The moments and hours following a dog attack are critical for both your health and any potential legal claim. While your immediate priority should always be getting medical attention, properly documenting the incident can make the difference between a successful case and a denied claim. Our Ventura, CA dog bite lawyer has seen too many cases where lack of proper documentation made it difficult to hold dog owners accountable for their pet’s actions.
Take Photos of Everything
Start documenting the scene as soon as it’s safe to do so. Take multiple photos of your injuries from different angles, including close-up shots that show the severity of bite marks, scratches, and bruising. Don’t just photograph obvious wounds – document any torn clothing, as this can help demonstrate the force of the attack.
Photograph the location where the attack occurred, including the surrounding area, any fencing or barriers, and the general condition of the property. If the dog is still present and it’s safe to do so, take photos of the animal. These images can help identify the specific dog involved and document its size and breed, which may be relevant to your case.
Continue taking photos of your injuries as they heal. Bruising often becomes more pronounced in the days following an attack, and infection or scarring may develop over time. This progression of photos creates a visual timeline that demonstrates the full impact of your injuries.
Gather Witness Information
If anyone witnessed the attack, get their contact information immediately. Witnesses often leave the scene quickly, and finding them later can be nearly impossible. Ask for their names, phone numbers, email addresses, and a brief description of what they saw.
Don’t rely on your memory to recall witness statements. Ask witnesses to write down what they observed or use your phone to record their account of the incident. Make sure they include details about the dog’s behavior before, during, and after the attack, as well as any actions taken by the dog’s owner.
Get Medical Care and Keep Records
Seek medical attention immediately, even if your injuries seem minor. Dog bites can cause serious infections, and some injuries may not be immediately apparent. Having medical records created right after the attack establishes a clear connection between the incident and your injuries.
Keep copies of all medical records, including emergency room visits, doctor appointments, prescriptions, and any follow-up care. Document any time you miss work due to your injuries, including doctor appointments and recovery time.
At Cohen Injury Law Group, P.C., we’ve handled cases where clients developed serious complications days or weeks after attacks that initially seemed minor. Having complete medical documentation from the beginning strengthens your case significantly.
Obtain Official Reports
Contact local animal control or police to report the incident. These agencies often investigate dog attacks and create official reports that can be valuable evidence in your case. The report may include information about the dog’s vaccination status, previous incidents, and the owner’s response to the attack.
Ask for a copy of any report filed about the incident. If animal control doesn’t automatically investigate, request that they do so. Some jurisdictions require dog owners to quarantine their pets after attacks to monitor for rabies, and this information becomes part of the official record.
Document the Dog and Owner Information
Get as much information as possible about the dog and its owner. This includes the owner’s name, address, phone number, and homeowner’s or renter’s insurance information. Find out the dog’s name, breed, age, and vaccination status if possible.
Ask about any previous incidents involving the same dog. Dog owners are sometimes willing to discuss their pet’s history immediately after an attack, but they may become less cooperative once they realize they might face legal liability.
Preserve Physical Evidence
Keep any clothing damaged during the attack in a safe place. Don’t wash items that have blood or other evidence on them, as these may be needed later. If you received any torn fabric or other materials from the scene, preserve these as well.
Report to Insurance Companies Carefully
While you should report the incident to your own insurance company, be careful about what you say to the dog owner’s insurance company. Insurance adjusters may try to get you to make statements that could hurt your case later.
We recommend speaking with legal counsel before giving detailed statements to insurance companies. What seems like a routine question might actually be an attempt to get you to minimize your injuries or accept partial blame for the attack.
Document Ongoing Impact
Keep a diary of how the attack affects your daily life. Note any pain, sleep disturbances, anxiety about dogs, or other ways the incident impacts your routine. This documentation can be valuable for demonstrating pain and suffering damages.
Take note of any activities you can no longer participate in due to your injuries or psychological trauma from the attack. These limitations can affect the value of your compensation claim.
Act Quickly
Dog bite cases have strict deadlines, and evidence can disappear quickly. Witnesses forget details, surveillance footage gets deleted, and physical evidence degrades over time. The sooner you begin documenting your case, the stronger your evidence will be.
Dog owners and their insurance companies often try to minimize their liability by questioning the severity of attacks or suggesting that victims somehow provoked their pets. Thorough documentation from the beginning makes it much harder for them to dispute the facts of your case.