Reports by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention say almost four and a half million dog bite accidents occur every year in the United States, among which one in five require serious medical attention. Since children tend to approach dogs improperly more than adults and do not know how to defend themselves, they are more likely to get severely injured.
If you have been bitten by someone’s dog, you deserve compensation for your injuries. To increase your chances of recovering a high compensation, you can contact a firm today and hire an attorney. Meanwhile, there are certain strategies you can use to strengthen your case.
Strategies to use in your dog bite claim
1. Collect evidence
When a dog bites you or your loved one, make sure you collect as much evidence regarding the dog’s behavior as possible. Take pictures and videos of the accident scene and your injuries if possible. It could significantly help if you could tape the dog’s actions on your camera. If there are any eyewitnesses, ask them for a detailed description of what they saw and note down their answers. If required, take their contact information so your attorney can contact them later.
2. Seek medical attention
You must get medical attention as soon as you realize a dog has bitten you. You can get help immediately at the accident scene by asking someone to call the ambulance for you or go visit the doctor yourself later. Getting your injuries evaluated by a professional is important for your healing and your personal injury case.
3. Prove damages
To prove your dog bite claim, you must first establish the liability of the other party. One of the essential elements of establishing liability is proving damages. To prove your injuries, you must document your injuries and collect the medical reports from the doctor. Pay stubs, bank statements, and tax returns can prove your lost wages.
4. Understand the dog bite laws in your state
The laws and regulations surrounding dog bite claims can be complex. Each state has different regulations, and the laws keep changing from time to time. It is important to keep tabs on what has changed the last time you checked the laws. This is especially important if you are considering fighting the claim without the help of an attorney.
An attorney who is familiar with dog bite laws and consistently deals with similar cases can be an asset to your claim.
