If you or a loved one has been bitten by a dog in Dallas that is not your own, you may not know what to do next. Our personal injury lawyers break down the steps you need to take immediately following a biting incident in DFW.
Seek Medical Attention
Go to the emergency room, urgent care, or even a primary care doctor. You will need the dog bite wound to be cleaned thoroughly, and you’ll need an evaluation regarding stitches and so on. Even if you don’t need stitches, dog bites are notorious for getting infected, so it’s important to have it properly cleaned and cared for by a medical professional. Additionally, if you anticipate speaking with a personal injury lawyer and filing a claim due to this incident, having records of immediate medical care will only help your case.
Report to Local Authorities
It’s important to let the local authorities in Dallas know that a dog bite occurred, even if it’s minor. Animal control will contact the dog’s owner to confirm rabies vaccinations are up to date and more. If the dog is not up to date on rabies shots, you may need to receive a rabies shot yourself, and the dog will likely be taken to DFW animal control for a time for observation.
Learn About the Owner of the Dog
Know who the owners are, how to contact them, where in Dallas they live, insurance information, and their rent or own status. If they rent, try to get contact information for their landlord as well. You can follow up with animal control to learn about the overall health status of the dog so you know if you need to look out for future issues, and you can see if any other complaints about the dog have been filed in DFW. These can include previous bite incidents, owners letting the dog run loose, and so on. This information will help your personal injury lawyer make a stronger case for you.
Contact a Dallas Personal Injury Lawyer
This step may need to occur sooner in the process depending on the severity of your injury, but speaking with a personal injury lawyer can give you a better idea of what to expect moving forward. If you want to press charges and anticipate a case, you need quality representation who will make sure justice is served. An attorney experienced in dog bite cases will gather evidence from you and others, including witness statements, medical bills, photographs, and any physical evidence associated with the incident.
The personal injury lawyers at Kashar Law Firm can help you with your dog bite case in Dallas. Get in touch today to get started on your claim.