Attacked by someone’s dog? Here’s what you need to do next.

Hello Folks, Attorney Paul Samakow here to talk with you about dog bites and more specifically, what you should do if you’re bitten by someone else’s furry friend.

Dogs are often cute and cuddly and regarded by many as man’s best friend.  They can be loyal, playful, and protective and are generally a welcome part of a loving family.  But this is not always the case for all dogs. Sometimes, dogs can be unpredictable and display aggression that can cause devastating injuries. Even loving household pets can, at times, be easily spooked and lash out causing severe injuries to the person on the other side of their teeth or claws.

In fact, according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), over 4.5 million dog bites happen in the United States every year, with children being the most frequently injured.  Children are most often injured by dogs because they often see a potentially fun furry friend and they approach too quickly invading the animal’s space or approaching in a way the dog perceives to be aggressive or threatening.   If a dog is not adequately socialized or trained to interact with children, it may panic and bite in a perceived need of self-defense.

Some dog bite injuries occur simply because you were in the wrong place at the wrong time.  If an aggressive dog is unsupervised, breaks out of its fence, or breaks away from its owner and attacks, there is often little you can do to prevent this and are forced to defend yourself in a dangerous and potentially deadly situation.

In the worst cases, dog bites and attacks can cause fatal injuries.  In others, dog bites can cause serious damage including infections, disfigurements, permanent disability, and psychological trauma.  These injuries can require lengthy hospital stays, surgeries and rehabilitation resulting in expensive medical bills and time away from work or school.

If you or someone you love is ever attacked or bitten by a dog, it’s important to seek medical attention immediately, even if the injury doesn’t seem severe.  A trained medical professional will be able to properly clean the wound and help protect you from further damage and dangerous complications from infection.

After you get medical treatment, be sure to get as much information as possible about the incident.  You need to get the dog owner’s name and contact information and the name and contact information for any witnesses.

Your next step should be to call my office 703-854-9288 or 301-298-8383.

You need an experienced personal injury attorney to look at your case right away.  We will go over the incident with you and can help you determine if the dog owner or property owner where the incident occurred was negligent or failed to properly restrain the dog. If this is the case, they may be held liable for your injuries.

We specialize in these types of personal injury claims and are prepared to fight and do everything in our power to help you receive a fair financial settlement for your injuries and any losses you may have sustained.

Until next time, please be safe, and NEVER text while driving!

Paul Samakow

Attorney Paul Samakow