A few years ago, the United States Postal Service ranked the top 25 cities in the country for dog-bite attacks on postal workers.
According to the postal service, Buffalo ranked 18th on this list. Overall, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has reported that more than 4.5 million people are bitten by dogs each year.
Obviously, the first action anyone should undertake following a dog bite is to see to their own protection and care for their injuries.
If the dog owner has not secured the animal, go to a location where you are not a risk for further attack and contact animal control to secure the dog.
Any wounds should be immediately checked and cleaned. If they are deep, extensive or any bleeding cannot be stopped, medical attention should be sought.
In addition to these actions, there are also steps you can take that may be helpful should you need to pursue a personal injury claim.
If you are not familiar with the dog or the owner, it is important to obtain the owner’s name and contact information.
If the owner is not present and you do not know who the dog belongs to, animal control should be called so that they can locate the animal and possibly determine the identity of the owner.
If there are witnesses to the dog bite incident, it is also important to obtain their identities and contact information.
They may be able to provide important information regarding the nature of the attack and, if they had previous contact with the animal, may be helpful in determining whether the dog had previously acted in a dangerous or vicious manner.
Proof that the owner was aware the dog may bite is important when making a personal injury claim.
Following a dog bite, it also is helpful to consult with an experienced personal injury lawyer who can help you determine
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