What You Should (and Shouldn’t) Do if Your Dog Bites Someone

While you may think your family pet could never be capable of harming someone, it's impossible to predict when or if a dog will attack. If someone has suffered a bite-related injury caused by your dog, it's important to know what you should and shouldn't after the incident has occurred.

Immediately After the Attack:

Immediately following a dog attack involving your pet, your first response should be to remain calm. Separate your dog from the victim and confine the animal in a secure location. Offer assistance to the victim in treating the wound if the bite isn't serious. Summon medical help immediately if the bite wounds are more serious. Exchange contact information with the victim and get the names and telephone numbers of any witnesses who were present. Do not argue with the victim and do not make any incriminating statements to the victim, witnesses or law enforcement. If animal control and/or the police are called, be accurate and truthful in your statements about what happened.

In the Weeks Following the Attack:

If the attack occurs on your property, contact your homeowner's insurance provider to determine what, if any, coverage you may have for injuries caused by a dog bite. Provide copies of your dog's medical records to law enforcement and animal control if requested. Depending on the circumstances of the attack, animal control may choose to quarantine your dog to determine whether your pet presents any health threat to the victim or to others. Offer to pay for the victim's medical bills and make every attempt to maintain amicable communication.

If You're Sued:

Dog bite injury lawyers specialize in helping attack victims get monetary compensation for their medical bills, pain and suffering and lost wages. If the dog bite victim serves you with notice that they intend to seek damages against you in civil court, you may need to consider hiring an attorney to assist in your defense. If you are sued by the victim, make sure that you can provide evidence of your attempts to help the victim and provide an accurate account of the events leading up to the attack. Don't attempt to fight the case on your own, particularly if you feel that the victim is being vindictive in filing the lawsuit or is seeking an extraordinary amount of damages for their injuries.

A dog attack can have far-reaching consequences for both the victim and the dog owner. If your dog has a history of aggressive behavior or if animal control deems it a dangerous animal, you could potentially face criminal charges and your pet could be put up for adoption or euthanized. It's important to take every precaution possible to safeguard your rights in the event that your dog causes injury to someone else. If you or a loved one has been the victim of a dog attack, you need to contact an experienced personal injury lawyer to protect your rights.

Nadrich & Cohen, LLP represents victims of dog bites and other injuries. We have office locations in cities throughout California, including Los Angeles, Bakersfield and Riverside. More information is available by calling 1-800-718-4658 or by visiting www.californiadogbites.com.