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When a dog bites you, it’s natural to be confused, frightened and overwhelmed. You may feel angry or upset about what happened and want to know what your options are for receiving compensation for any injuries you sustained. Fortunately, there are steps that can help make the process of filing a claim as easy as possible:
Go to the doctor or urgent care center.
You can go to the doctor or urgent care center after a dog bite to get medical attention, tetanus shots and prescriptions for painkillers and antibiotics.The best thing you can do is be prepared. If your dog has bitten someone, it’s best not to wait until later in the day or even into the next day before making an appointment with their doctor because things like rabies vaccination may need to be done immediately.
Get a copy of the police report.
The police report is a record of your dog bite incident. It’s important to get a copy of it so you can use it as evidence in court, if necessary. If you don’t have access to an official copy of the report, then call up law enforcement and ask them for one, as personal injury lawyer in Stouffville.
If there were witnesses present at the scene, then they should also provide their own accounts of what happened (and make sure they are included on any witness lists that may be needed).
Take photos of your injuries.
Taking photos of your injuries is important. The more evidence you can provide, the better chance you have of getting a settlement from the insurance company.
To take photos of your bite wounds:
Use a digital camera with a macro setting on it (or buy one). You’ll want to be able to zoom in on each individual puncture point for documentation purposes. If possible, try not to get too close so that no one gets hurt by accident! If there’s already blood involved at this point, don’t hesitate; just make sure everyone knows what they’re doing before taking photos because mistakes will happen quickly when someone tries taking pictures in such an emotional situation (and believe me when I say that we’ve all been there).
Gather witness statements and contact information.
The first step is to get the name, address, and phone number of the dog owner. If you have witnesses who were present during your attack, they should also be included in this list.
File an insurance claim as soon as possible.
You may be eligible for compensation if you have been injured by a dog and the owner’s insurance does not cover the costs of your medical treatment. If you do not file a claim with the dog’s owner, your own insurance company may offer you coverage, but only after making several phone calls and writing letters asking for assistance.
Be sure to ask for details about what happened that led up to this incident before filing your complaint so that it will be easier for both parties involved in resolving things outside of court proceedings (which could take months).
Contact an experienced lawyer.
It’s not a bad idea to contact an experienced lawyer, who can advise you on the best course of action. The reason for this is that even if your case seems straightforward, it may be complicated by other factors like insurance coverage or whether your insurance company will settle with you after filing a claim.