When Should You Go To The Doctor For A Dog Bite?

We recommend that you should go to the doctor for a dog bite as soon as it is safe to do so. Even if you are not sure if your dog bite injuries are serious enough to need medical attention, you should err on the side of caution and see a doctor.

A doctor may want to clean and treat your wound to prevent the risk of infection. A doctor may also want to give you a tetanus booster shot or investigate your bite for a possible rabies contraction.

If you are experiencing pain or noticing any signs of an infection after a dog bite, you should also see a doctor.

If you have been a victim of a dog bite injury, the pet’s owner may owe you compensation in a personal injury lawsuit for any medical bills you have or will incur, along with any missed work or reduced earning capacity resulting from the injury.

Err on the Side of Caution with Dog Bite Injuries

Because a dog bite can range in symptoms and severity, you may be wondering, when should you go to the doctor for a dog bite? What if a dog nipped your ankle, but the bite did not break the skin? What if a dog bites you on the arm and leaves a welt, but there is no blood? What if the injury feels minor, but you have an uneasy feeling that it could develop into something more?

In these questionable situations, you should err on the side of caution and see a doctor. If there is even a remote chance that your dog bite injury could develop into something serious, you should see a doctor for nothing more than the peace of mind you gain when the doctor evaluates your dog bite injury.

The potential cost of not seeing a doctor for a minor dog bite is that your injuries may develop into something more severe and end up being more expensive to treat when you finally get around to addressing it.

How A Doctor Visit Can Help You Take Legal Action for Dog Bites

There is another significant reason to see a doctor after a dog bite injury, even a minor one. In New York, pet owners may be responsible for damages caused by their animals, including injuries they inflict on another person. If you incur specific damages that stem from a bite from someone else’s dog, you may be able to hold that person liable in a civil action and recover compensation from them and their insurance company.

In order for this action to be successful, though, you may have to prove that your injuries directly resulted from the dog bite. Without a medical exam, making this cause-and-effect relationship clear is not always easy. The dog’s owner, the owner’s lawyer, and their insurance company could argue that something else caused your injury. Seeing a doctor as soon as possible after a dog bite can create a link in your medical record between the bite and your injuries that could be used as evidence if there is any chance you might take legal action.

The Compensation You Can Recover for a Dog Bite Injury

If you were the victim of a dog bite injury, you may be eligible for compensation in a personal injury lawsuit. A dog bite injury lawyer may be able to help you recover both economic and non-economic damages resulting from the bite.

These damages could include:

• Your medical expenses, both current and future
• Your lost income from work
• Your reduced earning capacity
• Your pain and suffering
• And potentially more if you qualify