What to Do If You Get Bitten by a Dog While Running
If you jog or run in public, you’ve probably come across your fair share of neighborhood dogs. Regardless of how you may feel about dogs, it’s important to know that any dog is capable of attacking if it feels threatened, excited, or scared. Below are some helpful tips to keep in mind if you are ever bitten by a dog while jogging in Georgia.
What to Do After Being Bitten by a Dog While Running
Here are some simple steps you can take to protect your health and your legal rights if you are bitten by a dog while out jogging or running:
- Remain calm – An unexpected dog bite can be painful and frightening. Stay as calm as possible to avoid provoking the dog further. Avoid yelling or running, as a frightened dog may react aggressively. If the dog is loose, find a safe location and go inside to avoid additional attacks.
- Take lots of photos – Take photos of your injuries, the area where the bite attack occurred, and the dog itself. These photos can help identify the animal, demonstrate the severity of your injuries, and show the events leading to the attack.
- Seek medical attention – If you need immediate medical care, call 911 to arrange emergency transportation. If emergency care isn’t needed, you should still clean the bite wound, apply pressure to the area, and cover any broken skin with antibiotic ointments and clean bandages. You should still get a checkup as soon as possible to make sure you don’t develop rabies, tetanus, or some other infection.
- Contact the authorities – Call up your local police or animal control department to report the dog bite. Give them as much information as you can about the dog, where the attack occurred, and any events that led up to it.
- Contact the dog’s owner – If you know the dog’s owner and feel safe, contact the owner and let them know about the attack. Do your best to remain polite and non-confrontational when speaking with them. Ask them to provide a record of the dog’s vaccinations to review with your doctor. Find out whether they have homeowner’s or renter’s insurance and get the insurer’s contact details. Ask them about their dog and whether the dog has ever behaved aggressively in the past.
- Save the evidence – If any personal property such as clothing, shoes, or electronic devices got damaged in the bite attack, hang on to it. This physical evidence can be extremely valuable in a dog bite claim. Avoid washing or restoring the damaged items, and keep them sealed in a safe location.
- Contact a dog bite attorney – Reach out to a lawyer with extensive experience with dog bite injury cases. A knowledgeable dog bite attorney can answer your questions and explain your options for recovering compensation.
Contact an Experienced Dog Bite Injury Lawyer in Canton, GA Today
At Geiger Legal Group, LLC, our Canton attorneys have years of experience standing up for the rights of local injury victims, including victims of dog bite attacks. We’re ready to help answer your questions about what to do after a dog bite. Contact us today for a free initial consultation to learn more about how a dog bite lawyer can help you get back on your feet.
