What to Do About a Dog Bite

Identify the Animal's Owner

• You may require rabies shots if the dog that bit you is a stray. If the animal that attacked you is someone's pet, you may be entitled to compensation from the dog's owner. Depending on the seriousness of the bite, you may be in for extended medical treatment and cosmetic surgery; you should pursue any compensation that you are entitled to.

See a Doctor

• It is important to see a physician immediately after you have been bitten. If you know the pet's owner, the doctor may require the animal's immunization records. The doctor will examine and measure the wound and may take photographs. The doctor may start by irrigating the wound. He may wish to close the wound, especially if it is on the face. Deep wounds may require plastic surgery.

  Dog bites don't usually become infected, but the doctor may prescribe preventative antibiotic treatment. Even though vaccination of dogs against rabies has greatly reduced incidence of that disease from pets, there are still reported cases in the United States. If the dog's vaccination status can't be confirmed, or if the animal is a stray that cannot be located, the bite victim must receive rabies immunization. The treatment should be started within 48 hours of the dog bite, but it can be stopped if it turns out later that the animal was vaccinated.

Call a Lawyer

• Get the name and address of the dog's owner and any witnesses to the event. In 32 states and the District of Columbia, dog owners can be held liable for injuries caused to another person. In 18 states, dog owners are shielded by the "one bite rule" that protects owners from liability unless the owner violated a leash law or caused the animal to bite.

  Many dog attacks involve a pet owned by a friend or family member or a neighbor. There is no need to feel awkward about asking the owner to compensate you for damages: such expenses are generally covered by insurance, including homeowner, renter, motor home and condo insurance, landlord and commercial insurance, even motor vehicle insurance.

  To find out if the animal's owner is insured, ask him for a copy of the declarations page from his policy. Some policies exclude or limit compensation for injuries inflected by animals. If the dog bite victim was a child, or if the victim's face was bitten, consult an attorney. A lawyer is necessary if the pet's owner is uninsured. However, even if the owner has insurance, a lawyer who works on a contingency basis may be able to get a larger settlement than the insurance company would offer the victim without an attorney.

Call a Cop

• Certain dogs are regarded as deadly weapons; attacks by such dogs can result in criminal charges. When someone is attacked by a dog, the attack becomes a police matter if the dog was trained to fight or attack or if the dog's owner knew of the dog's dangerous nature and still allowed it to be in contact with the public. If the dog previously bit someone, causing injury, or if the owner failed to use caution, such as warning others that the dog was dangerous, the owner could be prosecuted.