If you are bitten by a dog, seek appropriate medical treatment as soon as possible. After you have been treated, consider consulting an attorney with experience handling dog bite cases to determine whether you have a valid claim and what damages are recoverable under the law. An attorney will ask for information about how your dog bite happened. You may attempt to determine the name and address of the dog owner and find out how recently the dog received a rabies shot. Dog owners are required to have their dogs immunized and should have a printed certificate showing the date of the immunization. Contact the county animal control office after a dog bite and provide information about the dog owner and a description of the dog and where the attack occurred. Animal control will confirm whether the dog is up-to-date on rabies vaccination and may test the dog for rabies. Animal control may issue a citation to the dog owner if the animal is not properly confined. Consult with your doctor about whether you are at risk of rabies and need follow-up treatment.
