What you do immediately after a dog bite in California depends on what your injury allows. If possible, get the dog owner’s particulars and take pictures of the dog, the surroundings, and your injury. If anyone else witnessed the incident, get their details too.
Of course, getting medical attention is a priority, and if you aren’t able to gather evidence right away, you can hope to investigate later. Even if you think your injury is mild, clean your wound and consult a doctor.
You may need an anti-tetanus shot, and you need a medical record if you hope to recover any damages owed to you. You should also report the dog bite to your local animal control organization, since it is important that they know about dangerous animals.
Dog bites can be serious and cost you a lot in medical care and lost productivity. That’s aside from disfigurement and even the death of a loved one in severe dog bite attacks. Consult a lawyer to explore your legal options. It may be possible to recover compensation.
First Aid After a Dog Bite
If you or someone who is with you sustains a minor dog bite injury, you should attempt to clean the wound as soon as you can. Medical News Today recommends cleaning the wound under lukewarm running water and applying an antibiotic cream. You should still see a doctor.
For more serious wounds, press a clean cloth against the wound to staunch the bleeding and get medical attention. If a person is unconscious or is bleeding heavily, call 911 for emergency assistance.
Should You Accept Offers of Financial Help From The Dog Owner After a Dog Bite?
The primary things you need from the dog’s owner are their contact and insurance details. Some dog owners are kind enough to offer financial assistance for your treatment, but you should not accept this. Instead, tell them you will see a doctor to assess your injuries and would prefer to pursue the matter later.
Even a mild dog bite injury can be more serious than it looks or become infected later on. At this point, you do not know the extent of your costs. If these turn out to be high, it will be better to discuss the matter with a lawyer who will handle claims against the dog owner’s insurance.
What if The Dog’s Owner Was Not Present When You Were Bitten?
If a vicious dog escapes its yard, you may not know who the owner is. This is one of the reasons why it is important to get pictures of the dog and your location, if you can safely do so. It may be necessary to find out who owns the dog later on, and your images, or pictures taken by bystanders, may prove to be crucial evidence in later investigations.
Witness Testimony May Be Crucial
Whether or not you know who the owner of a dog that bites you is, witness testimony may prove crucial later on. The dog’s owner may deny that their dog caused your injuries or claim that you provoked the animal. If anyone stops to help you, ask them if they will be willing to act as witnesses.
Liability and Dog Bites In California
In some states, you can only hold a dog owner liable for your damages if they already knew their dog was dangerous. This is not true in California. The California Civil Code specifies that dog owners are liable for their pets’ behavior, even if they did not know their dog was likely to attack.
In addition, it specifies that dog owners are responsible for their dog’s behavior, even if the dog bites you on their property. The only proviso is that you should lawfully be there. Whether you are a guest or a service provider, it is up to the dog owner to keep you safe.
Insurance Companies May Not Offer You The Settlement You Deserve
It is particularly important to get representation if your dog bite injury is serious. Insurance companies may offer to cover your medical costs, but there are many other consequences that may mean you deserve more substantial compensation than they will offer.
For example, if your dog bite injury causes you to miss work or causes permanent disfigurement or disability, you may be eligible for high-value compensation. You will not receive this without a fight. Allow a dog bite injury lawyer to advocate for you.