How to Document Your Injuries for a Dog Bite Lawsuit

Dog bites can leave victims with traumatic and life-long injuries. If you’ve been bitten by a dog in the state of New Jersey, it is important to take certain steps in order to protect your rights. Victims should document their injuries, which is a crucial step in helping to build a strong civil case. Proper documentation will help show insurance companies, opposing legal counsel, and a court of law the extent of the damages that you sustained. What follows below are some of the essential steps to take when documenting injuries for a dog bite lawsuit.

File a Police Report of the Incident

Filing a police report is an important step in documenting any dog bite. There are a number of ways that filing a police report can be beneficial for your case.

• A police report creates an official record of the attack.
• A police report will include details about the time of the attack, the dog, the owner, and the circumstances around the event.
• A police report can help strengthen your claims of negligence or liability for the dog owner.

A police report is an important tool when negotiating your case. Among other things, it will typically include photos and body camera footage to help demonstrate the extent of injuries.

Seek Medical Aid As Early As Possible

It is crucial that victims of dog attacks seek medical attention as early as possible. Many of the injuries associated with dog attacks may not be immediately obvious, especially when a dog bite leads to an infection. Seeking medical attention addresses your physical needs and helps create another official record of what took place. Victims should take several actions after getting treatment.

• Inform your healthcare provider that your injuries are the result of a dog bite.
• Request a detailed report of the treatment you receive at the hospital. This should include photographs of the wounds.
• Keep copies of all of the prescriptions that you take and discharge summaries.

Medical care after any dog bite may require victims to seek extensive follow-up treatment. This may include surgeries or additional rounds of antibiotics. All medical bills and receipts related to your case should be preserved. Properly documenting all of the treatment will help you build a strong case.

Take Clear Photographs of Your Injuries

The police or medical staff may take photographs of your injuries. But this often does not happen. Take it upon yourself to take clear and effective photographs. The following tips will help ensure that your photographs are effective in the event of a lawsuit.

• Photos should be taken as early as possible after a bite takes place.
• Photos should document the recovery process and wound over time.
• Photos should be taken in good lighting to help clearly show the extent of the injuries.
• Photos should be taken from several different angles.
• Photos should include common objects like rulers to help reveal the scale of an injury.

Photographs can be a powerful tool to help demonstrate the severity of your injuries. This is especially important if your case is ever presented before a jury.

Document How Your Injury Has Impacted Your Life

A dog bite can impact every aspect of a person’s life, often leaving victims with physical injuries, emotional trauma, and financial burdens. To help build a strong case, victims should document all of this.

• Pain levels and physical limitations as a result of the injury should be recorded.
• Any emotional distress, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, and subsequent treatment should be noted.
• Victims should keep a tally of missed workdays or activities as a result of the injury.

A written record of the struggles associated with the attack can help paint a clear picture of how this event has impacted you. It can also be used to rebuff claims that you were not seriously injured.

Gather Witness Statements

In many cases, a dog attack may be witnessed by several people, including neutral parties. It is important to collect witness statements related to your attack.

• Witness statements can help corroborate your version of the attack.
• Witness statements can help establish negligence on the part of the dog owner.
• Witness statements can add credibility to your claims, especially if they are from neutral parties.

Victims should collect the contact information of any witnesses. Their statements can be enormously helpful, particularly if a dog owner disputes your version of what happened.

Obtain Animal Control Reports

Dog bites in New Jersey are usually reported to animal control authorities. You can contact animal control to obtain a copy of the report that they produce. Similar to a police report, this document will include critical details about the event.

• The report will include details about the dog, owner, and circumstances of the attack.
• The report will include whether or not the dog involved was up to date on vaccines.
• The report will include any prior history of the dog’s aggressive behavior.

The animal control report is another piece of valuable information to help document what happened. In many cases, dogs that attack or seriously injure someone will have a history of aggressive behavior.

Consult an Experienced New Jersey Dog Bite Injury Attorney

Dealing with a dog bite can be overwhelming. It is important for dog bite victims to consult with an experienced attorney. They can help make sure that evidence related to your claim is properly documented. Your attorney can perform several other crucial tasks.

• They can handle all communication with insurance companies.
• They can collect key pieces of evidence through subpoenas if necessary.
• They can advocate for your best interests and negotiate a favorable settlement on your behalf.

There is a tremendous peace of mind that comes with having a skilled attorney advocate on your behalf. There are no up-front costs associated with hiring an attorney, and they only get paid by the opposing party if they successfully resolve your case.

Getting Legal Help After A New Jersey Dog Bite

Properly documenting your injuries after a dog bite is critical to building a strong legal claim. By documenting your injuries and working with a skilled attorney, you can protect your rights and pursue compensation for your ordeal.

If you or someone that you care about has been injured in a New Jersey dog bite, you may have legal recourse. The New Jersey dog bite lawyers at Beninato & Matrafajlo are here to help you. We care deeply that victims of dog attacks get the medical and financial support that they are entitled to under the law. Whether you just have legal questions or need any type of support, we are here for you. You can reach out to us anytime at 908-355-7100.