Any person can fall victim to a vicious dog attack. Whether it be a jogger out for a crisp morning run or a small child enjoying a picnic in the park, no one is exempt from an unforeseen incident of this nature.
Unprovoked dog attacks can happen suddenly, leaving a victim feeling utterly shocked and helpless.
During these times, being an informed citizen is the best antidote for taking the proper first steps and moving forward if legal action is required.
Aggressive Dogs: What to Do After a Dog Bite Injury
First steps:
•Depending on the injury, you may need to seek immediate medical attention such as those you can find at Fort Worth Urgent Care. Even if the wound is superficial, a doctor may feel the need to proceed with rabies treatment, especially if the dog owner cannot be identified by owner.
•Gather the names and addresses of the dog owner and any witnesses.
•File a report with the proper agency that presides over these offenses. Depending on your jurisdiction, this could be animal control, the humane society, or the police department. If you are unsure where to start, consider calling the police department first for inquiry.
•Document the wounds with photographs. These images are very important for building a case should you need to pursue legal action.
Pursuing Legal Action:
In most cases where the owner is willing to file a claim with his insurance company, compensation for these matters can be resolved in a quality and timely manner.
Before speaking with an insurance representative, it is important that you have spoken with the dog owner about the following:
• Name of the insurance company
• Claim Numbers
• Names of individuals involved
• Telephone Numbers
• Amount of money the owners can afford for medical expenses
Depending upon the severity of the attack, the injured may need to pursue legal action to cover medical expenses or fill in any gaps of uncovered expenses.
In addition, one may feel the need to pursue legal representation when filing a claim with an owner becomes confrontational or is avoided altogether.
Obviously, nobody expects to be attacked by a dog, but the reality is that over 1,000 Americans visit emergency rooms every day based on dog bites alone.
Knowing the proper way to handle these situations before they arise is the best preventive for protecting yourself or someone you love.