pressure. A clean bandage can help protect the area after you wash it. For deep wounds, severe pain, loss of movement, or bleeding that will not stop, call or seek prompt medical attention.
Know When a Dog Bite Needs Medical Attention
A dog’s teeth can push bacteria below the skin. This means even a small puncture may become infected. Seek medical attention promptly for a deep or serious wound.
Call 911 if bleeding will not stop or the injured person feels faint or weak. A healthcare provider can clean the wound, check for deeper damage, and decide whether additional treatment is needed.
Watch the bite closely over the next several days. Possible signs of infection include:
- Redness that develops or spreads around the bite.
- Swelling or warmth near the injured area.
- Pain that gets worse instead of better.
- Fluid or pus coming from the wound.
- Fever or other signs of illness.
Sweet James can use medical records from your treatment to document the injuries and care related to the attack.
Ask About Tetanus and Rabies Risks
Tell the healthcare provider that a dog caused the wound. Animal bites are considered contaminated wounds for tetanus purposes because saliva can enter the broken skin. Your provider can review your vaccination history and determine whether a tetanus vaccine or other care is appropriate.
Rabies also needs to be considered in some cases. The risk may be a greater concern when the dog is unknown, cannot be located, has an uncertain vaccination history, or appears sick or behaves strangely. A healthcare provider or local health department can determine whether rabies treatment is needed.
If possible, get the dog owner’s name and contact information and ask for proof of the dog’s current rabies vaccination. Sweet James can also investigate the animal and ownership information as part of a dog bite injury claim.
Report the Dog Bite and Save Information About the Attack
Reporting the incident can create a record of what happened and may help local authorities identify the animal. Depending on where the attack occurred, the appropriate agency may be animal control, a health department, or law enforcement.
Write down what you remember as soon as you can. Include where the attack happened, what the dog was doing beforehand, whether it was restrained, and what the owner said afterward.
You can also save:
- Photos of the bite before and during healing.
- Torn or bloody clothing from the incident.
- The dog owner’s name and contact information.
- Names and phone numbers for witnesses.
- Medical bills and treatment paperwork.
- Messages exchanged with the owner or an insurance company.
Our firm can review this information and determine what other evidence may help establish how the attack occurred.
Dog Bite Laws Can Affect Who Is Responsible
Dog bite laws are not the same in every state. Some states have laws that make a dog owner responsible for injuries caused by the animal under specified circumstances. Other claims may depend on whether the owner knew or had reason to know that the dog could be dangerous.
The facts surrounding the attack matter as well. Depending on state law, issues such as where the bite happened, whether the injured person was lawfully on the property, or whether someone provoked the animal could affect a claim.
Sweet James can review the law that applies where the attack happened instead of assuming that every dog bite case follows the same liability rules.
A Dog Bite Claim May Cover More Than the Initial Medical Bill
A serious bite can require more than one trip to the doctor. Some people need stitches, medication, follow-up appointments, scar treatment, or surgery. Nerve or tendon damage may also require additional care.
A personal injury claim may seek damages for losses related to the attack. Depending on the case and applicable law, those losses could include medical expenses, lost income, pain and suffering, scarring, or future care.
At Sweet James, our attorneys use data from thousands of injury cases when evaluating claims. The firm can document the losses connected to an attack and present them to the responsible party or insurer.
Settling a Dog Bite Claim May Involve Insurance Disputes
The dog owner may have homeowners, renters, or another type of insurance that applies to the incident. Finding coverage is only one part of the process. An insurer may question how the attack happened, whether its policy covers the incident, or how much the injuries are worth.
A quick settlement offer may also arrive before the full extent of an injury is known. Once a claim is settled and a release is signed, asking for more money later may no longer be possible.
Founding attorney James Bergener previously represented insurance carriers in personal injury and workers’ compensation matters. That background gives Sweet James insight into how insurers evaluate and defend injury claims. Our firm can communicate with the insurer, document damages, negotiate a settlement, and prepare the case for court when needed.
A Claim May Be Possible Even When the Dog Did Not Bite
Dogs can cause injuries without sinking their teeth into someone. A large dog might knock a person down, chase a cyclist into traffic, or cause someone to fall while trying to get away.
Whether the owner is responsible for a non-bite injury depends on the facts and the law that applies to the case. Evidence about how the animal was handled or restrained may become especially relevant.
Sweet James focuses exclusively on accident and personal injury matters and can determine whether an animal attack that did not involve a bite may support an injury claim.
Talk to Sweet James About What to Do After a Dog Bite
Knowing what to do after a dog bite starts with taking care of the injury. The next steps may involve finding the dog’s owner, preserving evidence, dealing with an insurer, and determining whether you have a right to seek damages.
Sweet James has more than 400 legal professionals, and its personal injury attorneys have experience helping injury victims for over 25 years. Our firm handles dog bite and animal attack cases on a contingency basis, so you pay no fees or costs until we win.
Call Sweet James for a free consultation about a dog bite or other animal-related injury. Calls are accepted 24/7, and assistance is available in Spanish. Real Lawyers. Real Results.
