Were You or Your Child Bitten by a Dog? Here’s a List of Essential Steps You Should Consider Following to Better Your Chances of Obtaining Fair Compensation

Dogs are a man’s best friend. They intuitively show love and loyalty towards their owners. Many of them will do whatever it takes to protect their owners, especially if they see strangers walking nearby. However, it is the owner’s responsibility to make sure the dog is not exhibiting aggressive behavior, whether it be on their property or in public.  Unfortunately, many owners choose not to train their dogs to become more well-behaved. They would rather have their dog act hostile around others in order to have an intimidating appearance. This is a negligent decision that could get the dog and its owner into serious legal consequences, especially if the dog has severely harmed an individual.

Let’s say an owner is fully aware of their dog being hostile towards strangers. However, the owner still decides to take the dog to a public park. While there, the dog notices a stranger running to the crosswalk to make it in time to cross the street, thus attracting the dog to run after that stranger and bite a part of their body. Depending on how serious the bite is, the owner is likely to face a dog bite lawsuit.

If you were bitten by a dog and would like to file a claim against the dog owner due to their negligence, West Coast Trial Lawyers will help you get the justice you deserve. Our San Bernardino dog bite attorneys have over 60 years of collective legal experience in handling personal injury cases. We have won over 5,000 cases and have obtained more than $1 billion in settlements and judgments for our clients. Due to our achievements, we have been recognized as one of the top personal injury law firms in San Bernardino.

To schedule a free, no-obligation consultation at our San Bernardino personal injury law firm, please contact our 24/7 legal team by calling (909) 787-2178 or emailing info@westcoasttriallawyers.com.

My Child Was Bitten by a Dog

Children who are 12 years old and younger have been subjected to the worst dog bite cases. This is primarily due to the child not having a full understanding of how quickly a dog could get aggravated if they are getting hugged too tight. The dog may feel endangered or experience some pain, thus causing them to react in an aggressive manner towards the child. These actions do not exhibit a dog’s personality accurately. It mainly shows how defensive they could be when an individual is giving them too much contact or is invading their personal space. There could be various circumstances that could have caused the attack. This includes:

1. The child provoked the dog to get a reaction out of it.
2. The dog owner disobeyed the dog leash law, thus giving their dog the freedom to walk around in public areas.

What You Should Do After a Dog Bite

A treatment plan may vary based on the severity of the injury. If the dog bite did not break your skin, then you can wash the area with soap and warm water. It would also be ideal to use antibacterial cream as a precaution. You never know what type of illnesses a dog may carry. If the bite did break through the skin, then you should thoroughly wash the area by using water and soap. When you are done with the first step, you should gently place pressure on the wound by using a cloth or paper towel. This may release a small amount of blood onto the material and flush out germs that could give you a serious infection.

Regardless of whether or not the injury is minor, moderate, or severe, it would be best to see a doctor. They will determine if you need at-home treatment or extensive medical care at a hospital to fully recover. While you are getting treatment for your injury, you should request a copy of your medical records that relate to the dog bite incident. If you are willing to file a lawsuit against the dog owner, then this will be an important piece of evidence to have. You should also gather other additional information for your case. This includes:

1. Photos or video footage. If possible, try to take pictures of your wound and the area where the attack took place.
2. Dog owner’s information. You should get the dog owner’s contact information. Make sure to also ask if their dog is up-to-date with their shots.
3. Witness information. Check your surroundings. If you notice any witnesses nearby, you should go up to them and ask if they do not mind being involved in your case. If they give you their consent, then you should get their contact information. Remember, a witness testimony can greatly help strengthen your claim.
4. Your perspective of the incident. Record your perspective of the incident in a journal or diary. Make sure to include the date and time of when the event took place.
5. Medical Records. You should make an appointment to get your dog bite wound examined by a doctor. They will run tests to determine a diagnosis. Once the diagnosis has been found, the doctor will give you a treatment plan to help with recovery. Your visit(s) will be saved on file and can be used as a piece of evidence to include in your claim.

A dog bite attorney will give you the rundown on how you should approach this issue and provide you with important steps you must take in order to increase your chances of getting a good settlement. To make all of this possible, you must make sure the attorney you are hiring has significant experience with handling personal injury cases, especially those that involve a dog bite.

Contact Us

If you are a dog bite victim and would like to file a lawsuit against the owner, West Coast Trial Lawyers has experienced San Bernardino dog bite attorneys that will help you recover economic and non-economic damages, such as medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, and more.

To schedule a free consultation at our San Bernardino personal injury law firm, reach out to our 24/7 legal team by calling (909) 787-2178 or emailing info@westcoasttriallawyers.com.