How to Report a Dog Bite in North Carolina

Report a dog bite in North Carolina to your local Animal Control or county health department immediately. In addition, treat your dog bite injuries and visit a doctor, since bite reports are necessary for rabies protocol. Along with these things, get the dog owner’s information, identify witnesses who saw you get hurt, and document your injuries.

Meet with a Rutherfordton dog bite lawyer if you want help reporting a dog bite in North Carolina. Your attorney will remain accessible as you go through the process of notifying the authorities about your dog bite.

Plus, they can help you get money from a dog owner for the costs of treating your dog bite injuries and other losses.

Steps to Report a Dog Bite in NC

Expect problems if you don’t report a dog bite incident in North Carolina. In this situation, the dog that bites you could harm another person. Meanwhile, you’ll be responsible for any expenses that you incur due to your dog bite injuries.

Leave nothing to chance in the aftermath of a dog bite.

Follow these steps to report your dog bite to the authorities and care for yourself:

Get medical attention. Prioritize your health, well-being, and safety in the moments after a dog bites you. Wash your wound thoroughly with soap and water for at least 15 minutes, and contact a doctor or visit an urgent care to find out if you need a tetanus shot or rabies treatment.
Reach out to the authorities. Notify your local Animal Control or county health department about your dog bite. This is required by state law.
Build your case. Get the names and contact information of the owner of the dog that injured you and any witnesses. Take photographs of your injuries and keep track of what you spend to treat them, too.

If you have no idea what to do after a dog bites you, remember, you don’t have to face the ramifications of this incident alone.

Dog bite attorneys are available. They will remain on your side as you report your dog bite to the authorities. On top of that, they will let you know if you have grounds for suing a dog owner for the harm that their pet has caused.

Can I Sue for a Dog Bite in NC?

You can sue for a dog bite in North Carolina. But you should meet with dog bite injury lawyers before you file a lawsuit against the owner of the animal that attacked you. Your attorney will evaluate your case and discuss your legal options with you.

They will also go over several legal topics relating to your case with you, including:

Strict liability: This is defined by North Carolina G.S. § 67-4.4. In accordance with strict liability, if a dog is deemed “dangerous” or is not restrained and bites and injures you, the animal’s owner is liable, regardless of prior behavior.
Statute of limitations: In North Carolina, the statute of limitations for filing a personal injury lawsuit is generally three years. This gives you up to three years to sue a dog owner after their pet bites you.
Negligence: You can sue a dog owner if they are careless or reckless in controlling their pet, which leads to your dog bite injuries.
Contributory negligence: If a judge or jury rules that you’re even 1% to blame for your dog bite injuries, you are barred from recovering damages.

Outside of these things, your personal injury attorney will account for your tangible and intangible losses from your dog bite and injuries.

They will calculate your economic and non-economic damages and prepare an argument designed to prove to a judge or jury why you deserve compensation for your medical bills, pain and suffering, and other losses.

Personal Injury Lawyer Near Me (828) 286-3866

What Will Happen to the Dog That Bit Me?

After a dog bites you, the animal is required to go into quarantine for 10 days. This is mandatory, regardless of the severity of a dog bite. During quarantine, the animal is checked for rabies. If the dog is healthy and shows no signs of rabies, the County Director of Public Health or Animal Control will authorize the animal’s release from quarantine.

Animal Control could declare a dog as “dangerous” if the animal bites and severely injures you or has a history of aggression. Once a dog is classified as dangerous, the animal’s owner will be required to comply with various regulations, like having to place a “Warning: Dangerous Dog” sign on their property and maintain at least $100,000 in liability insurance.

If you’re choosing not to report a dog bite injury in North Carolina because you’re worried that the animal will be euthanized, it’s important to note that it’s extremely rare for a pet to be put down after it bites someone. Ultimately, a court will only order a dog to be euthanized if it’s found to be a continuing danger to the general public.

Don’t Wait to Report Dog Bites in NC

Report dog bites in North Carolina right away. This helps protect you and others from further harm. At the same time, reporting a dog bite allows you to start the process of seeking compensation from the owner of the animal that injured you.

Farmer & Morris Law, PLLC, has served more than 10,000 clients. We empathize with those recovering from dog bite injuries. If you want help with reporting a dog bite in North Carolina or filing a claim or lawsuit against a pet owner, we’re here for you. Contact us today.