Attacked by a Dog in Georgia? Here’s How to File a Dog Bite Report
If you’ve been bitten or attacked by a dog, you may want to file a claim against the owner and seek compensation for your injuries. To do this, you’ll have to file a dog bite report. In today’s blog, we’ll share tips on how to report a dog bite and explain how this report will help your personal injury case.
Reporting a Dog Bite: Potential Injuries
Being bitten by a dog can cause a number of injuries – some of them severe. A bite can cause infection, nerve damage, permanent scarring, disfigurement, as well as emotional harm. Dog bites can be traumatizing and can plague victims for the rest of their life. Of the 4.5 million dog bites that occur in the US every year, about 20% require immediate medical care.
Reporting a Dog Bite: Who to Contact
If you’ve been attacked by a dog, the first step is to seek medical attention. For emergencies, call 9-1-1 immediately or head to ER. Most hospital emergency rooms will report the dog bite to Animal Control. The doctor will document your injuries in your medical file and may also request that a police officer take a statement about the incident. Even if you don’t think the dog bite is an emergency or a serious injury, it’s still a good idea to have a medical professional check it out.
Once you’ve had your dog bite injury evaluated, the next step is to contact your local Animal Control or Animal Services. You want to call them as soon as possible, so you can file your dog bite report. An Animal Control officer will create the report for you; they may also notify the local police or sheriff’s department.
It’s also a good idea to take pictures of the scene and your injuries, as well as record the contact information of any eyewitnesses to the attack.
Reporting a Dog Bite: Why File a Dog Bite Report?
People may feel hesitant about filing a dog bite report. They may know the dog’s owner or be concerned about what will happen to the dog itself. But a dog bite report helps create a dog’s safety record. If animal control or police address the situation with the dog’s owner, it could help prevent future attacks. Filing a dog bite report is also important for the success of your personal injury claim.
In Georgia, dogs are not legally presumed to be dangerous. It’s up to the dog bite victim to provide evidence as to the dog’s temperament. Under Georgia Law, a dog owner can be held liable for injuries caused by their dog if 1) the dog is considered vicious or dangerous, 2) if the dog’s owner carelessly managed the dog or allowed it to roam freely, and 3) the dog bite victim didn’t do anything to provoke the attack. One of the most common ways to establish these elements is to provide the details from the official dog bite report.
Reporting a Dog Bite: How Long Do You Have to File?
In Georgia, you have two years from the date of the attack to file a personal injury claim. This deadline is known as the statute of limitations. If you do not file a dog bite report and your personal injury claim within two years, chances are, you will not be able to receive compensation for any injuries from the dog attack.
While two years may seem like a long time to file a personal injury case, it’s important to start working with a dog bite attorney as soon as possible. You want to make sure you file your dog bite report appropriately, collect and preserve the evidence, and begin building your case.
Have Additional Questions? Contact Burrow & Associates
If you’ve been bitten, attacked, or mauled by an animal, you need to begin the healing process as soon as possible. To prepare your case and prove your eligibility for compensation, being represented by a knowledgeable Georgia dog bite attorney is crucial.
If you need help with your dog bite case, please contact Burrow & Associates at (678) 323-2394 or our online contact page. We offer free initial consultations and have offices located in Athens, Conyers, Duluth, Morrow, Kennesaw, and Gainesville.
