You need to know the measures to take when your dog bites a guest and understand how to help them and avoid legal issues. Your dog is a precious member of your family. If they’re ever aggressive, it’s likely in response to a threat or disturbance. Unfortunately, dogs may perceive a threat where there is none and lash out in response. When they direct this aggression toward another person, it could result in an injury and open the door to enormous liability. No matter how gentle or small your pup might be, every dog owner should know what to do if their canine companion happens to bite somebody.
When Your Dog Bites a Guest: Immediate Steps to Take
The following four steps will help you contain the crisis and minimize liability.
Get Medical Attention
The victim may or may not need to seek medical attention. If they do, it’s essential to help them get medical help immediately. You may need to call 911 and get an ambulance, or it might be easier to transport them to a nearby urgent care facility or emergency room. Once the victim gets the bill for treatment, you should request to see the bill so you can reimburse them or submit it to insurance. If the victim declines to seek treatment, you should note this.
Document the Injury
According to statistics, there are over 4.5 million victims of dog bites every single year in the U.S. alone. In each case, it’s essential to document the injury and the circumstances leading up to the attack. Your memory will never be more reliable than it is immediately following the incident, so you should quickly note the events and take pictures of the victim’s injury. Be sure to ask their permission before taking the photos.
Exchange Contact Information
After you’ve documented the injury and helped the victim seek medical help, you should exchange contact information with them if they need it. You should provide them with your phone number and email address so that they can easily reach you, and you should also get this information from the other party. In some places, this exchange of information is a legal requirement. If there were any witnesses to the attack, you should exchange information with them, too.
Contact Your Insurer
Many dog owners mistakenly assume that a renter’s insurance or homeowner’s policy will cover a dog bite, but this isn’t always true. You can invest in a policy that specifically covers dog bites or choose personal umbrella insurance. Umbrella insurance coverage ideally provides for miscellaneous life liabilities, including dog bites. If an umbrella policy covers you, notify your insurer as soon as possible about the dog bite. Forward them the documentation that you obtained as well as the contact information for the victim.
About Sine Insurance
At Sine Insurance Group, we are dedicated to providing you with custom tailored insurance policies to protect your assets. Our comprehensive packages have been expertly crafted to serve St. Louis and the surrounding areas for the past 25 years. For more information about our products, contact us today at (855) 700-0889.