WHAT SHOULD I DO IF I WAS BITTEN BY A DOG?
Getting bitten by any animal can cause you to suffer severe injuries, fortunately, the law can provide you with some assurances and help. You may be able to recover money damages as a consequence of your injury.
This is why your first step should be to get emergency medical treatment to reduce the chances of long-term medical issues, such as nerve damage. Once you begin healing from the dog bite, your second step should be to talk to a personal injury lawyer with experience handling dog bites claims.
What Are Common Injuries From Dog Bites?
Dog Bites can cause long-lasting injuries, whether you were bitten by a Pitbull, a German Shepherd, a Rottweiler, or even a Chihuahua, the potential for long-lasting injuries is always there. The most obvious injury includes one or more large puncture wounds that result in extreme pain and a lot of bleeding. You should get to the hospital immediately to get this injury treated within minutes of being bitten. Getting emergency treatment for your bite wound will ensure that any other dog bite injuries are quickly discovered and treated, such as:
- Infection
- Nerve and tissue damage
- Broken bones
- Scarring and disfigurement
If you attempt to treat your dog bite injury at home, you won’t have a chance for a doctor to find and treat an infection, tissue damage, and other injuries right away. This is why your first move after a dog bite should be to get to the emergency room.
How Can I Pay For Treatment?
Some dog bite victims hesitate to get medical help for their injuries due to cost concerns. But you should not let this issue stop you from getting medical care which usually includes everything from antibiotics and pain medications to surgery and physical therapy.
You might have to use your health insurance or pay out of pocket for treatment for now. However, you can typically get reimbursed or get future medical bills paid for when you bring a personal injury claim against the at-fault person’s insurance provider. This is why you should get your medical needs taken care of right away rather than go without treatment due to lack of funds.
How Can A Dog Bites Lawyer Help?
A dog bites lawyer will advise you on what to expect from your personal injury claim. When you meet for a consultation, you can describe how the bite occurred, what injuries you suffered, and what your medical bills were. You can also discuss any other expenses you’ve incurred, such as lost income or property damage from the attack.
Your attorney will put all the details together to create a claim against the insurance company of the dog’s owner. This way, you can work toward getting the compensation you need to pay your bills.
If you’re considering initiating a claim or lawsuit against the person who hurt you, here at the Waggoner Legal Group, our Santa Fe, NM lawyers can help.
We’re not just Santa Fe Personal Injury Lawyers, we are Albuquerque Personal Injury Lawyers, Las Cruces Personal Injury Lawyers, and more!
We are fifth generation New Mexicans fighting for New Mexicans.
Contact our office at 505-983-3272 OR email us at injury@waggonerlegalgroup.com to schedule your free case valuation.
We’ll tell you what your case may be worth!