So you are minding your own business walking or biking through your community when all of a sudden an unfamiliar dog crosses in front of you. The dog begins to bark very loudly, growls and even charges at you. Sometimes even smaller dogs can be threatening if they have been worked up and just about any dog can inflict a painful, scarring bite. Over 5 million people are attacked by a dog each year and over 1000 of them go to an emergency room because of the attack. If you or a loved one has had the disadvantage of being bit by a dog you should contact your personal injury lawyer to see if you are entitled for compensation.

      Below you will find seven steps you should take if you have been involved in a dog attack that resulted in a personal injury:

1. Identify Who Is The Owner and What Bread The Dog Is:

The most important step and the very first step you should take if you have been bitten by a dog is to identify who is the owner of the dog or where the animal lives. If the dog is a stray and you cannot identify it, you may need a series of rabies shots which are very expensive and painful. If the dog is a stray, try to at least to identify the bread of the dog.

           2.       Seek Medical Treatment:

      This really depends on how bad the bite is, but you should contact 911 for medical attention or have someone drive you to the emergency room. You should always seek medical treatment if you have been bitten by a dog because you could be at risk of infection.

           3.       File Report:

      Once you have been treated by a doctor even if it was very minor, you need to file a bite report with your city or city animal control or even the police station. The reason why you should do this is because this legally documents your case and provides help to the next victim who may be harmed by that same dog. Without having these records, the authorities cannot enforce effectively.

           4.       Gather Information:

      In order to protect your rights as a dog bite victim, you need to obtain the name and address of the dog owner along with the dog license information. Also this would be a good time to see if the dog has a record; has the dog bitten other people or other animals in the past? Or has the dog already been labelled as potentially dangerous to the society?

           5.       Take Pictures:

      A great idea would be to take photos of your injury even if you have to unwrap your gauze around the sore. It is highly recommended that you take pictures of all of your wounds which can include bruises, torn, bloody clothing and the area of the attack.

           6.       Contact Personal Injury Lawyer:

      Contact your lawyer as soon as you can, not later down the road because dog bites can be a complex case to navigate through. Your lawyer is the only person besides your doctor who will look after your best interest going forward.

           7.       Start Journal:

Last, but not least if you need medical reimbursement for your personal injury start a journal immediately. Spend 5 minutes each day after your attack to record your thoughts and what pain you are going through because dog bite claims can take several years to complete. Keeping a journal of your injuries and emotional thoughts can truly help your case over time.