If you were bitten by a dog while walking through your neighborhood or even at a public park in Dallas, you should consider going to the doctor if the skin broke and you are bleeding. You should also consider seeking medical attention if the dog was a stray or you have begun to notice signs of an infection developing.
Dog bites range in severity. While some bites do not require medical treatment, it is a good idea to get your injury checked out immediately after being bitten. This is because the dog could have been carrying rabies, which could potentially transfer to you.
Seek Treatment for a Dog Bite Immediately
Dog bites, especially those that puncture the skin, are not only painful but could lead to other serious conditions (if left untreated). The Cleveland Clinic reports that the top concern with dog bites is infection. Of course, there are also other risks if the wound is bleeding uncontrollably.
When a dog bites through the skin, there is a chance that an infection could develop. You may even need to be hospitalized and receive intravenous antibiotics for your dog bite injury, depending on how serious it is.
This is why you should go for treatment within eight hours of the incident happening. Waiting longer could increase the risk of an infection developing, especially for those who have diabetes or are immunocompromised.
Unvaccinated Dogs and Strays Could Carry Diseases
Cleveland Clinic also states that half of the dogs that bite introduce multiple bacteria to the human body. Also, these animals can transfer rabies to the person they bite if they are carriers of the disease. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), rabies is a viral disease that must travel through the body to the brain before an individual begins to notice symptoms.
Once the disease makes it to the brain, you might begin to experience flu-like symptoms such as:
- Weakness
- Fever
- Headache
- Discomfort
- Neurologic symptoms
Rabies is a serious condition that could lead to a person’s untimely death. So, you should seek treatment as soon as possible. This way, your doctor can determine your risk of getting rabies and render any treatment they believe is necessary.
Ways a Lawyer Can Help After You Suffer a Dog Bite Injury
Being bitten by a dog can be a traumatic experience, even if the injury is considered minor. Whether you were bitten by a neighbor’s dog that attacked without warning or by an unknown dog while taking a walk, you may be entitled to recover compensation. Such an award could include damages to cover the costs of the medical treatment you had rendered or will need to have rendered in the future, as well.
If you would like to find out if your dog bite injury warrants compensation, you can have a personal injury lawyer assess your case. If it is determined that the owner was negligent in some way (e.g., they didn’t have their dog on a leash), you may be entitled to collect compensation using one or more of the following methods.
An attorney can assist you in your pursuit of compensation by helping you:
File a Claim with the Dog Owner’s Insurance Company
Homeowner’s insurance is one source that might provide you with financial relief after being bitten by someone’s dog. Insurance companies do limit coverage for these types of claims, though, and often don’t provide it to individuals who own a dangerous dog (such as a pit bull). Renters insurance companies may also extend coverage to dog bite injuries.
Our firm often helps victims of dog attacks file their insurance claims to ensure they are handled promptly and fairly. If your dog bite injury is serious, you will want to be able to afford the medical care and medication you need without paying out of your own pocket.
If you have a valid claim and the insurer delays in getting it processed, you can rest assured that our lawyers will intervene to get the issue resolved.
File a Personal Injury Lawsuit
When a dog owner doesn’t have insurance coverage that extends to dog bite injuries, and you want to hold them liable for the injuries their pet caused you to suffer, another way is to file a personal injury lawsuit. Personal injury lawsuits can be settled in or out of court.
If the dog owner takes responsibility for their pet’s actions, they might decide to offer you a settlement to avoid having to go to trial.
Call in the Strong Arm Attorneys if You Suffered a Dog Bite Injury in Dallas
Pet owners in Texas are expected to maintain control over their pets and ensure they are restrained at all times. Pet owners who allow their dogs to roam freely can be held financially liable for damages if their dog bites someone else. Contact Loncar Lyon Jenkins for a free case review if:
- You want to hold a dog owner accountable for the trauma you or a family member experienced.
- You are looking to collect compensation from the liable party for the medical costs you incurred due to being bitten by their dog.
