Dogs will show you unconditional love and they are friendly even if they are not yours. We can agree that they are wonderful. But sometimes you can’t really tell if a dog will react negatively to your movement and this might lead to harm.

If you see a dog on the street and you don’t know the owner, you can’t be certain that the dog had any proper training or if it’s even friendly. From all the dog bite cases, most common are the ones that happen to children and postal workers, and their injuries can be severe. In case you or someone you love suffered from a dog bite, make sure that you don’t make the following mistakes

Avoiding medical attention

Pretending that a dog bite isn’t a serious thing and not seeing a doctor is probably the worst thing you can do. In order to quickly address your injuries, you first need to evaluate them by a medical professional. The doctor will make sure that your injuries get the proper treatment so you could recover faster. If you avoid seeing a doctor, you risk making your situation worse and causing more problems.

Not calling the police

In order to have a record of the accident, you need to call the police. The police officer will generate a report and even they might not be able to assign blame to the owner of the dog, they can collect statements from you and the witnesses.

The police report is important. Because without it, you won’t have witness statements documented and proving your injury will be very difficult.

Not taking photos

Not every dog bite is the same. Some can be mild and some can be pretty severe. No matter the seriousness of the injury, it’s important that you take photos of the scene and injury.

Photos of the scene or your injuries help personal injury lawyers in Arizona to make your case even stronger and guarantee that you receive the compensation. Proving the extent of the injuries is pretty hard without visual proof e.g. photos.

Insurance Companies

If you think that insurance companies are looking after the best interest of their clients, you are wrong. Insurance companies, first and foremost, think about their bottom line and that’s not always in line with your interests.

When you speak to an insurance company, that conversation will likely get recorder and you can end up saying something like you ran towards the dog or you started playing rough with it before it bit you. These can all server as proof that you provoked the dog which in the end can reduce your compensation. So it’s best to consult with a personal injury lawyer before you speak to an insurance company.

Not consulting a personal injury lawyer

Getting better after a dog bit is imperative and if you’re not at fault, you shouldn’t have to pay for any of the recovery. That’s why it is important to consult with a personal injury lawyer to see what compensation can you get. Personal injury lawyers can help you receive compensation for

• Lost wages (if the dog bite puts you out of work for a short while)
• Pain and suffering
• Emotional distress
• Medical bills

Insurance companies will try really hard to force you to settle for a lower settlement. Don’t agree to anything until you speak with an experienced lawyer.