How to Handle a Bite from Man’s Best Friend

The warm weather season is here, and another season has also arrived: dog season. Dog season is great for many reasons (who doesn’t love petting a corgi while on an afternoon walk?) but comes with some risks. 

How to Avoid a Dog Bite

Understanding the steps you can take to prevent a dog bite is important, especially if you have children.

• Teach your children about dog safety and never leave a child alone with a dog. 
• Look out for defensive signs. 
  • Raised fur on their backs
  • Growling 
  • Tense body posture
  • Bared teeth
  • Intense stare
• Avoid contact with stray animals, even if they seem friendly.
• Never reach behind a fence to pet a dog. 
• Do not disturb a dog that is eating, with puppies, or sleeping. 

What to Do If You are Bit

In the unfortunate circumstance that you do experience a dog bite, the following are the steps you should take after the incident. 

• Document all the details possible. 

• Gather images of the injury, the dog, and the environment.

• Collect the owner’s information. 
  • Name, phone number, address, and insurance information if the incident happened on their property. 
• Inquire if there is any history of incidents with the same animal and the animal’s vaccination status.
• If applicable, gather witness names and contact information. 
• Seek medical attention. Hold on to any medical documents you receive. 

After you have completed the above steps, you should speak to a lawyer with experience handling dog bite cases.

If you have been involved in a dog bite incident, you should reach out to the Albany-based personal injury lawyers at Dreyer Boyajian. Our experienced attorneys are always ready to assist you and ensure you get justice for the harm you have suffered. To schedule a free initial consultation at your convenience, give us a call at 518-463-7784 or contact us online at dreyerboyajian.com.