What to do if a dog attacks you

Getting bitten by an aggressive dog can be an extremely painful and traumatic experience. Here are some things you should do if you are ever attacked by a dog in California.

Find the owner and gather information

If you get attacked by a dog, one of the first things you should do is try to determine whether that dog has an owner. If the dog hangs around a specific house, it is likely that the dog lives there with their owner.

Find the owner so that you can notify them about the dog’s aggression and gather information from them. If you’re planning on filing a personal injury lawsuit after the attack, you’ll need the owner’s information such as their name and contact information.

It’s important to document the event. If you have the ability to take pictures, then take pictures of the dog, your injuries and the scene of the attack. All of this information can be very useful in the future if your attorney or an insurance company needs proof that the attack really happened.

Animal control

If the dog does not have an owner or you can’t locate the owner, then you should call animal control so that they can get the dog under control and ensure that the dog doesn’t attack anybody else. The people at animal control are trained to handle aggressive animals, so they’ll be able to restrain the dog.

Go to a doctor

After the dog has been restrained, you need to go see a doctor immediately, even if the injury wasn’t that severe. Dog bites can be highly infectious, so you need a doctor to look at it as soon as possible to avoid ending up with a serious infection.

If a dog looks like they’re about to attack you, the best thing to do is try to defuse the situation by remaining calm and showing the dog that you aren’t a threat. If the dog does attack, getting help from a personal injury attorney may be a huge help to you.