Dog bites can leave lasting permanent injuries that can cause pain, suffering, mental anguish, and much more. You must seek medical treatment and the assistance of a lawyer as soon as possible. If you need help filing your claim to receive compensation for your damages, call the dog bite attorneys at John Foy & Associates today.
We help Georgia residents fight for a fair settlement. Our lawyers know how to handle the insurance companies and get you the maximum amount of compensation you can receive. Don’t wait. Call us today to schedule an appointment for a free consultation at (404) 400-4000.
What Do I Do After a Dog Bites Me?
The American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) estimates that roughly five million dog bites occur annually throughout the U.S. each year. You would be shocked at the number of people who don’t do the basic steps necessary to ensure they have a strong case when they file a claim. We know that it can be hard to focus after a dog bites you, but doing these critical steps is essential.
Contact the Police or Animal Control
Immediately after the dog gets put under control and you are out of harm’s way, contact the local police or animal control agency as soon as possible while the details are fresh in your mind. If the owner isn’t present or decides to flee, try to remember the breed of the dog and a description of the owner if possible. Report all of the details of the incident to the authorities.
This step is essential because a police or animal control report is documentation that your accident occurred. Without it, it can be extremely difficult to prove that your dog bite even took place in the area you were in at the time.
Write Down Information and Take Pictures
Take down all the information about the dog, and the owner is present. You should take pictures of your injuries, the dog, and the location of where you got bitten. Every little piece of evidence helps, so don’t think that the pictures you take and the information you write are trivial.
If there were any witnesses to your dog bite incident, take down their statements and information as well. You should also try and see if any CCTVs in the area got footage of your accident. CCTV footage doesn’t last long, so try to get a copy of it before it gets deleted.
Seek Medical Attention
If your dog bite injuries are extremely severe, then skip the first two steps and head straight to the hospital. Your well-being is way more important than gathering evidence. If you can withstand your injuries, gather as much evidence as possible, then prioritize getting to the hospital as quickly as you can.
Remember, you need to put medical treatment before anything else, as your health is irreplaceable. Don’t worry about the costs for now, as you can get them reimbursed when you win your settlement.
Contact a Lawyer Immediately
You don’t have long after a dog bite to file a claim for damages. If you let the two-year statute of limitations expire, you won’t be able to recover a settlement from the at-fault dog owner. Thus, it is extremely critical that you contact one of our dog bite lawyers as soon as possible.
The faster you get started building your case, the stronger your chances of recovering a fair settlement will be during negotiations. The law doesn’t give you a lot of time, so it’s best to collect evidence while still fresh after the incident.
Is It Worth Retaining a Lawyer?
It is absolutely worth retaining a lawyer. Insurance companies often try to persuade personal injury victims to forgo legal representation by claiming law firms will try to swindle them out of their money and their settlements. This simply isn’t true.
While some law firms are shady and engage in dodgy practices, John Foy & Associates is honest, trustworthy, and fights hard for the rights of personal injury victims. Our client testimonials show that we are always dedicated and put the best interests of our clients ahead of anything else.
For more than two decades, we have recovered over $1 billion in verdicts and settlements. Trust in our years of experience to help you get the best settlement possible for your dog bite injury.
Call Our Law Firm Today
You can reach our law office at (404) 400-4000 or fill out our contact form online. We want to help you during this challenging time. We offer free consultations for all new clients that call us. While you focus on healing and recovering from your injuries, let us handle all of the legal work required to get your settlement.