What Should I Do If A Dog Bites Me?
Dog bites are traumatic events that may potentially cause catastrophic injury. Children and the elderly are particularly vulnerable to suffer severe injuries by violent dogs. Dog bites can traumatize children by making them afraid of animals and even frightened to go outside.
California law states that the owner of a dog is liable for damages caused by a dog bite in a public place or a private place. It does not matter if the owner knew or did not know of the dog’s violent propensities since California’s dog bite statute follows a strict liability theory. California law classifies the owner as anyone who controls the dog at the time the dog bite occurs.
If you or your child suffered dog bite injuries, contact a Ventura dog bite lawyer right away.
Seek Immediate Medical Attention
The first thing a dog bite victim should do is seek medical care from an emergency room, urgent care, or physician. By seeking medical treatment, you can document your injuries and create evidence of when they occurred. These documents will help you prove that the dog bite caused specific injuries and your damages after you file your legal claims.
Some dogs may also have bacterial or viral infections that can damage human tissue. It is important to seek immediate medical care for any injury caused by a dog bite, as it needs to be professionally cleaned to prevent infection. If the bite becomes infected, a victim may have to undergo surgery or amputation. If you cannot verify the dog had rabies vaccines, you might need to undergo rabies vaccination and prevention treatment, as this is a fatal condition.
Who Will Pay For My Costs Associated With A Dog Bite?
The dog owner’s homeowner’s insurance policy might cover your medical bills associated with a dog bite. A dog owner may not pay anything out of his or her own pocket if he or she has a homeowner’s insurance policy that covers dog bites. This means that you should not hesitate to file a claim even if the dog owner was a friend or neighbor.
Document All Evidence Of The Attack
After seeking medical attention, you need to focus on documenting the effects of the dog bite. You should take photographs of your injured body. You should also record videos of the injuries and make sure that you do this before bruises and swelling dissipate.
After you take these photographs and videos, you need to preserve them in a safe space on a trustworthy hard drive or another storage device. These photographs and videos will help you prove your damages during your personal injury case.
You should also document any psychological symptoms that arise, especially if a child suffered a dog bite attack. Child victims may be able to claim higher damage amounts associated with the long-term pain and suffering they could endure as a result of the dog bite attack.
Speak with a Ventura Dog Bite Attorney
A dog bite can cause serious physical and emotional injuries. You should take the necessary steps to preserve evidence and file the legal claims relevant to the facts of your case.
If you or a loved one suffered an injury due to a dog bite attack, please contact the law firm of Bamieh & De Smeth in Ventura, California, today to schedule a free consultation. We can discuss the facts of your case and the legal options available to you.