Mistakes to Avoid if Bitten by a Dog

While not often highlighted by the media, dog bites are extremely common. Among the average citizen, a dog bite is most common among postal workers and children, but it can happen to anyone that has an encounter with a dog that they do not know, or even sometimes with a dog they have known for years. However, regardless of the how or why you are bitten by a dog, you may be able to pursue a personal injury case to receive compensation for your injuries. However, you will also want to make sure your case is as strong as possible. As such, there are certain mistakes you will want to avoid so they don’t hurt your case or make it harder than it needs to be to get the compensation that you deserve.

Not Seeking Medical Treatment

Some dog bite injuries might be something you can walk away from. However, by failing to seek medical attention, it makes your injury seem less serious and it can make proving your case in the future difficult. The biggest complication you will face from this mistake is the injury worsening from infection. A dog’s mouth is home to a myriad of bacteria that can make a minor wound have major problems if not treated. If you failed to seek medical attention, it could be argued that you caused it to get infected with your inaction and you could be stuck with the bills.

Not Photographing Injuries

Alongside not getting immediate medical treatment, you should also avoid not photographing your injuries. By the time your legal case progresses, it is likely your injuries will have healed quite a bit. It will make some people unsympathetic to your plight, but if you have photos of just how bad you got hurt, it serves as both proof and persuasive evidence that you need to receive compensation.

Not Reporting a Dog Bite

After a dog bite incident, it is likely you will be fairly rattled. However, do not forget to make a report of the incident to the proper authorities such as police or animal control. These authorities allow for the incident to be well documented and will take measures to ensure it doesn’t happen to anyone else. Never believe a dog owner that begs you not to report and promises to repay your medical bills. There is nothing legally binding them to do so and it is likely they will not.

Talking to an Insurance Company Alone

In some cases, a dog’s actions may be covered by the owner’s insurance. However, you should be wary of giving any statement to an insurance company alone. Their job is not to make sure you are taken care of, but rather to keep the costs of a claim as low as possible. Much of what they trick you into saying can go to hurt your case and lower what they need to pay you.

Instead of talking to an insurance representative alone, you will want to do so with a skilled lawyer by your side. They will advise you as to whether you need to answer the question or how to answer so as to not hurt your case. Dealing with insurance companies isn’t particularly common in dog bite cases, but even if you don’t have to, you will want an attorney by your side to help you with your case. If you have been bitten by a dog and need someone in your corner to help you get the compensation that you deserve, contact us today. Let the Law Office of Freeman & Freeman make sure you get what is fair for your injuries.