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http://www.YourPlantCityAttorneys.com Humphries and Lopez, P.A. 813-752-2900 Plant City FL | Valrico FL | Brandon FL | Hillsborough County FL Dog Bites and Animal Attacks The First Things to Do After Being Bitten Here is the quick list of what you need to do: Obtain the names and addresses of witnesses, the dog owner, and the people who had custody of the dog when it bit you. Take photographs of the wounds. See a doctor to document your dog bite incident and obtain treatment. Go to the agency that does animal control in your jurisdiction and make a report, and then cooperate fully with the investigating officers. Further steps to take It is important to identify the dog owner and the animal that bit you, because if it is a stray and you cannot identify it, you’re facing the possibility of having to submit to treatment for rabies, which can be painful. Also, if you were attacked by a dog or any wild animal being kept by a person, you probably are entitled to receive compensation from the animal’s owner, and you might really need that compensation to pay your medical bills, reimburse you for lost income, pay for cosmetic surgery in the future, and help you overcome the pain and suffering from your injuries. A picture speaks a thousand words, so take photographs of the wounds before they are treated. Be sure to get medical attention, because dog bites can cause infections that could have far-reaching consequences. Over 1,000 Americans arrive in emergency rooms every day of the year because of dog bites alone! If you are wounded on the face, insist on treatment by a plastic surgeon because emergency room doctors are great at keeping people alive but not necessarily the best at making stitches and wounds look good. After that, be sure to follow the directions of the physician and take all the medications that are prescribed (except for the painkillers, which usually are at your discretion). You might also be ordered to stay out of the sun, use sun block, use scar reduction lotion, change bandages, report for follow up treatment, report for removal of stitches, massage the healing areas, etc. If so, do it! The decision as to whether you need rabies shots must be left to your doctor. Shots are not always called for, because rabies may not be in your geographic area. Don’t be alarmed if your physician tells you that you don’t need this painful treatment.