If you're a dog owner, you're probably used to seeing your four-legged companion as your tail-wagging, loyal, affectionate best friend. He or she brings you a lot of joy. Unfortunately, our pet dogs can also cause problems. They might piddle in the wrong place, chew your shoes, tear up those lovely pillows that go so well with the sofa, dig a hole in the sofa you bought those pillows for and maybe bark in the middle of the night from time to time.
That's ok. You love them. They're part of the family, and you can accept them for who they are. But the absolute worst thing your dog can do is bite someone. Now, we're not saying that this happens all the time, but it can happen. In the United States, approximately four and a half million dog bites are reported every year. About half of these bites involve kids between the ages of 5 and 9 because they're more likely to do something that will provoke the dog, such as pulling at its fur or tail. Keep in mind that there are almost 90 million dogs in the United States, which shows that the vast majority of them do not bite.
Still, somewhere in the back of your mind, there's always that fear, so it's best to have a plan of action.
Be Aware of Potential Legal Consequences
If you find yourself in an unfortunate situation such as this, the most important thing you should do is try your best to remain as calm as possible so you can quickly regain control of your dog and help the victim. You'll want to provide them with contact information and also get contact information from any witnesses. In many states, if your dog bites someone, it's actually illegal to leave the scene. You are expected to behave responsibly and assist the victim. They will need your contact information to get proof that your dog has received vaccinations for rabies, so they don't have to get vaccinated themselves.
Of course, there is a chance that they will pursue a civil suit against you to get compensation for damages such as medical expenses. In that case, you'll want to look up injury lawyers in your area to get some advice on how to best handle your specific situation.
Liability for injuries varies from state to state, so if you have a dog, you'll want to know the laws in your state.
For example, in Michigan, the victim needs to show that a dog bite happened, that it was unprovoked, that it happened in a public space, and if it happened on your private property, they need to prove they were invited. If they and their lawyer can prove this, you'll be liable for compensation, and you can claim that the dog was scared or protecting you as recourse.
In terms of medical care, the main concern is infection since about half of dog bites will transmit bacteria such as capnocytophaga, pasteurella, staphylococcus, and streptococcus.
If the person has diabetes or is immunocompromised, the risk of infection is even higher.
Even if they're completely healthy, they still need to see a doctor within hours of the dog bite since waiting longer raises the chances of infection. You'll want to make sure the victim gets medical assistance by offering to take them to a hospital and perhaps even covering their medical bills.
You'll obviously want to be as nice as possible to them since this will make a favorable impression, and they'll be less likely to pursue you for damages.