Dogs may be man’s best friends, but even the most docile pup can turn vicious without warning. Armed with a mouthful of sharp incisors, these animals can cause serious damage with their brutal bites often leaving victims permanently scarred and suffering, unable to work, and staring down a long road to recovery.
If you were hurt in animal attack, you are probably thinking of filing a claim against the dog’s owner to recover compensation for your medical bills, lost income, and other losses. While owner’s are held strictly liable for any injuries caused by their pets, the actions you take after an attack could turn an open-and-shut case into a fruitless pursuit.
In this article, we take a look at a few common errors you should avoid while your claim is pending:
1. Failing to Seek Medical Treatment
At first, a dog bite might not seem that serious. However, such wounds can quickly become infected, and the animal’s teeth may have damaged vital tissues or arteries, so it’s important to visit the doctor as soon as possible.
Undergoing a comprehensive medical assessment is about more than just taking of your well-being. Not only will attending a check-up ensure you have access to a paper trail of evidence documenting your condition, but taking this important step could also help prevent disputes over failure to mitigate damages.
2. Not Reporting the Attack
Even if the dog owner takes responsibility for the attack, and/or offers to cover your medical bills and other injury-related expenses, you cannot be certain that they won’t later change their mind. As such, you should always report an animal attack to authorities—and the nearest animal control agency—as soon as possible. This will not only help protect your rights, but will also ensure that you have a written record of the animal attack taking place. Such documents could play a vital role supporting your case.
3. Communicating with the Owner’s Insurer Directly
It’s tempting to deal with the liable party’s insurance company yourself as you might think this will help expedite proceedings. However, claims adjusters are often looking for any reason to reduce their liability to limit how much they have to pay out.
As such, representatives might ask questions intended to elicit specific responses that could be used to challenge your credibility, or pressure you into providing a recorded statement before you’ve had a chance to investigate what happened. It may be in your best interests to let a skilled dog bite attorney handle correspondence with opposing parties on your behalf so that you won’t have to worry about saying something that might hurt your claim.
Discuss Your Case with a Skilled Detroit Dog Bite Attorney
Were you bitten by someone else’s dog? You have a right to seek compensation for the damages you’ve incurred as a result of the attack. At Seva Law Firm, we can assess your case as part of a free consultation.
Our Detroit personal injury lawyers give every claim the attention they deserve, leaving no stone unturned in their efforts to help our clients secure a favorable outcome. Contact us today at (248) 385-5704 or drop us a message using our Contact Page to lock in a case review.
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