It's not uncommon for children to be bitten by dogs, and the injuries they sustain from a dog bite can be severe. Dog bites can cause severe scarring that can only be corrected via plastic surgery, and this type of surgery is not often covered by health insurance. If your child was bitten by a dog, you may be wondering how to pay for medical expenses. Thankfully, you can often receive compensation from the dog's owner that allows you to cover medical expenses along with other costs, such as lost wages from the time you took off of work to care for your child. However, it's best to hire a personal injury attorney to help you with this process. Here's what you should do after your child is bitten by a dog and why having an attorney on your side is crucial.
What Should You Do After Your Child Is Bitten by a Dog?
The first step is to seek medical attention. Dog bites can be very serious, and this is especially true when a dog bites a child. Dogs can transmit diseases such as rabies through their saliva. Even if a dog is free of disease, bacteria in their saliva can cause dangerous infections. When your child receives medical treatment for his or her dog bite, make sure you receive copies of the medical records.
You'll need the owner's name and address along with the dog's registration number if he or she is registered with the county. You should also collect contact information from anyone who witnessed your child being bitten by the dog, as this can help determine fault for the dog bite. Laws regarding dog bites vary from state to state. Some states have strict liability laws wherein an owner is always at fault when his or her dog bites someone, whereas other states will allow the victim to share in the fault if the dog was provoked — statements from witnesses provide additional accounts of what happened during the attack, so they can be very useful in determining fault during a dog bite claim.
Refrain from posting on social media about your child's dog bite injury. It's understandable for friends and family members to be worried about your child and ask for updates on his or her recovery. However, posting updates on social media telling everyone that your child is doing fine can weaken your case — the insurance company will use it as evidence to downplay your child's injuries.
Why Do You Need a Personal Injury Attorney for a Dog Bite Claim?
In many cases, dog bites are covered by homeowners insurance. When you sue the dog's owner after your child was bitten by a dog, the insurance company's legal department will handle the case, and their job is to settle for the smallest amount of money possible. A personal injury attorney can represent you against the insurance company and help increase the amount of money you receive in the settlement. With an attorney on your side, you don't have to go up against an insurance company's legal department on your own.
Additionally, if your child was bitten by a dog owned by a friend, neighbor, or family member, you may have conflicting feelings about filing a claim or taking them to court. However, the decision may be easier for you when you know that their homeowners insurance is responsible for paying for your claim. The owner of the dog won't be personally financially responsible if the claim is covered by their insurance, so a settlement for a dog bite case will not affect them financially.
If your child was bitten by a dog, seek the services of a personal injury attorney who has experience handling dog bite cases. Many attorneys offer free consultations for personal injury claims that allow them to determine the strength of your case. You'll need to bring a copy of your child's medical records from his or her treatment along with any statements you have collected from witnesses. With a personal injury attorney representing you against the owner's insurance company, you have a greater chance of receiving an increased settlement that covers all of your child's medical expenses incurred as a result of the dog bite.
