What to Do After a Dog Bite

A dog bite can be a small scrape or a serious injury that needs surgery. Either way, a few steps protect your health and any claim you may have.

1. Treat the wound

• Wash the bite right away with soap and running water for several minutes.
• Apply pressure with a clean cloth to stop bleeding, then cover it.
• Get medical care for deep punctures, bites to the face, hands or joints, bleeding that will not stop, signs of infection (redness, swelling, warmth, pus), or if you have not had a tetanus shot in years. Dog bites carry a real infection risk even when they look minor.

2. Find out about rabies

Ask the owner for proof that the dog's rabies vaccination is current. If the dog is a stray or the owner cannot show proof, tell your doctor; they will decide whether you need rabies treatment. Local health rules commonly require a biting dog to be confined and observed for 10 days, which also settles the rabies question for most pet dogs (LA County Public Health).

3. Report the bite

Report the bite to local animal control or the health department. Many cities and counties require doctors and victims to report bites so the dog can be quarantined (City of St. Louis). The report also creates an official record of the dog, the owner and what happened.

4. Collect evidence

• Owner's name, address, phone and the dog's description
• Photos of the wound on day one and as it heals, plus torn clothing
• Names and phone numbers of witnesses
• Medical records, bills and any time missed from work

Who is liable?

State law decides. Roughly two-thirds of states have a dog bite statute that makes owners strictly liable for bites, meaning you do not have to prove the owner knew the dog was dangerous (Justia, Cornell LII). Other states follow the "one-bite" rule, where you must show the owner knew or should have known the dog was aggressive, or that the owner was negligent, for example by breaking a leash law. Defenses such as provocation or trespassing can reduce or bar a claim.

How dog bite claims are paid

Most bite claims are paid by the dog owner's homeowners or renters insurance, which usually includes liability coverage. A claim can cover medical bills, future treatment such as scar revision, lost wages and pain and suffering. See how pain and suffering is calculated.

Deadlines

A bite claim is a personal injury claim, so your state's statute of limitations applies, commonly two or three years. A different rule may apply to children and to claims against a government agency.

When to call a lawyer

Talk to a personal injury lawyer if the bite needed stitches or surgery, left scarring, involved a child, or the owner's insurer denies the claim.

Sources

1. City of St. Louis Animal Care & Control: What to expect after an animal bite
2. Los Angeles County Public Health: Guide to animal bites
3. Cornell Law School LII: Strict liability
4. Justia: Dog bite laws, 50-state survey