Generally, dogs are truly man’s best friend. Many of us own a dog as a companion for our children or for our older relatives. Maybe we own a dog as a protector for our home. Sometimes we just want a friend that loves us unconditionally. Occasionally though, a dog can become aggressive and bite someone. Why a dog becomes aggressive remains somewhat of a mystery. They may feel threatened or scared causing them to feel they need to attack before someone attacks them. Some dogs have been bred and trained to fight and simply know no other way to behave. Sadly, these dogs have likely been mistreated themselves. Even worse, statistics show that one out of every five dog bites requires medical attention and more than 30,000 people a year require reconstructive surgery after a dog bite. Regardless of the reason, if you are one of the 4.5 million people a year that have been the victim of a dog bite you may want to know what you can do to recover damages for the injuries you have suffered.
The most important thing you can do is to consult with a California dog bite lawyer. Only a lawyer can evaluate the circumstances of your specific case and advise you whether you have a legitimate personal injury claim. Your lawyer will be able to investigate the history of the dog that bit you. He can check into the local animal shelter records and other local records to determine if the dog has a history of aggressiveness. Even if the dog does not have a history of being aggressive, the dog’s owner may still be liable for injuries you suffered as a result of the bite.
What can you do to help your lawyer evaluate and litigate your dog bit case?
1. Immediately after the incident happens, try to determine who the owner of the dog is. If you are familiar with the dog, this is simple. If you are not, then try and remember what the dog looked like and give that information to law enforcement so that they can search for the dog and ultimately the dog’s owner.
2. Go directly to an emergency room to be checked out. Even if you think the bite wasn’t that serious, if it broke the skin you will need to be tested for rabies and other diseases carried by dogs. Rabies is a serious condition in humans, but is treatable if you catch it early. Additionally, even a small wound can become infected if not cleaned and treated properly immediately after the accident.
3. Keep good records of your damages. “Damages” is a legal term for the injuries you have suffered. While you dog bite attorney can explain the different types of damages to you in detail, for now just think of damages as bills you have incurred of money you have lost as a result of the dog bite. For instance, keep track of all your hospital and medical bills as well as time you have missed from work.
Your California dog bite attorney can give you more information and advice with regard to your specific situation. A dog bite can be a traumatic event and may have lifelong consequences. You don’t have to go through this alone.
If you have been the victim of a dog bite accident and would like an experienced attorney to evaluate your case, contact the law offices of Ledger & Associates at 1-800-300-0001 or visit us at www.ledgerlaw.com.
