Dogs might be man’s best friend, but it’s important to remember that our four-legged friends are still animals. A bite from an animal—especially a dog with a powerful jaw or strong bite power—can cause severe and lasting damage, both physically and mentally.

Knowing what to do after a traumatic event isn’t always easy, though. We hope that the following five important steps to take after a dog bite accident will serve as a helpful guide as you try to navigate this difficult period of life. And if you have any questions or concerns, please reach out to our Marion law office for a completely free case evaluation.

Turn on the news, especially at a time of the year like the spring and summer when temperatures are often suitable for dog owners to leave their pets outside. You’ll hear many stories about furry friends attacking people unexpectedly. You might realize that one sign of a rabid dog is that they indiscriminately walk up to humans and attack them. However, you might also think that there’s no way in which all the dogs mentioned in the stories you hear have rabies.

As you may suspect, dogs don’t have to be suffering from the behavior-altering and deadly neurological condition rabies to lead them to approach and potentially attack us humans. Dogs may become aggressive and lash out for various other reasons. They generally send warning signs before lashing out and attacking. Knowing the signs to look for may save you from suffering potentially life-threatening injuries.

Not all dog owners are careful about restraining their dogs when visitors or workers come to their property. Even dogs that people claim are generally friendly are capable of biting people who do not provoke them. If you were recently bitten by a dog, it is important to understand the potential impact of the bite and what to do next. A dog bite injury can be very serious, and this is true whether the dog is small or large.