Finally, you must cooperate in the investigation of the incident through animal control. Local authorities can issue subpoenas, question witnesses and hold hearings to determine what happened and whether to impose sanctions or remove the dog from the owner`s care. Knowing what to do after a dog bite can help you get the care you need and the legal outcome you deserve. However, it can still be difficult to know which state laws apply to your situation, what types of compensation you should receive, and how likely it is to reach a fair settlement. To increase your chances of a successful personal injury lawsuit, it`s best to contact an experienced personal injury attorney in your area. Knowing what to do after a dog bite can be crucial to your health and any legal action you may have to take. The first important steps after a dog bite are as follows: To get compensation for your injuries after a dog bite in San Diego County or Southern California, you must file a claim with the owner`s insurance company or file a civil lawsuit if the owner or carrier refuses to pay you what you earn in a settlement. Over the years, our dog bite lawyers have heard these questions repeatedly. Here`s what you need to know. In addition to the first steps outlined above, documentation is also an important part of what to do after a dog bite.
First, document all injuries associated with the bite, including visible injuries and the effects of those injuries, such as pain, reduced mobility, and inability to perform certain functions. These laws vary depending on the behavior considered dangerous. For some, a bite can lead to dangerous identification of the dog; In others, the dog must have bitten more than once. Similarly, some jurisdictions may consider a dog dangerous if that dog has killed another animal, while others do not. Dog bites are not only painful, but can also be stressful and expensive to treat. If this event happened to you in Washington State, you may want to know what the dog bite laws are. Because dog bite injuries can have significant medical, legal, and financial implications, it`s important to know what to do after a dog bite. Read on to learn more about the important steps after these types of incidents. The person who was injured – or the person whose animals were injured – can file a civil lawsuit against you for financial compensation. See our Civil Litigation Steps page for more information on what is likely to follow in this case. After a dog bite, you should first consult a doctor.
Dog bites can lead to infection and even rabies in some cases. You must also document your injuries and the circumstances of the incident. Take pictures of your injuries, write down what you remember about the incident, and talk to others who witnessed the event. This page gives a brief overview of what to expect in this case. It does not replace a lawyer. A lawyer can better advise you on how to protect yourself and your dog if someone tries to get your dog declared dangerous. What you need to know: Filing a lawsuit will not affect whether the dog is removed from its home or euthanized. Animal control will make this decision – it has nothing to do with your case. Our lawyers will only focus on helping you get compensation for your injuries. A dog may be classified differently as “aggressive” if it exhibits certain behaviors, such as: San Antonio`s laws on dangerous and aggressive dogs mirror Texas state law. The goal of these laws is to identify specific dogs that have attacked humans without provocation, and then take safety precautions to prevent future attacks. After these first steps, check with your local animal control authority to find out how to file a dog bite report in your area.
The Animal Control Board may be a division of your local police department, humane society, county health department, or other facility. Some have forms that you can fill out online or by fax, while others require you to call to start the reporting process. A dog bite report can help protect others from attacks by the same animal. The owner or owner of the dog is more likely to take extra precautions once authorities are aware of the dog`s dangerous behavior, especially if they are legally required to do so. In more extreme cases, a particularly vicious dog may need to be euthanized to avoid devastating attacks. Whether you`re an animal lover or prefer to stay away from pets, being attacked by a dog can be one of the most traumatic experiences of your life. Dog attacks can result in serious injuries such as painful bites, infections, fractures, severe lacerations, and lifelong disfigurement. To complicate matters further, if the dog that attacked you belongs to a neighbor, you may be afraid to get the compensation you need to recover from your injuries. Depending on where the bite occurred, city and county laws may also be a factor. An experienced dog bite attorney in Washington can help you determine if local laws apply to your situation. If you have been bitten or assaulted by a dog, you should speak to a personal injury attorney as soon as possible if: If another dog has bitten or assaulted your dog, follow the same steps as described above, with a focus on gathering information about witnesses.
Animal bite laws are different from human bite laws and often don`t work in favor of the injured dog. But if you report the bite of the dog, you can prevent a future dog or a person from becoming a victim of the same dog. We recommend reading this ebook on what to do if your dog is injured or killed, by attorney Kenneth Phillips. Laws require the owner to quarantine the dog that attacked you for at least 10 days to determine if the dog has rabies. Quarantine can be done at a county shelter or at the person`s residence. Strict requirements must be met if the owner quarantines his dog at home. It`s a good idea to contact the police after a dog attack to report it and document the incident. This can be helpful if you make a claim with the homeowner`s insurance company. Even with California`s strict liability laws, the carrier may try to reduce or deny your claim. You can also file a complaint to have your dog declared dangerous – and perhaps even have your dog euthanized or moved to a new home outside the community.
The Mayo Clinic also has additional information about caring for minor injuries at home or until you can see a doctor. There are a variety of consequences for a dog bite. Most likely, the owner will have to face high fees. Depending on previous incidents with the dog and the nature of the attack, the dog may be quarantined or muzzled at the owner`s home. In severe cases, the dog may need to be euthanized (for example, if the attack was fatal). The Dog Bite Act is a combination of city, county, and state laws. To our knowledge, there is no single website that combines all of these resources. However, the following links provide a good starting point for understanding the rights of dog bite victims and the legal terminology used in dog bite laws. In general, it`s a good idea for dog owners to keep their pets on a leash unless they`re on their private property or in a designated park on a leash. If you have been attacked by a dangerous or aggressive dog, you must take immediate action to protect your rights and the potential safety of others. Call our knowledgeable dog bite attorneys in San Antonio now to schedule a free consultation. By law, a dog can be classified as “dangerous” if it: In addition to filing a police report, you should contact your local health department to inform them of the dog`s attack.
The state of California requires the dog`s owner and victim to notify their health departments of the attack. If the owner fails to do so or refuses to comply with the legal requirements to quarantine the dog, he or she may be prosecuted. As soon as an attack is reported, the district authority investigates. This may include: If a dog bite report has been filed against your dog, you must cooperate with the Animal Control Authority`s investigation. However, you should also consider contacting a lawyer who specializes in dog bites. There is no national law requiring owners to keep their pets on a leash. However, many cities and towns in the state may have their own leash laws. In addition, some properties, such as those belonging to schools or parks, may have posted rules for dogs. In a state park, owners are not required to keep their dogs on a leash for more than 8 feet.
Sometimes a dog bite victim does not want to file a complaint because they are friends with the owner of the dog, is afraid of the owner, or simply does not want something to happen to the dog itself. However, authorities recommend or urge victims of dog bites to report these incidents to the local animal welfare authority for a number of reasons, including the following: The email address cannot be subscribed.
Comments are closed.