Getting bitten by a dog may be a very traumatic and stressful situation to endure and if it happened to you, you may not know how to proceed. Here are the steps you should take after you’ve been bitten.
Get Medical Help
The first thing you want to do is see a doctor. If left untreated, dog bites can turn into infections. Even worse, if the dog had a disease, the bite could even lead to death.
Consult a Lawyer
After you have seen a doctor, you will want to consult with a lawyer with experience in animal bite cases. The lawyer can tell you whether you have a legal claim and what damages you can recover from the incident. The lawyer may ask for detailed information about the circumstances. Provide the name and phone number of the animal’s owner and any witnesses.
Get Compensation
It is possible to recover damages from medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering and property damages. Punitive damages may also be awarded to punish the owner for their behavior if their wrong doing was more than negligent. This would mean that the dog’s owner knew their dog with dangerous but did not take precautions, such as keeping the dog on a leash.
Call De Santis Law Center in San Diego at 619-425-2020, for more information on consulting a lawyer about dog bites.