Inevitably, dog attacks can happen. We hope you never have to suffer through one, but if you do, it’s important to know what next steps to take. If you plan to take legal action to help pay for your medical bills and suffering, you need to know what evidence to collect after an attack.
Seek Medical Attention
Your first priority should always be your health. Dog attacks can result in catastrophic injuries that can leave your body changed for life. It’s urgent to get any bleeding and tissue damage under control, and to dress the open wound as soon as possible.
Not only is medical attention crucial for your health, but your medical records prove that you suffered a catastrophic attack. If you did not seek medical attention, insurance adjusters are going to paint a picture that your injuries were not serious and attempt to minimize your claim.
Dog attacks affect survivors not only physically, but mentally and emotionally, as well. If you are suffering mentally or emotionally after a dog attack, we highly recommend that you seek counseling. We understand it can be embarrassing and hard to open up to someone, but your mental health is worth investing in. In addition, seeking professional counseling will help you prove that you suffered mental anguish from the dog attack, which is a recoverable damage.
Notify & Report
As soon as you can, you need to file a report with the police. If you do not, you should follow up to get a copy. The investigators will likely visit the scene of the attack, interview witnesses, and make contact with the owner.
They may quarantine the dog to assess its temperament, and to determine whether the dog is dangerous to the public. Sometimes, a hearing may be held if the dog is deemed dangerous, to determine next steps. If the owner exercised an extreme level of negligence, or purposely directed the dog to cause harm, they could also face criminal charges.
Your first priority should always be your health. Dog attacks can result in catastrophic injuries that can leave your body changed for life. It’s urgent to get any bleeding and tissue damage under control, and to dress the open wound as soon as possible.
What Other Evidence Should I Collect?
In the event of a dog attack, the evidence you collect is crucial to your personal injury claim:
- Report the bite to your supervisor and have them file an internal report (if you were injured on the job).
- Take photographs at the scene (if possible) and note address of the attack.
- Gather the name and contact information of any witnesses.
- Confirm who the dog owner is (name, home address, phone number, and homeowners or renter’s insurance if possible).
- Confirm whether the dog has its proper shots and vaccinations.
- Take photos of your injuries for documentation.
- Request copies of your police or animal control report.
- Request copies of your medical records.
Don’t Post It!
While we recommend you take photographs to build your legal evidence, do not post these online or share them with people!
Insurance adjusters will use any social media posts against you and try to devalue your claim. While you may want to share this trauma with the people closest to you, expertly trained adjusters will use it to make it seem like you are looking for attention.
At the end of the day, insurance adjusters are looking to do one thing— to pay you as little as possible.
Get Legal Help
Our experienced dog bite lawyers will know exactly what evidence to collect and the exact next steps to take in your claim. With decades of trial experience and millions recovered for our clients, we will fight for your justice.
Let us fight the trillion-dollar insurance industry, while you focus on healing. We will be your guide through your entire case, keeping you informed every step of the way. Gain peace of mind, and get the Guardians on your side!
