What to Do if Your Dog Bites Someone

Collaborative Post

Dogs are some of the most precious creatures in the world, and as dog owners we want to do everything possible to keep our dogs safe. The problem is that as good as we can be to our dogs, and as much as we can train them, we can't anticipate every event that can suddenly happen.

A combination of circumstances, from the weather to a dog looking at yours the wrong way, can create enough tension for your dog to bite. Some bite out of fear, others do so because they've got spooked, and others get aggressive in specific situations. Understanding that if your dog bites somebody, you are the person who is responsible can often be difficult. After all, you didn't ask your dog to bite anybody, and you didn't ask for there to be a problem. But sometimes it may be on you to be the person to speak to an accident attorney and make sure that you settle a case so that you're not going to be out of pocket too badly if your dog is the one that bites somebody else. Do you know what to do for dog bites? Let's take a look.

Image source: Pexels

1. Start by controlling your dog. If your dog has just bitten somebody then you need to gain control of your animal straight away. Hopefully the case is that if they bite once, they back away immediately, but if they're in a defence mode they may bite again and you have to get control of your dog in this case. If they're not on the leash, place them on it immediately and allow the other person and their dog space. You still need to make sure that you don't get injured yourself, but it's important to move your dog away from a stranger and their dog.

2. Acknowledge what's just happened. If your dog has bitten someone, then you need to acknowledge the fact that your dog has bitten somebody. No matter who the victim is, whether it's a stranger, a child or a friend, you have to know who you're dealing with so that you can navigate the conversation properly. You also need to make sure that you keep the person calm and assure them everything will be OK and exchange information. Staying civil and polite to the victim when your dog is the one at fault is important here. In the moment when things are heated, it's easy to make excuses and blame something else. But when it comes down to it, your dog has bitten somebody, so it's down to you.

3. Assess the bite if you can. Some dog bites are just nips that can leave a little redness, but others can break the skin. Some dogs even have the power to cause significant injury to a person, so you have to assess the bite and the person who's been bitten. Making sure that the other person is in stable health, whether you are calling the emergency services, is important too. If your dog is bitten, somebody on the neck for example, that can be quite devastating. If you're concerned that the other person has been injured significantly, you should arrange that they are taken to hospital straight away. If your car has a first aid kit, that's a good place to begin if you need to stem any blood flow.

4. Consider your dog's vaccination status. When was the last time your dog was vaccinated? If it hasn't been vaccinated at all, that could be a very problematic issue. When dogs are not vaccinated, they can transmit diseases to humans through a bite. It's important to inform the victim of the dog's vaccination status, so that you know what to do next and so that they can inform their own physician.

5. Be detailed in your information exchange. If your dog is bitten by a stranger, you need to get all of their details from phone numbers to insurance cards. You should also ensure that you know which hospital they've gone to for any particular care. If the person was a minor, you need to have their parents information and both if you should take photos of the dog and the injuries. It's never going to feel good to do this when you're the owner, but it's your responsibility.

Image source: Pexels

6. Encourage them to get medical care even if they think they're fine. It's important to encourage somebody to seek medical advice in the event of a dog bite. If the skin is broken, it can get very badly infected very quickly. It's important to make sure that they get the care that they need, especially if it requires antibiotics.

7. Discuss compensation. If your dog is responsible for biting somebody, it's up to you to pay for any medical treatment. The other party can choose to take you to court and speak to an accident attorney. If you don't offer at least to cover treatment, you should have been open to negotiation and receptive to the victim and come to a settlement on the matter.

8. Speak to the police. If the attack was bad enough, you're going to need to consult the police to find out what to do. This is especially important if the victim is threatening you or your animal, or if you feel they are making the bite out to be much worse than it is. Police officers can help to mediate the situation and deal with it appropriately.

9. Call your insurance company. If you are at fault and your dog is the biter, then you're going to have to speak to your insurance company to find out what to do next. Insurance can be a bit different depending on the type of coverage that you have, so you might be required to file an incident report or any other documentation because your dog was the one that bit.

It's never nice to be in this situation, but as a dog owner you do have a responsibility here. Make sure that your dog is safe and the victim is safe so you can move forward.

—End of Collaborative Post—

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