Being bitten by a dog can be a frightening and painful experience. Knowing what steps to take in the moments immediately after a dog bite is important for both your health and your legal standing. As dog bites are often distressing, it can be difficult to remember exactly what you should do once bitten. The following are a number of steps you can take. By following these steps you can lessen any health, legal and financial problems that might arise from a dog bite:

Medical Attention
One of the first steps to take is to seek emergency medical attention. A dog’s saliva can carry bacteria, so it is also important to have the wound cleaned as soon as possible. This will help ward off infection. Follow the directions of the doctor who treats you and take whatever medications they prescribe.

Identification and Witnesses
A dog bite can have financial and legal ramifications if it is not given the attention it deserves. You should try to identify the dog that bit you. Try to discover the owner of the dog, and the people who had custody of the dog when it bit you. If there were other people around who might have witnessed the incident, take down their contact details. All these details will be important for insurance reasons, and for when you hire a Chicago personal injury lawyer.

Evidence
If possible, you should take photographs of the wound. This will serve as evidence that you were bitten. It will also provide the specifics of the size and severity of the wound. Contact the local animal control agency and find out if the dog has been involved in any similar incidents in the past.

Insurance
If the dog owner has insurance, you are likely to receive a phone call from their insurance company. If this happens, do not discuss money, or settlements or anything of a similar nature with them.

Legal Assistance
Contact a personal injury lawyer. A lawyer will help you to determine who was responsible for the dog, help you to protect your rights, and work with you in seeking reasonable compensation.

Getting bitten by a dog can be extremely upsetting. There are many medical and financial worries to contend with. Once you follow the steps outlined above, you can provide yourself with the best opportunity to heal. By hiring a personal injury lawyer, you are preserving your legal rights. Once you do this, you can devote your full energies to healing from your dog bite wound.

DISCLAIMER: All information on this website is provided for informational purposes only and is not intended to be construed as legal advice. The Law Offices of Steven J. Malman & Associates shall not be liable for any errors or inaccuracies contained herein, or any actions taken in reliance thereon. For more information read our full disclaimer.