A dog bite or attack can leave you with severe injuries. Taking prompt action after an attack can put you in a favorable position to seek financial recovery for your medical bills and other losses from the dog’s owner. Here’s what to do.
1. Ensure Immediate Safety
Immediately move to a safe location away from the dog that attacked you. If you can manage to contain the dog securely, warn bystanders to stay away from it and call 911 or your local animal control department.
2. Seek Medical Attention
Seek medical treatment for the dog bite, even if the injury does not seem severe. Any abrasion or breaking of the skin by a dog’s mouth can expose you to serious bacterial or viral infections. A doctor can diagnose the injuries you sustained in the attack and treat you to prevent diseases from taking hold. If you cannot confirm the dog is vaccinated against rabies, you may need to start a course of preventative vaccines.
3. Identify Witnesses
Get the contact information for any eyewitnesses to the attack. Ask for a brief statement you can write down or record on your phone. By obtaining witnesses’ contact information, a dog bite lawyer can reach them to provide testimony in an insurance or legal claim.
4. Document the Incident
Write down the date, time, and location of the dog bite. Take photos of the scene and any visible injuries you sustained. Locate the dog’s owner (if possible) and get critical information, such as the owner’s name, contact information, homeowners insurance information, and their dog’s vaccination status. Get a copy of the incident report if an animal control officer or the police responded to the scene.
5. Report the Dog Bite
If you did not report the dog bite immediately, do it now. Authorities may have records of prior bites or attacks inflicted by the dog that could strengthen your dog bite claim.
6. Preserve Evidence
Preserve or photograph your clothing from the attack and any damaged property, such as glasses, watches, or cell phones. Keep all bills, invoices, and receipts to document your medical expenses. Finally, if you have to miss work because of your injuries, gather any pay stubs or income statements that could prove your lost wages.
7. Avoid Speaking with Insurance Companies
Refrain from speaking at any length with an adjuster from the dog owner’s homeowners’ or renters’ insurance provider until you’ve consulted a dog bite attorney. Insurance adjusters use various tactics to get injury claimants to make statements that jeopardize the strength of their claim. Lawyers know these tactics and can protect you from unknowingly damaging your claim.
8. Contact an Experienced Dog Bite Attorney
Generally, Wisconsin dog bite laws make owners strictly liable for any injuries their animals inflict on others. However, there are situations where the owner may claim you are at fault or contributed to your injuries by provoking the dog or trespassing on your property. Dog bite cases get more complex in those situations, so consulting a knowledgeable personal injury lawyer is critical to protect your claim.
LawtonCates is a respected personal injury law firm that has been representing clients in South Central Wisconsin for nearly 60 years. If you have been bitten by a dog in Madison, Jefferson, Milwaukee, or the surrounding areas, call or contact us now for a free consultation with a Wisconsin dog bite attorney.
