After you have been bitten by a dog it is important to determine whether the animal is a stray or not. If it is a stray and you cannot identify it, you will have to face the possibility that you might need to get rabies treatments just to be sure that you are not at risk. After you are bitten, you need to get medical attention immediately. However, the decision as to whether you need rabies shots must be left to the sound discretion of your doctor.

Also keep in mind that if the dog that bit you is being kept or a pet of another person then you are probably entitled to receive compensation to pay for you medical bills and even your pain and suffering. If the dog owner is insured, you might get a call from his or her insurance company through one of their adjusters. If this happens, don’t forget to ask for the name of the insurance, office address, telephone number, claim number and the limit of the insurance as to the medical expenses alone. Do not discuss other money matters, write anything or meet with the insurance company’s representative. Always bear in mind, especially if you are serious in making any claims against the one responsible for the dog that bit you, that you are entitled to a lawyer and must seek one at the earliest instance to protect your rights.

As a dog bite victim, you necessarily incur different kinds of damage to include actual medical expenses, pain and suffering, emotional damage and loss of earnings to name a few. A lawyer experienced in representing victims of dog bites will definitely provide you with the protection you need as well as the value of the claims you seek.

If you opt not to retain a lawyer to champion your cause, you run the risk of being shortchanged or worse, your claim might not be processed at all. Always remember that insurance company representatives, they are called adjusters, will never treat you fairly. You are actually not dealing with a living breathing person but a faceless and cold corporate entity who makes it their business to settle as fewer claims as possible in order to make them more profit.

Please bear in mind also that future surgeries, if one is needed, will be considered as “cosmetic”, hence, they will not be covered by your own health insurance. The way to recover your losses is to make it part of your claim at the first instance so you will not be burdened and saddened when you need further surgeries and you later find out that you don’t have money for the operation.

Finally, in order to protect others who might be victimized by the same dog that bit you, especially when you think that the dog poses an actual threat, you might: go to small claims court to file your claim (this is the avenue you may seek if there is no blood after the bite, no scarring, minor pain); file a complaint with the police, homeowner’s association or any organization who makes it their business to make the vicinity a dog bite free community; write a report to animal control officers; make claims against the insurance of the dog owner which will put pressure to the owner of the dog to keep the dog away from the public otherwise his premium might become higher or it may be cancelled by his insurance company altogether; or start a citizen action team where the members pressure irresponsible dog owners to be more careful and responsible in keeping their dogs so that they will not pose threats to the inhabitants of the community.