Getting bitten or attacked by an animal in Thomasville can be an incredibly traumatic experience for anyone. Dog bites can cause serious injuries that require costly treatments, surgeries, and more. If you or a loved one was bitten or attacked, it’s time to speak with a dog bite and animal attack lawyer in Thomasville who can help you seek compensation for your damages.
At John Foy & Associates, we have been helping victims of dog bites and other animal attacks win the recovery they deserve for more than 20 years. We are not afraid to stand up for your rights and fight for the money you need after the attack. Contact us today at (404) 400-4000 or online and we’ll give you a FREE, no-risk consultation to discuss how we can help your case.
Six Actions to Take If a Dog Bites You in Thomasville
When a dog bite happens, the dog’s owner is usually liable for the damages. That being said, the owner might try to hide from their responsibility or blame you for what happened, such as saying you provoked the dog. To legally protect yourself, there are some things you can do to build your case and gather information.
Sometimes, the attack is caused by an animal other than a dog. If it’s a wild animal, the property owner might be at fault if they allowed the animal onto their property where it could hurt others. You’ll still want to compile evidence of the attack, the presence of the animal on the property, and proof of your damages.
In either a dog bite or animal attack situation, here are some things we recommend you do.
1. Get Medical Treatment
If the dog bite or animal attack leaves you with serious or potentially life-threatening injuries, do not delay getting emergency medical treatment. Call 911 (or have someone call for you) to get an ambulance and have your injuries addressed. Your well-being is the top priority after a dog bite or animal attack.
If your injuries are not life-threatening and you’re okay enough to gather some information at the scene, be sure to see a doctor as soon as possible. If you can, it’s best to go on the same day as the dog bite or attack. Seeing a doctor will:
- Create a record of your injuries from the bite or attack
- Show that you got treatment for your injuries right away and
- Give you an idea of what your treatment will look like now and in the future
When you seek compensation from a dog bite or animal attack, you’ll typically file a claim with the at-fault party’s homeowner’s insurance company. Frustratingly, insurance companies do not like to pay out much on injury claims like this. The insurer may look for ways to reduce what they have to pay, and a common tactic is claiming that your injuries were not as serious as you’re saying or that some of your treatment wasn’t directly related to the bite or attack.
Seeing a doctor right after the attack will help show the insurance company that your treatment was related and necessary. You’ll also be able to see how serious your injuries and for how long you will need to get treated, so you can include those costs in your claim.
2. Get Information About the Dog
If you’re well enough to say at the scene and the dog’s owner is present, ask for information about the dog that bit you. Find out:
- The owner’s name, address, and phone number
- Whether or not the dog has bitten or been aggressive in the past and
- If the dog has had its shots, especially the rabies shot, and how recently those shots were administered
If the owner is not on the scene, witnesses or neighbors might recognize the dog and be able to tell you more about it. If the dog is often allowed to roam freely, those in the neighborhood might be used to seeing it run around the area. This is just further evidence of negligent behavior on the dog owner’s part.
If you were attacked by another animal on someone’s property, you’ll want to get contact information for the person who owns the property. Also, try to find out as much as you can about the animal that bit you.
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3. Report the Bite or Attack
Call the Animal Control Division of the Thomasville-Thomas County Humane Society to report a dog bite or animal attack in Thomasville. The Humane Society’s Animal Control Officers will respond to reports of dangerous animals running at-large and wildlife. According to the Society’s website, they have been providing humane enforcement of animal-related laws in the area since 1993.
Animal Control might also be able to give you more information on the dog that bit you. If they’ve picked up the dog before, they might recognize it and even know its owner.
4. Take Pictures
Picture evidence can be really helpful in a dog bite or animal attack case. Use your phone to take pictures of:
- The animal that bit or attacked you
- Your injuries and
- The entire scene of the bite or attack
Pictures can help support your injury claim and show how everything looked right after the incident.
5. Talk to Witnesses
If anyone else saw the bite or attack happen, talk to them about what they saw. Ask for their name(s) and contact information. Your Thomasville dog bite and animal attack lawyer will want to reach out to them later.
6. Get Support from an Experienced Lawyer
Protecting your rights during a dog bite or animal attack case is not usually easy. The insurance company will look for ways to blame you or reduce the value of your claim. An insurance adjuster might contact you soon after the attack, so be careful to not sign anything from them, agree to any recorded statements, or accept any money.
Talk to an experienced dog bite and animal attack lawyer first. They can help you handle the insurance company and build a strong personal injury claim for compensation for your damages.
Speak with a Dog Bite and Animal Attack Lawyer in Thomasville, GA for Free Today
Dog owners are responsible for how their dogs act, especially if they injure another human. Don’t get left paying for medical costs and other expenses that were not your fault. Let us help you seek full compensation for the damages you’ve suffered.
To schedule a FREE consultation today, call John Foy & Associates at (404) 400-4000 or contact us online now. We have more than 20 years of experience in dog bite and animal attack cases, and we are ready to fight for your rights.
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