Steps to Follow After a Dog Bite

If you or someone you love has been bitten or attacked by a dog, there are several things you should do following the incident:

Seek medical treatment.  Even if you think that the dog bite is minor, it is important to get examined by a medical professional who can detect puncture wounds, broken bones as well as nerve damage.

Contact police.  After you have alerted authorities make sure that you get a detailed copy of the police report. Officers may also decide to alert animal control.

Identify the dog.  Try to remember if you have seen the dog in your neighborhood before and what the dog looked like.  Also note if the dog belonged to your neighbor and how it came into contact with you.  If you locate the dog's owner, be sure to take down his/her name, phone number and address.

Identify witnesses.  If anyone saw the dog bite or attack, make sure that you take down their names, numbers and addresses.  Should you decide to take legal action in the future, calling upon witnesses will be helpful to your case.

Contact a lawyer.  You can protect your rights and become informed of your legal options when you take the time to contact an attorney that handles dog bite cases in your area.

If you are a Raleigh dog bite victim, contact our legal team to consult with a Raleigh personal injury lawyer.