According to CDC figures from the early 2000’s approximately 4.5 million people are bitten by dogs throughout the country each year, and more than 900 people are sent to the emergency room each day for dog bite treatments.

Many of these serious bites result in necessary reconstructive surgery.

Dog bites are a major issue and could happen to anyone. Making it vital to know how to respond to a bite after it happens to you or another loved one. It’s important to react properly to ensure you have legal protection, and the medical help you need.

How to Respond Immediately After

Immediately after being bitten you need to do a few things. Alert the authorities, get information from the owner and treat the wound. Generally, you can treat the wound with hydrogen peroxide, and it won’t need bandaging as long as it’s a series of abrasions or smaller puncture wounds. Simply wash them out with peroxide to disinfect and protect the area.

After talking with the authorities and the dog owner, start snapping photos of the incident using your smartphone. Get a photo of the dog, the owner, the scene and the bite wound for proof that the attack happened in the first place.

This will improve your chances of receiving compensation from an insurance company.

Hire an Attorney

Fewer than 1% of dog bite victims will ever see compensation for their injuries, and most of the victims that are compensated receive just 10% to 20% of what they would have gotten from insurance with an attorney present. By hiring a high-quality law firm like Campione Law for support for dog bite law in Florida, you’ll dramatically improve your chances of receiving a payout. Spend the money for representation and you’ll have an accomplished dog attack attorney to present your case to the insurance company in the Jacksonville area. Campione law will help you make a solid case.

Chances are good that the company will settle out of court, and you’ll receive a much larger payout with help from an attorney.

File an Insurance Claim

Work with the owner of the animal to submit an insurance claim and make sure that all your medical costs are covered. Get insurance information from the owner and get started with the claim process as soon as possible, or pass the information on to your attorney to ensure that the process is completed as thoroughly as possible to get you the biggest payout.

Getting Help for the Animal

If the dog that bit you was one of your own, or was a pet belonging to one of your friends or family members, it’s possible to get the dog help to prevent this from happening again. Barkmoreresort.com specializes in helping aggressive dogs and can reduce behavior problems with a bit of careful dog training.

If you’re bitten by a dog it’s vital that you respond in the right way.

Seek out legal representation, document the issue, talk with the owner and the local authorities, and do your best to receive the compensation that you deserve to cover your medical costs of the whole ordeal. Being bit is never enjoyable, but with the right lawyer you can avoid high medical costs because of the attack.

Contact Campione Law today for your dog attack case.