Pursuing Legal Action After An Animal Attack
Dog owners have a responsibility to ensure their animal is under control and not posing a threat to neighbors. Across the Maryland and Washington, D.C., area, children are often the victims of dog bites or attacks. After a child is bitten by a dog, it is not unusual for them to develop a lifelong fear of dogs that may require counseling to overcome.
Negligent dog and property owners can be held accountable for your injuries, including being required to provide compensation for:
- Unsightly scars
- Disfiguration
- Developed fear
- Emotional pain and suffering
- Medical costs in cases of severe damage
- Loss of present and future income
What Should You Do After A Dog Bite?
If a dog bites you, the first thing to do is get to safety and wash the wound right away. Rinse the bite under running water for several minutes and clean it with soap. If there is heavy bleeding, apply firm pressure with a cloth or bandage. After that, cover the wound with a dressing and keep it elevated.
Dog bites can lead to swelling and/or infection, and a doctor may recommend antibiotics, a tetanus shot or other treatment depending on the severity of the wound. If the injury is especially deep, contains pus, won’t stop bleeding or is on the face or joints, seek emergency care as soon as possible.
You should also locate the dog and determine whether it has been vaccinated against rabies. If the dog is unknown, a stray or acting strangely, contact local animal control or public health authorities right away. Rabies is rare but very serious, and doctors may need to decide whether rabies prevention treatment is necessary.
If another person’s dog caused the bite, document the situation by photographing the injury, recording the time and place and securing the owner’s contact details. You may also want to report the incident to local authorities or your landlord, depending on where it happened. This can help protect you and others from future incidents.
In some cases, the dog owner may be legally responsible for your medical bills, lost income and other related damages. A personal injury lawyer can help you understand your rights, gather evidence and determine whether you can seek compensation for your dog bite accident.
Do Not Represent Yourself
On most occasions in which an individual is injured due to the negligence of another party, the case settles out of court with a resolution that is mutually satisfactory to both parties. An experienced lawyer can assist you in reaching a settlement for your case most efficiently, as it is not likely that the average individual in a case such as this knows enough about what is required to reach a substantial settlement.
In addition, by representing yourself in a legal case, you may inadvertently put yourself in a position in which your lack of legal knowledge might negatively affect your case’s outcome.
Depending on the level of injury and trauma, our attorneys at Morris Margulies may be able to assist you in filing a lawsuit against a dog owner to hold them accountable for the actions of their dog. This is particularly true if the owner failed to take proper precautions for an especially dangerous dog. Dogs who have previously attacked others or bitten others are menaces, and their owners should be taking special precautions.
Get An Honest Assessment Of Your Case For Free
If you or a loved one was bitten by a dog and has incurred medical expenses, expect to have scarring that will not go away or have mental anguish as a result of the bites.
Email us or call our personal injury legal team at Morris Margulies LLC at 301-816-1600 for a free case evaluation. There is no fee unless we win your case.