A dog bite accident are not that common but they do happen. Dogs are probably one of the most popular home pets in the United States. They offer companionship, relaxation, fun times so it’s no wonder that 37-47% of all US household has at least one dog (some have more). That makes almost 70-80 million dogs. Now, as with taking the necessary precautions to prevent other accidents, there are certain things a dog owner has to do in order to prevent a dog bite accident. Unfortunately, there’s no accident that can be prevented 100% and sometimes, even the friendliest dog, that never attacked anyone can behave unexpectedly and bite someone.

How does a dog bite accident happen?

According to some data, ever year, nearly 5 million people are involved in a dog bite accident. 50% of the victims are children. Dog bite accidents don’t only happen with strange dongs that we’ve never met. In fact, almost half of the total dog bite accidents are caused by dogs that we are familiar with and have spent some time. Strange dogs usually don’t bite people they don’t know. Family or friends’ pets are usually the ones that bite us. Families that have 2 dogs, the chance of a dog bite accident increases 5 times. Many of the dog bites aren’t serious but roughly 27,000 each year, require reconstructive surgery.

What should you do if a dog bites you?

Dog bite accidents are very unforeseen but they happen, more than people realize. If you or your loved one gets bitten by a dog, the first thing you need to do is seek medical attention. It might be that the bite is superficial and not severe, but there are also those that can cause severe nerve damage. Not to mention that dog bites can become infected, can cause permanent scarring etc. Once you arrive at the hospital, you will most likely receive a prescription for antibiotics and a tetanus shot or rabies vaccine. If the dog bit your face, a plastic surgeon will be brought in to assess the wound. After getting the necessary medical attention there are a few things you should do:

1. Take photos of the injury
2. Make sure that you collect the contact information from the dog owner
3. If the police created a report of the dog bite accident, make sure that you get a copy
4. Let your local health authority know that you were bitten by a dog

Do you have a valid dog bite accident case?

In order to have a good and valid dog bite accident case, you first need to prove that being bitten wasn’t a result of you provoking the dog. If you’re not at fault for the accident, the dog owner is responsible not only for the attack, but also all other bills that are associated with it (medical bills, pain and suffering, lost wages if you have to miss out from work etc.) You might be hesitant to take legal action against the dog owner simply because he/she is your dear friend or a close family member. But a dog owner should assume the risk that his/her dog might eventually bite someone and that they will be held responsible if that ever happens. In many cases, the homeowners or renters’ insurance will provide coverage in the event of a dog bite accident so the compensation will come from the insurance, not the dog owner. Dealing with insurance companies isn’t easy and straightforward. Their best interest is not your best interest and they will try to minimize (or completely disregard) the dog owner’s fault, trying to prove that you were the one who provoked the dog. Simply to have to pay out as little as possible for compensation. So before you speak to the insurance provide, make sure that you contact an experienced dog attack accident attorney and get familiar with your rights.