What to Do After a Dog Bite in Georgia?

After a dog bite, you need immediate medical attention, even if the wounds seem minor. Dog bites can lead to infections and other complications that can cause long-term issues. You should also see a doctor to get medical documentation as evidence if you are planning to file a personal injury claim.

Through a personal injury claim, you may be able to recover financial compensation for your medical bills, lost work income, and other injury-related losses. You can talk to a dog bite attorney if you have further questions about Georgia laws and dog bite injury liability.

What Steps Should You Take After Suffering a Dog Bite Injury in Georgia?

Your priority after a dog bite should be receiving medical attention. Once you have received emergency treatment, start documenting the accident scene. Take pictures of your injuries, get the dog owner’s homeowners’ insurance information, and ask eyewitnesses for statements. You should also report the injury to local animal control.

Next, consult a medical professional to obtain formal documentation of your injuries. Get copies of all imaging results, diagnostic tests, doctor’s notes, discharge paperwork, hospital bills, and any other injury-related paperwork.

Lastly, contact a dog bite attorney. They can guide you through the next steps of the injury claim process and help organize evidence. An attorney can also negotiate with insurers and represent you in litigation if a dog bite lawsuit is necessary.

Should I Get a Shot After a Dog Bite?

It depends on the severity of the bite, your vaccination status, and the dog’s vaccination status. Dog bites can carry tetanus, so you may want to get a tetanus shot if you have not had one within the past 10 years.

Dog bites also carry the risk of rabies. Check with the owner concerning the dog’s vaccination record. If the dog has not had a rabies shot, you should consider getting one. In general, the more severe the wounds, the more likely it is that you’ll need a shot.

Can You Get a Disease from a Dog Bite?

Yes, you can get diseases from a dog bite. Dogs’ mouths contain several bacteria that can infect wounds, such as Pasteurella or staph infection. Doctors typically prescribe a round of antibiotics to dog bite victims to prevent any potential infections before they occur. Even minor wounds can become infected, so it’s essential to clean them properly and consult a doctor if you notice any swelling, redness, or discharge of pus.

What Is Georgia’s Responsible Dog Owner Act?

Georgia’s Responsible Dog Owner Act refers to O.C.G.A. 4-8-1 to 4-8-33. The act outlines procedures to control the behavior of dangerous dogs and prevent them from causing injury to humans, pets, and livestock. The law effectively creates minimum standards for the classification and handling of different dogs. At the same time, specific counties can impose stricter standards and restrictions.

The Responsible Dog Owner Act defines a dangerous dog as one that does the following:

• Causes a substantial puncture wound,
• Attacks in a manner that makes someone have a reasonable fear of serious injury, or
• Kills a pet animal while off the owner’s property

If animal control receives a report of a dog attack, they can investigate and classify the dog as dangerous. Owners of dangerous dogs are required to microchip their pets, display warning signs, and securely confine them. Failing to obey these rules can result in misdemeanor or even felony charges.

Is the Responsible Dog Owner Act the Same as the One-Bite Rule?

No, the Responsible Dog Owner Act concerns the classification and treatment of dangerous dogs. In contrast, a one-bite rule is a legal principle governing dog owner liability for bite injuries. According to one-bite rules, dog owners are only liable for bite injuries if their dog has previously hurt someone.

Georgia technically doesn’t have a one-bite rule, but its rules are somewhat similar. In Georgia, dog owners are liable for bite injuries if the following apply:

• The dog is vicious or dangerous,
• The owner carelessly managed the dog, and
• The injured person did not provoke the animal (O.C.G.A. 51-2-7)

As such, a key part of many dog bite claims in Georgia is proving that the owner was aware of their animal’s vicious tendencies and that they were careless.

What Happens if You Don’t Report the Dog Bite?

Bite victims are not legally required to report dog bites in Georgia. However, they should report bite injuries to generate evidence to use during the claims process. If victims don’t report bite injuries, it will be harder to prove their injuries and the owner’s responsibility in a personal injury lawsuit.

Will the Dog’s Owner Always Be Considered At-Fault for a Dog Bite Injury?

No, dog owners are not always at fault for dog bite injuries. Specifically, if the bite victim provoked or attacked the dog beforehand, the owner is not liable for their injuries. Dog owners may also not be liable for injuries if they didn’t know the animal’s dangerous tendencies.

What Sort of Compensation Might Be Available for a Georgia Dog Bite Injury Claim?

Georgia’s laws can hold dog owners liable for the full cost of the victim’s injuries. This could include compensation for the following:

• Medical bills and continuing medical expenses
• Lost work income and employment compensation
• Reduced lifetime earning capacity from disability
• Miscellaneous injury costs
• Pain and suffering
• Scarring and disfigurement
• Loss of life enjoyment

If the dog owners displayed willfully malicious or reckless disregard for others’ safety, the victim may also be able to recover additional compensation in the form of punitive damages.

Contact a Georgia Dog Bite Injury Lawyer

Many people dismiss dog bite injuries as not serious, but you deserve an attorney who will take them seriously. Attorney R. Alan Cleveland can assist you in filing a claim against the responsible dog owner and help you pursue financial compensation. We have recovered over $150 million for our injury clients and won’t back down from big insurance companies.

Our law firm has extensive experience helping injury victims in Athens pursue the compensation they need to recover and rebuild their lives. Contact the offices of R. Alan Cleveland, LLC, online or call today for a free case consultation with a dog bite lawyer in Georgia.