Yes, you have to report your dog bite in Indiana. According to the State of Indiana, you will need to report the incident to your local health department. You have 24 hours to make this report.
If you sought medical attention for your injury, your physician would be required to report the incident. This procedure does not just pertain to dog bites, though–it pertains to any animal bite, whether the animal was wild or domestic.
You could pursue compensation if you were bitten by a dog. An Indianapolis personal injury lawyer from our firm can evaluate your case and determine whether you are eligible to take legal action.
Procedures For Reporting Your Dog Bite in Indiana
You will need to report your dog bite to your local health department. You will need to submit some information about your circumstances, including:
- Details about the dog’s breed, coloring, and rabies tag number
- Your name, address, and phone number
- A statement about the incident itself
The dog’s owner will also be asked to disclose some information about the incident. However, to avoid liability, they may refuse to do this.
An Indianapolis personal injury lawyer from our firm can assist you with your questions about a dog bite report. We can also assist you with any communication necessary in order to complete this form.
The Benefits of Reporting a Dog Bite to the Appropriate Authorities
Not only is reporting a dog bite to the appropriate authorities standard procedure, but it could also help build your personal injury case. Even the smallest shred of evidence could provide valuable insight into your situation.
Some of the benefits of reporting your dog bite injury include:
You Can Establish That You Were Hurt
The dog’s owner may deny that you were hurt. They may argue that your injuries were self-inflicted or that you got hurt in another manner.
By reporting the incident, you can establish that you were bitten by an aggressive dog. You can also have some aspects of your case in writing.
You Can Establish the Circumstances of Your Dog Bite Injury
As noted, you will be asked to provide a brief summary of what happened. This could prevent the dog’s owner from alleging that you provoked their animal.
However, we can help defend you from any false claims that you were responsible for the attack. Dog owners can be held liable for any injuries caused by their pets’ aggression. You do not need to prove that the dog was aggressive prior to the bite; you only need to prove that the dog bit you and you were hurt.
A lawyer from our firm can work to prove that you were hurt by the dog in question. We can also protect you against any untrue allegations that would make you at fault for what happened.
Considerations After Being Bitten By a Dog
After being bitten by a dog, there are a number of things that you can do to build your personal injury case. For starters, you should seek medical attention. By having a healthcare professional evaluate and treat your condition, you can gather evidence to prove that you were hurt.
Other measures that you should take include:
- Take photos of your injuries
- Gather the contact information of any witnesses
- Take your medications as prescribed
- Refrain from posting on social media, as the claims adjuster may be able to view your posts
- Leave the communication with the insurance company to your legal team
Dog bite cases can be complicated, and the foundation of your case begins from the moment you are hurt. Our law firm can go into more detail about what measures could protect your right to financial recovery.
You Could Recover Compensation After Suffering a Dog Bite
Our law firm can pursue compensation for a host of injury-related expenses. You do not need to handle your case without help.
We can seek a financial recovery for the following:
- Pain and suffering
- Lost wages
- Loss of future earning ability
- Medical expenses
- Disability
- Disfigurement
We can pursue compensation for other losses not included here.
We do not recommend that you represent yourself in an insurance claim, as the insurance adjuster may try to push you to accept an unfair settlement. We can counter these techniques and fight for the best possible outcome for your case.
Sevenish Law Firm, P.C. Can Handle Your Case For You
So, yes–you need to report your dog bite in Indiana. Yet, if you have problems doing this, our team can assist you with the process. Additionally, we can manage your personal injury claim or lawsuit.
The founder of our firm, Randall Sevenish, has been helping people recover payment for their losses since 1985. We understand that a dog bite can disrupt your day-to-day life and result in costly expenses.
You can call us today at (317) 720-3229 to discuss your case for free. Ask us about our past results and what you can expect from partnering with our team.
Call or text 317-636-7777 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form
