Steps to Take After an Animal Bite
Around 4.5 million Americans are bitten by dogs each year, making your risk of being bitten a reality. An animal bite can lead to complications that can result in long-term or permanent disability. Depending on the severity of your injuries, you may be unable to work or be forced to work a reduced schedule. At DiLoreto, Cosentino & Bolinger P.C., our team of legal professionals understands the distress that accompanies an animal bite. If you have been subject to an animal bite, our Gettysburg dog bite lawyers are here to advocate for your rights.
Remove Yourself from the Animal’s Vicinity
A dog bite or any type of animal bite can make us panic, not thinking to get ourselves to safety. Immediately following the attack, remove yourself from the animal’s vicinity to prevent further injury.
Clean Out the Wound with Soap and Water
Once you are in a safe place, wash the wound with soap and water. This will reduce your risk of developing an infection. Apply pressure to the wound until it stops bleeding and cover with a sterile bandage.
Assess Your Injury & Seek Medical Care If Necessary
Animal bites can range from Level 1 (no skin contact, but the dog growls or shows aggressive behavior) to Level 6 (fatal injuries). If the dog did break skin and you begin to experience swelling, pus, or redness around the wound site, or if you develop a fever, you should seek medical attention. If the laceration or puncture is deep, you should also seek medical care since there is potential for nerve damage.
Report the Incident to Local Animal Control or the Police
Following a dog bite or attack, you will want to report the incident to animal control or the police to ensure that the attack is investigated. Under Pennsylvania law, a dog that bites or attacks a human will be detained for 10 days pending the results of a rabies test. The dog may be kept at a kennel or in an enclosure at the dog owner’s property. If the dog exhibits rabies symptoms, you need to get immediate treatment for the virus. While reporting the incident protects your legal rights, it may also save your life.
Report the Incident to Your Employer
If you were on the job or performing work-related tasks at the time of being bitten, you should report the incident to your employer. Your employer or direct supervisor may ask you to fill out an incident report to detail the attack. Certain occupations are at a higher risk of getting bitten, such as postal workers, garbage collectors, and delivery drivers.
Gather Evidence
After an animal attack, you should begin to gather evidence to support your case. If it is safe to do so, take photos of the dog and write down the information on the dog’s tags. Also, be sure to take photos of any visible injuries you suffered. If any eyewitnesses were present, get their names and contact information.
Contact Our Gettysburg Dog Bite Attorneys
Under Pennsylvania dog bite law, victims do not have to prove negligence on the part of a dog owner to be compensated for their medical expenses. This is known as strict liability. So, you do not need to prove that the dog had a history of aggressive behavior to recover hospital and medical costs related to the incident. However, the same does not apply for lost wages, pain and suffering, or emotional distress, which will require showing that the owner failed to use reasonable care in restraining the animal. This could include failing to leash the dog, allowing a “dangerous dog” to roam, or failing to otherwise control the dog.
Even if you plan to settle your case out of court, our dog bite lawyers are happy to assist you. Our legal team will ensure that all legal deadlines are met. In Pennsylvania, you only have two years after the date of injury to file a dog bite claim. Our legal team will remove some of the headache, checking that all the necessary evidence has been submitted to insurance.
Speak with Our Gettysburg Dog Bite Attorneys Today
If you or a loved one has been bitten by a dog or other animal, you deserve compensation for your injuries. For over 40 years, our legal team has successfully recovered thousands of dollars for injured parties. Let us put our knowledge, skills, and experience to work for you. To schedule a free consultation, our office can be reached online or by calling (717) 496-0070.