Getting bit by a dog can be a very traumatic experience – as any dog bite victim can attest to. After the initial shock of the incident has subsided, it's essential to protect not only your health – but also your rights.
Dos & Don'ts
We asked Steve Recordon, a California attorney with nearly 30 years of experience whose practice represents individuals who have been injured by dog bites, what dog bite victims should – and shouldn't do after being bitten. Here's what he told us in a recent interview:
Dos
- Seek medical attention. The first thing that any dog bite victim should do is get medical attention.
- Contact the dog's owner and animal control. Contact the dog's owner, get a name and address and check for rabies vaccinations. I also think they need to contact animal control. I like my clients to contact animal control, and I'll do it for them because animal control keeps records on dogs. So, if a dog has bitten someone, then I want them to at least know what's happened. Some victims are reluctant to do so because if they were bit by a neighbor's dog, they're afraid that the dog might be put down, and it would end up ruining the relationship they have with that neighbor. However, that's not always the case – especially where strict liability is not involved.
- Get insurance information. Get the name of the dog owner's homeowner's insurance company, if they have insurance.
- Take pictures. Take pictures of the injuries and perhaps the dog because if the case ends up going to trial, you want to show what the dog looks like. The reason is that many people have dogs as pets, and their mental picture of a dog may be a lot different from a pit bull standing there with his teeth bared.
- Contact witnesses. Finally, I would also recommend getting the names, phone numbers, and addresses of any witnesses. You're going to want witness statements so that you've got an accurate record, as close in time as possible to the dog bite, of precisely what these witnesses saw. Your attorney can do this.
Don'ts
- Don't discuss the case. Give a recorded statement or discuss settlements with the insurance adjustor. You have to understand that the insurance adjuster is there representing the insurance company; he's not there trying to pay out as much as he can to someone that's been injured.
- Don't assume the dog is healthy. In many cases, the dog should be quarantined to determine whether or not it has rabies. If it does, the victim may or may not have to go through a series of very painful rabies vaccinations. Only the doctor will be able to determine whether or not the individual has to go through those series of shots. So, getting a history of the dog is very important. It can also affect liability. If the dog owners knew of rabies and allowed the dog to be in a position to bite somebody, then punitive damages might be awarded.
If you've been injured due to a dog bite, contact an attorney whose practice focuses on this area of law to discuss your situation. Consultations are free, without obligation, and are strictly confidential.
Source: http://injury-law.freeadvice.com/injury-law/injuries/dog-bite-injuries-do-dont-2.htm
Note from HandelontheLaw.com: This article is to be used as an educational guide only and should not be interpreted as a legal consultation. Readers of this article are advised to seek an attorney if a legal consultation is needed. Laws may vary by state and are subject to change, thus the accuracy of this information can not be guaranteed. Readers act on this information solely at their own risk. Neither the author, handelonthelaw.com, or any of its affiliates shall have any liability stemming from this article.
