Animal And Dog Bites: What To Do If A Dog Bites You:
It is often said that a dog is man’s best friend. A dog can be a very loyal pet, so much so that most pet dogs are considered as an extended member of the families who own them. A dog can offer you great companionship and is a lot of fun for children. But this fun can change in an instant if you are bitten by the dog.
Many people get bitten by their own dogs or other people’s pet dogs. Not just pets, but being bitten by a stray dog is also very common. Here’s what you should do if a dog bites you:
What to do
If you are being bitten by a dog, you should never try to yank yourself away or pull away from the dog. This causes the dog to hold on even tighter. Hitting the dog will also not be of much help as dogs are much stronger than you think. What you should do is try to find a stick or something similar that you can put into the mouth of the dog. This makes the dog feel gagged and he will let go of you.
Medical Aid
If you are bitten by a pet dog and the wound does not appear to be very deep and serious, you may be able to treat yourself at home. Immediately wash the wound with mild soap and clean water. There are various bacteria in the mouths of dogs, which can cause harmful infections. Washing the dog bite is the best way to get rid of dog saliva and harmful bacteria from near the wound.
After cleaning the dog bite with soap and water, you should rinse it out with some antiseptic lotion. Apply an antibiotic cream to the bite and then cover it with a bandage and allow the bite to heal.
Seeing A Doctor
An infection can develop in any person who has been bitten by a dog. But if you fall in any of the below mentioned categories, you are more at risk to get infection than others:
- If you are an alcoholic or have some liver problems.
- If you are more than 50 years old.
- If you do not have a spleen.
- If you have diabetes, HIV, or AIDS.
- If you have undergone some surgery or have had any organ transplanted.
If you said yes to any one of the above, if the dog bite is severe, or if you have been bitten not by a pet dog, but by a stray dog, then you need to consult a doctor immediately after you have been bitten by the dog.
A stray dog may have rabies and thus it is important that you seek medical help so as to avoid any kind of infections or diseases from the dog bite.
Legal Aspects Of A Dog Bite
If you have been bitten by a dog, you may have a legal case and can receive compensation for your injuries.
Although most states have their individual dog laws, generally speaking, all states have some safety precautions that dog owners should take. If the dog that bit you did not have a leash, or if the dog has previously bitten someone else, then you can sue the dog owner and recover damages for the dog bite.
There are many other circumstances under which you may be entitled to damages for your dog bite injuries. To know more about your rights in case of a dog bite, you should seek the counsel of an experienced personal injury or dog bite lawyer.
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