Whenever an accident or injury occurs, having a plan of action is important. For dog bites, knowing what to do is essential for your health as well as your ability to recover damages related to the bite. If you’ve been bitten by a dog in Pennsylvania, here’s what you need to do.
Seek Medical Care
It’s important that you seek medical care even if you don’t think that the bite is severe. If the skin has been broken, seeking medical care can help reduce risk of infection. If you know anything about the dog, such as whether or not it’s up to date on its vaccinations, it’s important to share this information with the doctor.
Call Animal Control
After receiving all of the proper care necessary, you should call animal control to notify them of the bite. If the dog is a stray, this step is particularly important because animal control can remove the dog from the streets to prevent further harm to others.
Notify the Police
If a dog has attacked you, notify the police about the incident. A dog attack may warrant the dog being declared dangerous by a judge. If a dog has been declared dangerous, the owner of the dog has certain responsibilities, such as registering the animal with the Dog Law Enforcement Office, and confining the dog to a proper enclosure.
If the dog had already been deemed dangerous at the time of attack, and the owner was not in adherence with legal responsibilities, then legal action may be required.
Speak with an Attorney
In Pennsylvania, dog owners have strict liability for all of a victim’s damages if the dog bite injuries are severe or if the dog engaged in previous bites or attacks. If the injuries are not serious or the dog did not previously bite or attack somebody, then the victim may still recover medical bills from the dog owner. In some cases, a dog owner may have acted negligently and caused or contributed to the accident. In these cases, victims can recover all damages.
This is why it’s important to seek legal counsel, as the dog bite law in Pennsylvania can be confusing. At Cordisco & Saile LLC, our attorneys will help you file your personal injury claim for damages in a timely manner. State law requires that a claim be filed within two years of the date of injury. So take action now to get started with your case. Call our legal team today at 215-642-2335 or use our online contact form to set up your consultation.
