What to Do After a Dog Bite?

One thousand Americans go to the ER due to dog bite injuries every single day. More than half of those victims are children aged 5-9, according to the statistics. One-quarter of dog bites are caused by pit bulls, who have been blacklisted from protection by homeowners insurance. One in five dog bites will become infected and/or require an overnight stay in the hospital.

Too often, dog bites are not reported or not taken seriously, and accountability for them is dismissed in order to keep peace with a neighbor or friend or for fear that the dog will be euthanized. Because of all this, how to proceed after a dog bite is not always so cut and dried. Using our NJ dog bite attorney’s experience with dog bite cases, here is our recommended list of steps to take after a dog attack.

Get Away from the Dog

It might seem obvious, but some people often have a unique sense of guilt after a dog attacks them. Generally, these people consider themselves to be dog lovers, and they often feel the dog is more of a victim than they are. A quick Google search will show you that many reputable websites offer misinformation, like telling dog bite victims to pick up a small dog who just bit them and “get them out of harm’s way.” Please put your safety first!

Don’t approach a dog that just attacked you, regardless of its size. After a dog bites, some people will try to calm the dog, restrain it, see if it’s OK, etc. Remove yourself from the dog and appreciate that “man’s best friend” is the fourth most deadly animal in the world based on all the deaths they cause.

In getting away from a dog after it has bitten you, never turn your back on it, never run away, and do your best to present a commanding presence. For example, stand up tall and firmly say, “No!” rather than slouching with your head down and crying. Don’t hesitate to hit the dog with a stick or throw a rock at it if the dog isn’t backing down. In this scenario, you’re not dealing with a “fur baby;” you’re dealing with an animal that has been bred since ancient times to attack intruders, prey, small hunting animals, etc.

Get Medical Attention

Even if you only have a few puncture wounds that you feel you could clean and bandage yourself at home, we highly recommend going to urgent care for less serious bites or the emergency room for more serious attacks. If you do your own triage on the wound before driving to the hospital (so your clothes or car don’t get blood stains), wash your hands before and after touching the wound. If the bleeding is heavy, don’t clean it or rinse it; just put gauze or some paper towels on it and get to the hospital right away so people wearing medical gloves and proper protective gear can clean it.

Remember that about 20% of dog bites will get infected. The hydrogen peroxide you use for scraped knees isn’t always capable of stopping the kind of infections that come from dog bites (staphylococcus, streptococcus, rabies, capnocytophaga). In fact, all dogs carry a bacteria called Pasteurella in their mouths, and it will enter your bloodstream if the dog breaks your skin. Pasteurella causes, for example, a skin condition known as cellulitis, bone and blood infections, UTIs, pink eye, pneumonia, and even meningitis.

At a proper medical facility, the staff will give you a tetanus shot as well as a series of rabies shots. Even if your last tetanus shot was only a few years ago, deeper, more serious dog bites do necessitate another tetanus shot. Finally, never assume a dog doesn’t have rabies. Since rabies is deadly, play it safe and get the shots. According to the New York Times, five Americans died of preventable rabies deaths in 2021.

Locate the Dog Owner

In many cases, you’ll immediately know who the dog owner is because the majority of dog attacks do happen on or in close proximity to the dog’s home, and/or the dog belongs to you, your family, friend, or neighbor. However, if you don’t know the dog because it was loose in the street or you were not in a familiar area, it is important to make an effort to figure out who owns the dog.

If you were indeed bitten by a stray dog, simply calling Animal Control with a description of the dog and the location of the attack is enough for them to canvas the area looking for it. This is the whole reason we have Animal Control, so don’t hesitate to call and ask them for help. Aggressive stray dogs are a public health hazard, so they will be grateful for your call and have no problem combing the area for hours to stop this dog’s next attack.

After your ER visit, if you don’t already know the dog owner’s address or name, go back and figure it out. Just like if that person hits you in a car accident, you need to exchange insurance information. Ask the owner to see the dog’s license and vaccination record. Even if the owner can present you with a rabies vaccination record for the dog, we still recommend getting yourself vaccinated. Rabies shots alone cost over $3,000, and you are not going to want to pay for yourself. Furthermore, while you are in the area of the occurrence, we also recommend talking to a few neighbors and asking what they know about the dog, whether they saw the attack, and for their contact information.

Dog Bite Treatment

Aftercare from a dog bite is just as important as immediate care. Get all of the required rabies shots and have the doctor keep a close eye on your wound to catch any infections as soon as possible. Be meticulous about saving your medical records, always get an after-visit summary, follow all instructions with prescriptions and follow-up visits, keep the wound clean, etc. Again, one of the most common things we see after a dog bite is people not taking it seriously—this is a very real medical problem, just like a work accident or sports injury.

Don’t underestimate the seriousness. Perhaps consider that the average dog bite claim is worth over $50,000—this is a real injury with potentially grave, life-altering consequences.

Report the Dog Bite to Authorities

Some hospitals or doctors will take care of this for you but don’t assume. Ensure that a police report is made and that your local Animal Control department is aware of the incident. Get copies of their reports for your records. Even if the dog simply chased you and you were able to escape uninjured, this is still unacceptable aggressive behavior—the next person may not be so lucky to live next door and run inside their house or to be parked in the driveway and be able to jump back in their car.

Another way to think about it is that, in New Jersey, if a dog is deemed “vicious” by the courts, the owner can be required to keep the dog muzzled in a fully-enclosed kennel, etc. These things can prevent a child from being killed or from having life-long facial scarring. By reporting it, you are reducing future dog bite victimization. Dogs and dog owners must be held accountable.

Call a New Jersey Dog Bite Attorney

In the same way, you wouldn’t tolerate paying your own medical bills, lost wages, and damaged property after a person attacked you in a dog bite injury, you’ll need to lawyer up in order to get your losses reimbursed. It’s your right, so there is no reason not to exercise your rights. In fact, here are a few of your legal rights when it comes to dog bites in New Jersey:

• If any law was being violated at the time of the attack (the dog was not on a leash), then the dog’s owner or caretaker is likely going to be liable for your injuries.
• If the dog owner or caretaker allowed dangerous behavior and was therefore acting negligently (i.e., allowing a child to approach a dog knowing that the dog has nipped at other children), then the owner or caretaker is typically going to be held responsible for the injuries their dog caused.
• If the dog owner knew the dog has or could bite, then the owner is legally liable for your injuries.
• If the property manager of an apartment-dwelling dog or a trailer park dog knew of the dog’s potential for aggression, the management company could also be liable for your injuries.
• If the dog was with a hired dog walker or pet sitter at the time of the attack and that person felt the dog was potentially aggressive, this person may also be liable for your injuries.

We Are New Jersey Dog Bite Lawyers—That’s All We Do!

Let us help you exercise your rights as a dog bite victim. We have over 25 years of experience and are passionate about helping you get the compensation you are rightfully entitled to. Call the New Jersey Dog Bite Lawyers today at (609) 513-0627 or tell us about your case on our contact form.