Managing Partner
Dogs provide humans with companionship, protection, and much more. In fact, most dog owners view their pets as part of the family. However, what happens when man’s best friend attacks? Unfortunately, dogs are responsible for countless injuries every year in the United States. Therefore, it’s important to understand what to do following a dog bite. In this article, we examine the steps to take immediately after a dog bite in Long Island.
Keep Calm
After suffering a dog bite in Long Island, you should attempt to keep calm. Don’t try to capture the animal, especially if you were bitten by a dog that you don’t know.
Seek Medical Treatment
You should seek medical care as soon as possible after a dog bite. In addition, if you have suffered a deep wound, you should apply pressure to the area to stop the blood flow. Depending on the severity of your bite, you may want to call 911 to ensure that your injury is addressed quickly.
Contact Animal Control
If you don’t know who the owner of the dog is that bit you, you should call animal control immediately. Upon capturing the dog, animal control will determine whether the animal has rabies. If the animal has rabies, or if the rabies status of the dog can’t be determined, you will likely have to receive rabies vaccinations.
Determine if the Animal is Vaccinated
If you were bitten in the presence of the dog’s owner, or you know the identity of the dog’s owner, you should exchange contact information so you can obtain proof of the animal’s rabies vaccinations. You should then follow up with the dog’s veterinarian to ensure its rabies vaccinations are current.
Gather Evidence
As soon as your wounds have been addressed, you should begin gathering evidence. Helpful evidence following a dog bite includes:
- Pictures and video footage of your injury
- Witness contact information
- Owner contact information
- Information about the dog
- The owner’s insurance information
File a Report
Next, you should file reports with the police and animal control. Not only will this help ensure that the owner takes steps to prevent future bites, but it will create records that can be useful in your legal claim.
Collect Insurance Information from the Animal’s Owner
Often, homeowner’s insurance policies will cover medical treatment costs that are the result of a dog bite. Therefore, you should collect the dog owner’s insurance information after the bite. However, don’t speak to the insurance company until you’ve consulted with a personal injury attorney.
Contact a Long Island Personal Injury Lawyer
Finally, if you are a dog bite victim in Long Island, you should contact the distinguished law firm of Dell & Dean, PLLC. When you come to us for help with your Long Island dog bite case, we will examine the facts of your case, gather evidence, and aggressively seek financial compensation on your behalf. Please contact us as soon as possible to schedule a consultation with a personal injury lawyer.
