DogBiteAccidentLawyer.com

What to Do If You Are Bitten by a Dog

Being bitten by a dog can be a very traumatic experience, whether the dog bite victim is an adult, a child, or another animal. The majority of dog bites are not fatal, although many bites will require a visit to the emergency room. It is important for you to stay calm, and to get to safety. If you or your loved one or child is bitten by a dog, you will need to perform basic first aid, clean the wound, and get medical attention right away. The bite may necessitate the need for antibiotics, tetanus shot, or rabies vaccine. In the case of multiple bites, very serious bites, dog bites in young children, or dog bites in the neck or head area, medical attention should be sought out immediately. It is also important to contact a Dog Bite Lawyer as soon as possible following a dog bite accident to protect your rights. You can find a Dog Bite Lawyer by visiting DogBiteAccidentLawyer.Com.

Dog Bite First Aid

The first and most important step in rendering first aid to a dog bite victim is to stop the bleeding by applying firm and consistent pressure to the wound. Once the bleeding has stopped, clean the area well. Dog bites pose a risk of infection, so most dog bite victims are prescribed an antibiotic to take for seven to ten days after the bite. Be sure to finish the entire prescription for antibiotics, even if you don’t think the area is infected. Keep the wound clean. Most dog bites are not stitched closed because of the risk for infection, so your doctor may ask that you apply an antibiotic ointment to the bite up to three times each day. Most dogs in the U.S. are vaccinated against rabies, so this is not a huge concern following a dog bite accident. If you are not sure if the dog has been vaccinated, then your doctor should contact the local health department or your local animal control officer right away. In this instance, children may require the rabies immune globulin vaccine to be administered within forty-eight hours. This is always the case if the dog has not been vaccinated or if the dog cannot be located. For dogs whose status of rabies is not known, a vet may need to quarantine the dog for ten days, although the child will still need to take the rabies immune globulin injection.

Should You Sue the Dog’s Owners?

In most instances, you are well within your rights to sue the owner of a dog that bites. DogBiteAccidentLaywer.Com is a great resource for helping you find a Dog Bite Lawyer who can help you to understand your rights as a dog bite victim, determine the worth of your dog bite case, and get the ball rolling towards being financially compensated by the owner of the dog.