Chicago Dog Attack Attorney

What To Do If You Are Bitten By a Dog

Get help: The first thing you do if you get bitten by a dog is to seek medical attention and attend to your injuries. Thousands of people get bitten by dogs and land up in the country’s emergency rooms every year. Many suffer severe facial injuries. If your injuries are severe, ask for a plastic surgeon. After surgery or stitches make sure the wounds are not infected and follow all post-operative procedures.

Locate dog and its owner: As soon as you are in a position of safety and your immediate medical needs have been attended to, it is very important for you to identify the dog and its owner. If you can locate witnesses or people who saw the attack happen, it would be even better for your case. A dog owner is liable for his or her pet’s actions. Such liability is usually covered under homeowner’s insurance or renter’s insurance.

If the owner’s negligence caused the incident, you as the victim may be entitled to money as compensation. This is money that will help you pay off expensive medical bills, reimburse you for lost income, help pay for future reconstructive or cosmetic surgery and compensate you for the pain and emotional distress you have suffered.

Talk to a Chicago dog bite injury lawyer: An attorney who specializes in dog bite cases can really help in this situation because he or she knows exactly what to do and where to go. The victim of a dog attack will benefit from talking to a lawyer within days of the dog attack to figure out issues such as payment of medical bills, how to pay for future treatment such as plastic surgery, how to deal with the dog that bit you and how to file an insurance claim against the dog owner.

Get information: Try and get as much information as possible from the dog owner including his or her full name, insurance company name, policy number, contact information (address, telephone, E-mail). Talk to neighbors of the dog owner and get contacts for other people who saw the incident and may be potential witnesses. Take photographs of your injuries, the scene if possible and even your clothes that may be covered in blood.

What you should not do: Never discuss any details about anything involving money, payment of extent of your injury. Do NOT sign any letters or papers without first talking to an attorney. Don’t accept money and don’t allow yourself or your loved one who has been injured to be videotaped or photographed. Don’t admit fault or responsibility.

Why you need an attorney: Dog bite cases often don’t go to trial. A majority of these cases are settled out of court. Dealing with attorneys and insurance companies is a complicated procedure that is best left to a competent dog bite attorney. An experienced Chicago personal injury lawyer will be able to conduct a thorough investigation and ensure that you receive the compensation you rightfully deserve.

If you or a loved one has been the victim of a dog attack, call our law office at (800) 227-2727 today to discuss your case and schedule your free consultation with one of our experienced Illinois dog bite victim lawyers. You have nothing to lose and nothing to pay until your case is settled.