Popularly known as man's best friend, a dog can be one of the most loyal beings on Earth. Sometimes they will protect us even to the point of risking their own lives. But sometimes these beautiful animals can turn from being calm and tender to quite violent and brutal.
Most animal attacks are from pet dog's. Obviously other animals are guilty of attacking human beings as well, (cats, rats, crocodiles, bears, etc), but the most frequent aggressions are from dogs. Although there are many differences among the type of wounds created by different animals, the post-attack processes, medical and legal managements are the same for all creatures.
The first measure one takes after an animal bite is immediate medical attention and the basic out-of-hospital management in order to avoid serious injures or even death. After appropriate care is given to the wound, legal measures can be taken if necessary. You must report the accident to the police, to the Animal Control department, and request a copy of the Accident Report. This report must contain all the pertaining information about the name, address and contact information of the animal owner and witnesses of the attack. It will be quite helpful if the victim attaches some pictures of any visible injuries or wounds and of the animal, as well as to save any clothing that was damaged by the animal. Later on, a lawyer will advice whether there is a legal claim and what damages the victim is able to recover.
The victim must give all the information about the events that surrounded the moment of the accident as detailed and precise as possible. Depending on the state in which the attack occurs, the injured person must show that the animal had "vicious propensities". That is, the predisposition of the animal to bite or attack. Usually, this can be proven with arguments such as the breed and size of animal, the purpose for which the animal is kept, a history of aggressive behavior, complaints brought to the owner's attention and similar. This sort of information will help a great deal to recover damages, but do not guarantee a legal victory.
There are different types on insurances which cover the homeowners, and even the animal. In these cases, the companies offer an average of liability coverage of approximately $100, 000 and $300,000 and many of them, refuse to cover dog bites after one incident. If the pet's owner does not have insurance, all the medical expenses, which are quite significant most of the time, will be yours to bear on your own.
Remember that you have the right to feel safe when on the streets from animal attacks. Attacks should not be considered normal or ok behavior. The animals' owners must be responsible for his/her pet and handle all the required measures to watch out for the dog and the pedestrians. The responsible departments of law will always be fair and will try to solve all situations that may come along.