Dogs are considered man’s best friends. However, sometimes mishaps do happen in the form of dog bites. Reports suggest that around 350,000 people are taken to the emergency care each year due to dog-bite related injuries and 850,000 others seek medical advice after dog bites. These statistics suggest that this issue cannot be taken lightly. There has to be essential measures and precautions taken to prevent this. Besides, there has to be a proper system in place for post-dog bite procedures. Out of these, the first and most important part is dog bite reporting. Below is a discussion on the best practices of dog bite reporting.
Take Photos
In case a dog bites you, it is essential to capture pictures of the incident and the event site. This is regardless of how minor it appears at the time. You can capture the photos first and attend to identifying the dogs later. Factors like shape, size, shading, and tail can distinguish the dog from one another. Take photographs of the dog’s owner immediately. This is because, on many occasions, it is seen that the owner snatches his dog and vanishes.
Besides you need to take photographs of your location and the immediate surroundings. Cover road signs, house numbers, model tags, and license plates of cars. Take photographs of all signs that will help recognize where the dog bite happened.
These are some of the basic evidence needed for a fair trial by the police, insurance agencies, animal control, or the dog bite attorney if required.
Information from the Dog’s Owner
In case the owner does not get the dog and disappear immediately after the dog bite, note down their name, address, and telephone number. Request the dog’s name, breed, or age (this is for identification purpose). Request their insurance data or homeowner data.
Request the details of the dog’s veterinarian so that you can get in touch with them for vaccination data; particularly rabies. In case the dog is authorized and is wearing a tag, request the owner to hand you that data too. Try not to stress over the dog’s bite history, ordinary temper, or training.
Call the Police
In case the bite is just more than a scratch, or particularly if the dog’s owner is threatening, call the police. A police officer can quiet the situation. Besides, they can decide if they should seize the dog quickly. The police officer will document a report about the dog bite which will be very important to your insurance agency, animal control, and the dog owner’s insurance agency. When you contact the police, if the bite is not very serious, call the non-emergency number yet inform that all parties are still at the spot of the incident. In case the bite is not minor, which includes situations where you are bleeding, hurt significantly, going into shock, it is advisable to call 911 to report the same. Ask the police for episode report number and save that with you. It is a very important data when referring to the case.
Get Medical Care
When the police have completed, consult medicinal advice. In case the bite is minor, call your physician for an appointment inside 24 hours. In case that is not possible, go to critical care or crisis room. Dog bites quite often get infected if they are left without medical attention. Note that even a skin scratch could harm the tissues below the skin. If you are severely harmed, the police in duty will call an ambulance. Do not to decline to go. Chances are that you may not be able to think clearly at this time so the police will decide on this.
Call the Animal Control Later
When you get medical attention and you are home, you need to make a few calls. To begin with, connect to your nearby animal control and report the bite. In numerous states, including California, any dog bite must be reported if there is a need for any medical care.
Numerous states additionally suggest that doctors report cases of dog bites. Sadly, this does not occur at the right time, so document a report yourself when you can.
When you report a dog bite, animal control can check whether the canine is updated on vaccinations, including rabies.
Animal control will add a new file on the episode which will cover anything they discover during an investigation. This includes the findings of the medical treatment. The examination will check whether the dog has a history of more bites, has a record of aggressive habits, or a problem with behavior.
Final List of calls
Inform your renter’s or homeowner’s insurance agency. Based on the company and your policy, they could offer help. They may contact the dog owner’s insurance agency when compensating your medical expenses or lost income.
Make sure you remember the above list of people you have to contact after an incident of a dog bite. It is better to contact a dog bite attorney to seek professional assistance in a dog bite claim.