Being bitten by a dog can be a very scary and traumatic experience. Whether it was your own dog, a friend’s dog or a dog that you never met before, it is important to be on the safe side when it comes to your health and safety and pay a visit to the doctor as soon as possible. While the medical costs of getting treatment are likely to be high, you may be able to make a claim for damages against the owner of the dog that attacked and bit you.
It is estimated that 4.7 million Americans are bitten by dogs every year, and most of them are children. The initial treatment for a dog bite can be done at home, but there are certain risks associated with such injuries, and if there is a lot of bleeding or swelling, it is even more important to see a doctor right away.
Treating a dog bite
The most important first response to a dog bite is to stop the bleeding. This can be done by keeping the wound elevated if possible in order to draw the blood away. In addition, a clean towel should be placed over the wound to stop the flow of blood.
The wound should then be cleaned thoroughly and treated with a sterile bandage to keep the risk of infection low. Using an antibiotic cream will likely also decrease the risk of infection. It is important that you are up-to-date on all vaccinations so that further health complications arise as a result.
If you want to know how you can make a claim for damages after suffering a dog bite, it is important to research how the law works in Ohio.