Documenting Dog Bite Injuries

If you have been bitten by someone else’s dog, or even injured trying to escape being attacked by a dog, it is critical to fully document your injuries in order to recover full compensation.  Here’s what you can do:

• Video Documentation
  In some cases, dog bites are actually recorded on video.  If this is the case, then you will want to carefully preserve the video, as this will be important to show a jury a video of the attack occurring. In other cases, video can be used to document the injuries right after they happened or at the emergency room.  Video of the wounds – before and after treatment – will also be crucial in showing a jury the full effect of the attack.After treatment has been rendered, video can still be taken to show the effects of the injuries.  If possible, take video of the wounds after they occur, so that a jury will be able to see just how bad the injuries were. Then, short videos can be taken every few days throughout the healing process.

• Pictures
  Photographs can also be taken in the same way that video is taken.  As most of us now have mobile phones with cameras, phones can be easily used to take pictures. You can also take images periodically to show the progression of your injuries, and how they are healing.

• Witness statements
  It is also helpful to get statements from any witnesses who may have seen your dog bite injury.  Ask them to prepare a written statement of what they saw, including describing the attack in detail, and documenting that you did not do anything to provoke the dog (if this in fact was the case).  The more detail that the witness can provide, the better.  The witness should also sign and date the witness statement.

• Call Our Firm
  Once we learn about the facts and circumstances of your dog bite case we can help you fully document your case in a number of ways.  We will want to obtain a copy of any medical bills and other documents associated with your treatment.  We will also want to identify whether the dog owner or keeper has liability insurance, and if so, we will want to put that company on notice that we will be making a claim for damages based upon your dog bite.

It’s important that you contact our firm as soon as possible so that we can begin helping you with your case.

We offer a free consultation, and there is no fee for our services unless we are successful in getting compensation for you. We look forward to learning about your case.