You’ve suffered a dog bite. Maybe it was a friend’s or neighbor’s dog. Or, maybe the dog belongs to someone you don’t know. Whatever the case may be, you’re in pain, you need medical care, and you need to make sure you can afford the costs of your injuries.
So, what should you do next?
Bakersfield dog bite lawyer Mickey Fine has helped many victims of dog attacks over the course of his distinguished career. He understands the challenges that accompany these vicious attacks and the hardships you may be facing as a result.
There are several important steps to take after suffering a dog bite. Here are some tips to consider:
1. See a Doctor
Dog bites can range widely in terms of their severity. While some bite wounds can heal on their own, others can cause soft tissue damage, nerve damage, and even bone fractures that require surgery. Infection is a concern with dog bites as well. To make sure you get the treatment you need, you should see a doctor as soon as possible.
2. Contact Your Employer
If your doctor says you need to rest, that should be the end of the story. Don’t wait to see if you feel good enough to go to work in the morning. Contact your employer, let your employer know you need some time off, and give your body the time it needs to recover.
3. Try to Find Out if the Dog is Vaccinated
If you know the dog’s owner, try to find out if the dog is vaccinated. In particular, you will want to know if the dog has been vaccinated against rabies. If it has not, or if you are not able to learn the dog’s vaccination history, you will want to be sure to watch for the signs and symptoms of rabies.
4. Avoid Discussing the Incident with the Dog’s Owner
Other than trying to learn the dog’s vaccination history, you should avoid discussing the incident with the dog’s owner at this time. In fact, you should avoid discussing the incident in general. This will help ensure that you don’t inadvertently say something the dog owner’s insurance company can use against you, and it will prevent others’ versions of the events from influencing your recollection of what happened.
5. Avoid Posting about the Incident on Social Media
At this point, you should also avoid posting about the incident on social media. The dog owner’s insurance company may start monitoring your accounts; and, if it does, it will be looking for anything it might possibly be able to use against you. Posting about how you feel, what you’ve done or haven’t done, and who you think is responsible are just a few examples of potential mistakes that could jeopardize your claim.
6. Write Down Everything You Remember about the Attack
While you shouldn’t post about the incident, you should write down everything you can remember. What were you doing when the dog attacked you? From which direction did the dog come? Was the dog’s owner present? If so, did he or she say anything? Were there any witnesses to the attack? These are just some of the details that could be relevant to your claim.
7. Keep Up with Your Wound Care and Other Medical Needs
As time goes on, many dog attack victims have a tendency to become complacent about (or fed up with) tending to their wounds and following through with their medical care. However, both of these are extremely important. You should carefully follow your doctor’s recommendations (unless you think you need a second opinion) until you are fully healed.
8. Keep Track of Your Medical Bills and Other Losses
Do your best to keep track of your medical bills and other losses. Start a file where you keep all relevant documents, and keep a daily log of your pain levels, the time you miss from work, and the other day-to-day effects of your dog bite injuries.
9. Learn about California’s Dog Bite Laws
California’s dog bite laws are designed to protect attack victims. In most cases, victims will be able to recover their losses through the dog owner’s homeowners insurance policy. We have prepared a brief overview of what you need to know.
10. Talk to a Bakersfield Dog Bite Lawyer
Finally, you should talk to a Bakersfield dog bite lawyer about your legal rights. Although your legal rights may be clear, recovering just compensation won’t be easy. An experienced dog bite lawyer can help, and you can get legal representation at no out-of-pocket cost.
Schedule a Free Consultation with a Bakersfield Dog Bite Lawyer
Did you suffer bite injuries in a dog attack? If so, Bakersfield dog bite lawyer Mickey Fine can help you seek just compensation. For a free, no-obligation consultation about your legal rights, call 661-333-3333 or get in touch online now.