Dog bites are distressing. They may also lead to personal injury cases in some situations.
If a dog has bitten you, it’s vital to know what to do for your health and safety and to preserve any potential lawsuit you might bring forth at a later date.
Here’s what you need to know.
Steps to Take After Being Bitten by a Dog
Take the following steps.
- Get the dog owner’s name, address, and phone number, if possible. If you don’t know who owns the dog, gather any information that might help identify the dog.
- Call 911 if the dog represents an immediate danger to anyone else.
- Gather witness names, addresses, and phone numbers.
- Wash the bite wound with soap and water.
- Get medical attention.
- Report the bite within 24 hours of the event. You can also call 311 to check to see if the dog could have rabies.
- Gather evidence, including medical records.
If you behaved in a lawful, non-threatening manner and the dog bite was unprovoked, you will usually have grounds for a dog bite case.
The owner will be responsible for your medical bills if the dog has no history of vicious behavior. If the owner knew or should have known that the dog represented a danger, then the owner is responsible for lost wages, pain, and suffering.
Launching a Dog Bite Case
You must contact a New York City dog bite lawyer to launch a dog bite case. The lawyer files a claim with the dog owner’s insurance company. Usually, this will be the homeowner’s or renter’s insurance policy.
You have just three years to file a dog bite lawsuit in New York, and there’s rarely any value in waiting. If you wait, evidence can dry up. This is especially true if you don’t know who owns the dog. The dog owner can move away or disappear, becoming harder to locate and hold accountable. Filing early gives us time to help you locate the dog’s owner.
Instead, get help from a New York dog bite firm like ours as soon as you’re medically capable of doing so. The faster you move, the stronger your case will be.
See also:
Preventing Dog Bites: Tips for Owners and Non-Owners
Common Dog Bite Injuries and Their Consequences
Understanding Dog Bite Laws in New York City