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Dog Bite Injuries

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If you’ve been the victim of a dog bite, the right personal injury lawyer can make certain that you recover the maximum benefits you deserve under the law. Our lawyers have prepared instructions that you can follow if you are attacked by a dog in Rhode Island or SE Massachusetts. These do’s and don’ts for victims of dog bites should help you protect your rights to compensation and give you the very best opportunity for recovery.

There are about 60 million dogs in the United States, most of which are lovable pets. Unfortunately dogs sometimes bite and according to the Center for Disease Control the number of dog bites requiring medical attention has been steadily rising. Dogs bite nearly 5 million Americans every year and approximately 800,000 of these bites require medical care. A large majority of the victims are children, who are often bitten on the face.

In Rhode Island and Massachusetts, filing a Dog Bite claim consists of finding who is responsible for the dog and finding available insurance coverage that is often provided by a homeowner’s insurance policy. Generally speaking, if a dog bites a person, and the dog owner has homeowners insurance, there may be insurance coverage for the victim’s injuries. This insurance coverage should include damages for medical bills as well as pain and suffering caused to the victim. Therefore, a victim of a dog attack should immediately consult a personal injury lawyer in order to preserve a right to compensation.

What to do if a Dog Bites you

Our dog bite lawyers have prepared the following suggestions on what to do if a dog bites you:

Get Medical Attention:

A dog bite is a very traumatic thing. Any injury, even a minor one, causes the body to go into shock. The defense mechanism of the human body to shock is to dull the body’s response to pain or injury. Make sure you're okay and that you have not been infected with any disease. Do not be afraid to tell the doctor about every area of your body in which you are experiencing pain.

Identify the Animal:

Find out the name and address of the owner of the dog and also the dog's license information. Make sure a report on the incident has been filed with animal control or other public agency.

Get Names and Contact Information from Witnesses:

Take the name, address and telephone number of any potential witness and save this information someplace where it will not be lost. If you have obtained witness information, do not contact or speak to the witnesses again or try to get any written statements from them. Let your attorney contact any possible witness.

Take Photographs:

Take Photographs of the location where the incident occurred. Take photographs of the condition of your clothing and the area on your body where you have been bitten. Take as many photographs as you would like of what you think may be important. Your attorney can decide later which pictures are most useful.

What NOT to do if a Dog Bites you

DO NOT discuss or make any statements about your case with any employees or insurance representatives of the property owner, without first speaking with your own lawyer.

DO NOT accept any forms of payment or sign any releases without speaking to your lawyer. Doing so could waive your right to recovery.

DO NOT apologize for the incident (for example, "I may have provoked the dog," or "it probably was my fault.") Any statement you make can be used against you by insurance companies and their attorneys to defeat your claim for compensation. Don't sign any document admitting fault.

If a dog has bitten you, you should consider contacting an attorney who specializes in dog bite cases. The attorneys of d'Oliveira & Associates, P.C., would like to meet with you and discuss the investigation of your injury. Our law firm has represented and assisted numerous dog bite victims in bringing lawsuits against dog owners and insurance companies alike. We never charge our clients any fees or expenses, unless we win your case.

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