It can happen in the blink of an eye. You or your family are at a friend’s house or walking in the neighborhood when you encounter an aggressive dog. Suddenly, the dog attacks.
Getting bit by a dog in Milwaukee is more common than you would think. In fact, nearly five million people are hurt by dogs every year.
Do you know what to do if a dog bites you? We do. Keep reading to find out what to do if this ever happens to you.
What to Do if a Dog Bites You
If you can move, get away from the situation as quickly as possible. Finding a safe place is a priority. From there, you’re going to assess your injuries and find the owner of the responsible animal.
Treating Dog Bites
Dogs’ mouths are full of different kinds of bacteria. As such, you’ll need to clean out the wounds quickly to prevent infection. In general:
- If the wound is superficial, flush it with running water, then isopropyl alcohol. Next, apply a topical antibiotic and bandage the wound.
- Puncture wounds are more complicated. Unless the wound is on your head or neck or is gushing blood, letting it bleed for five minutes can help clean out the site of the bite. After those five minutes, reassess the damage. If you can stop the bleeding, simply treat the bite like a superficial injury.
- If a wound won’t stop bleeding, it’s time to contact emergency services.
Contacting the Owner
What should you do next if a dog bites you? Contact the owner.
If the owner is nearby at the time of the incident, swap information immediately. Even if you don’t bring charges against them, it’s good to have that information on you just in case. Plus, you might need to prove to your doctor that the dog has had all of its shots.
If the owner won’t cooperate or is in denial about the seriousness of the injury, it might be time to take it to the next level.
Getting Justice
If you got bit by a dog and the owner is being difficult, you might have to call a lawyer who specializes in dog bites. Do so quickly after the incident if it’s obvious the situation is getting out of your control.
Depending on the dog breed, the bite might even be covered by their insurance. Some dogs, like German Shepherds and pit bull types, are on insurance blacklists, which means insurance companies will not cover them.
Also make sure that police and animal control are aware of the incident. They can help prevent the same thing from happening to someone else.
Now What?
Now that you know what to do if a dog bites you, you’ll be prepared in case it happens to you.
If you’ve been bitten by an aggressive dog, don’t hesitate to reach out to us. We understand Wisconsin law regarding dog attacks and are standing by to help.
Get to safety, take care of your injuries, and contact us today.