There is no specific way for you to prevent getting bitten by an aggressive pooch and most times this happens unexpectedly. You could just be walking down a street when a dog attacks you without a warning. When this happens, the pooch may compress your skin or even tear it. The tear may be so bad that it creates a wound. The wound may just be minor or sometimes it could be severe with bleeding. However, the most feared complication of a dog bite is wound infection.

The dog bite can introduce some disease-causing microorganisms in your body like bacteria and viruses. If the pooch is not vaccinated, it can also transmit the rabies virus to your body which is a fatal infection when it is not treated immediately. When you have a dog bite, there are steps that you need to take immediately and after some time after the dog bite to take care of your health and also to get justice after this attack. These steps are explained below in this article.

1. Get Medical Attention

Because a dog bite can have dangerous effects on your health, it is important to seek medical attention as early as you can. There are steps that you can take immediately after the dog bite before getting professional care. If you have a superficial wound, clean it with running water and hydrogen peroxide and then cover it with a bandage. You can then visit the hospital for treatment. If you have a deep wound that is profusely bleeding, call 911 immediately as you rinse the wound with running water and then apply direct pressure to try and stop the bleeding. If you can, take pictures of the wound before it is treated because this will serve as evidence.

2. Exchange Information

Just like in a car accident, you also need to exchange information with the owner of the dog. The information that you need from the dog owner include their names, address, contact information as well as a vaccination history of the dog. However, you should not discuss with the owner who is at fault or allow their insurance company to interview you.

3. Identify Witnesses

It is also important for you to identify people who witnessed the incident. Try to get the contacts of anyone who was at the site of the accident. These eyewitnesses will help you when you are filing a lawsuit against the owner of the dog or even filing a claim with your insurance company. The eyewitnesses' reports are more useful in such cases than the photos that you take because they explain the account of the incident.

4. Document the Dog Bite

Documenting the events of the dog bite will also help you with your case. Ensure that you document all the important details of the incident. Some of the things that you need to document include the injuries that you sustained from the dog bite and the effects those injuries have caused in your life like pain, inhibition of mobility, or even reduced performance at work and loss of income. You can document these details, by taking photos, medical records, in writing, or journal entries. Take your time to remember as many details from the incident as you can to ensure that you are not forgetting anything.

5. Contact a Lawyer

There are so many reported dog bites in Tulsa, Oklahoma and therefore there are some lawyers who have specialized to deal with such cases. These lawyers help the dog bite victims to get the justice that they deserve after getting a dog bite. Moreover, the dog bite lawyer in Tulsa will assess the losses that you have suffered due to the dog bite and calculate the compensation that you should get. Since these lawyers are familiar with the dog bite laws in your state, they can evaluate the likelihood of your lawsuit being successful. You will also get help with negotiating with the insurance company of the dog owner to get a fair settlement.

6. Follow the Doctor’s Orders

To prevent complications from the wound, ensure that you do as your doctor has instructed you. Take the medications that you have been given faithfully and avoid skipping doses. You should also watch out for danger signs like wound infection and nerve damage and report to the doctor immediately this happens. Do not skip any appointment that your doctor has scheduled for you.

In summary, dog bites happen unexpectedly and they can have dangerous effects on your health like infections. When you get a dog bite, seek immediate medical care, gather information about the incident, and get contacts of eyewitnesses. It is also important to get information about the dog owner and contact a lawyer. The lawyer will help you to get justice and compensation for the losses that you have suffered due to the dog bite.