A dog bite can be a scary, traumatic, and painful experience. An animal attack of any kind can be downright terrifying, but getting bitten by a dog can be especially fear-invoking. A bite from a dog can rip through flesh and tendons and crush bone. According to the National Institutes of Health, “A force transducer was developed to measure bite force in dogs. A total of 101 readings was obtained from 22 pet dogs ranging in size from 7 to 55 kg. Bite forces ranged from 13 to 1394 Newtons with a mean for all dogs of 256 Newtons and a median of 163 Newtons.” To put it into perspective, 1,394 Newtons equals approximately 313.3837 pounds of force per square inch. This amount of force can cause devastating damage that can result in severe injuries that could take years – if ever – to recover.

Get Medical Attention Right Away and Report the Attack

The first thing you should do after a dog bite is to seek medical attention right away. A dog bite should always be taken seriously. Depending on the severity of the bite and where the bite is located, severe damage may be present. For example, if a large dog breed were to bite you with full force on the hand, the damage could include torn flesh, blood loss, torn tendons, severed veins or arteries, and crushed bones. This would require immediate medical attention, stitches, and possibly surgery.

There is also the risk of contracting an infection or even rabies which would add to the injuries, medical costs, pain & suffering, and possible lost wages. Rabies is especially frightening because of the fear of exposure to such a horrible disease as well as the treatment that follows. According to the CDC, “Postexposure prophylaxis (PEP) consists of a dose of human rabies immune globulin (HRIG) and rabies vaccine given on the day of the rabies exposure, and then a dose of vaccine given again on days 3, 7, and 14.”

Next, you should report the attack to the authorities. Reporting the incident will result in a report being made creating a record of what took place. If the dog is violent and on the loose, reporting the situation to the authorities could save someone’s life. When you alert the authorities, they will either send armed police or animal control to the scene to neutralize the animal and end the threat it poses to the public. This is especially critical if the attacking dog is in a family neighborhood where children are present.

Seek Legal Representation

The next thing you should do immediately after seeking medical attention for your injuries is to get yourself an attorney that specializes in dog bite cases. An experienced dog bite lawyer in California understands the processes involved and the steps to be taken in order to get you justice, hold the dog owner accountable for the actions of their dog, and get you the biggest settlement award the law will allow. They will explain to you the law as it pertains to your specific case and give you all of the legal options available to you. They will advise you on the best course of action and waste no time in getting the ball rolling.

An experienced personal injury attorney will also advise you to never give any statements to the dog owner’s insurance company, a lawyer (if they have retained one that reached out to you), or to the dog owner. This is because your words will always be used against you once a claim has been filed. It is always best that you leave all statements to be made by your attorney to all concerning parties involved. They have your best interest in mind and only want to give you the justice you deserve.

Gather Evidence

After a dog bite, it is critical that you gather as much evidence as possible. The evidence-gathering aspect of your case began with seeking medical attention and reporting the incident. The medical attention you sought resulted in a medical report made, medical bills, and medical treatments. The report of the incident resulted in a report made by police or animal control. This report has the time, date, and statements made by you, witnesses, and possibly the dog owner if he or she can be located. If criminal negligence is believed, an arrest may also be made, resulting in another police report and charges against the dog owner.

If these reports do not include statements from eyewitnesses that saw firsthand what transpired, try to collect them yourself. You or a loved one should make an attempt to solicit testimonies from witnesses at the scene, or you could always come back to the scene and attempt to locate witnesses that were present such as neighbors to the dog owner.

Understanding the Legal Process

Treatment and Recovery

The first thing that needs to happen is your recovery. Your attorney may speak to your doctor with your permission to better understand the extent of your injuries and understand how long your estimated recovery will be. This includes rehabilitation, surgeries, and any ongoing treatment if needed. Before a claim is filed, your attorney will more than likely need a doctor to sign off on your recovery status, stating that you are in the best condition possible post-attack. This means that you are either fully recovered or, in the case that your injuries are so severe you are not expected to make a full recovery, you are as recovered as much as can be expected.

Contacting the Dog Owner’s Insurance Company

It is best that you let your attorney contact the dog owner’s insurance company. However, if you do decide to make contact with them on your own before having retained legal representation, do not provide any detailed statements of any kind. This is very important because you must remember that insurance companies are not your friend. Their job is to protect their insured, their company, and their money. They do not want to help you and they most certainly do not want to give you a fair settlement. Simply inform them of the attack and your intent to file a claim and no other information is necessary. However, it is highly recommended that you make no contact with the dog owner’s insurance company, do not provide statements, and do not answer any questions. Your words will be used against you once a claim is filed and to your detriment.

In Conclusion

In conclusion, a dog bite can be an extremely traumatizing event in your life. One that each of us hopes we never have to experience. Even a quick bite from a small to medium-sized dog can result in injuries that require medical treatment, let alone a full-on attack from an aggressive breed such as a pit bull or a rottweiler. These breeds can inflict serious damage and have been known to maul children, innocent bystanders, and even their owners to death. An attack of that magnitude can lead to disabilities and lifelong challenges. In cases such as these, ongoing medical treatment, rehabilitation, and significant financial losses may be the result of such an attack.

If you or a loved one were involved in a dog bite incident or a mauling, contact Pyramid Legal today for a free consultation. We will discuss your legal options, provide you with expert advice, and guide you through all the legal hurdles so you can focus on your recovery and not the legal or medical obstacles that lay before you. We are ready to fight to bring you justice and to get you the biggest settlement under California law.