How to File a Dog Bite Report in Columbus

A dog bite can be a traumatic experience for everyone involved. At John Foy & Associates, our Columbus dog bite lawyer has the experience and understanding to make sure your case is handled with the compassion and customer service you deserve. We have extensive knowledge of dog bite law and cover the entire state of Georgia allowing us to gain more experience in cases like yours all the time. 

This is a stressful experience, and a lawyer from John Foy & Associates will work to alleviate some of that. If you have been injured by a dog bite in Columbus, know that you have options for recourse available. You don’t have to bear the burden of irresponsible dog owners or handlers.

Columbus Dog Bites

A dog bite in Columbus can be a big deal. In many cases, dog bites result in injuries that require reconstructive surgeries. According to recent dog bite statistics, they cause up to 100 emergency room visits per day.

In recent years, Columbus has seen its fair share of dog bites. In fact, a local newspaper reports that nearly 1200 dog bites have been recorded in Columbus in the past three years. One such attack resulted in a Columbus woman needing a partial amputation of her leg.

Dog bites should not be taken lightly. In fact, the animal ordinances for the city of Columbus state that any bite or scratch from an animal should be reported. This is due to public safety matters, as well as rabies control. 

Columbus Dog Bite Report

When it comes to any kind of government paperwork, it can become overwhelming to determine the best place to go. When in doubt, you can call your local police department, which should be able to direct you to the appropriate agency to file your report, though you may benefit from filing a police report as well. For the city of Columbus, you can file your report through the animal care and control center.

When you call to file your dog bite report, you will be asked for several pieces of information. The specific details of animal control requests may vary depending on the situation. However, you can expect to provide the following:

• Dog owner’s name, address, phone number
• Dog breed or description
• Vaccination status (if known)
• Location of the attack 
• The severity of your injuries
• Information regarding any witnesses to the attack

After a Columbus Dog Bite

Immediately following a dog bite, safety should be the priority. This means safety for you and getting your injuries evaluated, as well as safety for the animal. At this moment, it is important to remember that you and the animal are victims, and it is the owner who should be held accountable for your injuries. 

When everyone is safe, the owner’s information is a necessity. Without that information, no one can contact them regarding compensation for your injuries or accountability for the care of their animal. If anyone was nearby to see or hear the attack, their information may be helpful to gather.

Additionally, taking photos of your injuries may help if you decide to pursue legal action. These photos are documentation of your injuries immediately after the incident, which may be useful in your Columbus dog bite report. If you have photos of the animal, this may be able to provide support to your case as well as confirm the ID of the animal. 

Consequences of a Dog Bite

After a single attack, the owner of an animal may be investigated. Their dog may be evaluated to determine if there was any reason for them to believe the dog was aggressive. If it is determined that they should have reasonably known, they may be held 100% liable for your injuries. 

If this is the first time their dog has attacked, the investigation will likely include a ten-day quarantine, which is required per the rabies control manual through the Department of Public Health. This ensures that any possible exposure is caught early, and the animal is generally free to go back home once the quarantine is over with a negative rabies test.

If this is not the first offense and the dog has been labeled as vicious, the owner must meet additional requirements to care for the dog. Per the Responsible Dog Owner Act, violation of these requirements may result in criminal charges. These criminal charges are in addition to civil lawsuits they may face if the victim needs to sue in order to recover damages. 

Benefits of a Columbus Dog Bite Report

Some people may be hesitant to file a Columbus dog bite report. This may feel like extreme measures when it comes to protecting your rights to compensation for injuries the dog owner is responsible for. If you want to preserve your right to file a lawsuit to recover your damages, you must report your dog bite in Georgia.

If you are unsure about taking formal action or why you need a dog bite lawyer action, having a dog bite report can provide support for your case to the dog owner’s insurance company. If the policy covers animal attacks, your lawyer can negotiate with their lawyer to settle on a compensation amount without going to trial. Even if you are unsure about a lawsuit, but you still need your medical bills and time from work paid, a dog bite report can support your goal. 

In addition to protecting your own rights to compensation, submitting a dog bite report can help keep the Columbus community safer. Regardless of the cause of the attack, a dog bite report allows Animal Control officers to take steps to ensure the animal gets appropriate care and the owner is held to the necessary guidelines.  Your Columbus dog bite report may be the reason no one else is injured by the negligent handling of the owner. 

Don’t Handle Your Columbus Dog Bite Alone

The uncertainty following a traumatic event like a dog bite can leave anyone feeling overwhelmed and alone. When you call John Foy & Associates, you will see that we care about the customer service and support of our clients. Our client testimonials speak for themselves.

Our goal is to make your recovery easier while fighting for your right to compensation. When you schedule a free case consultation with us, we will gather information from you about the incident. From there we can advise you on the legal options we may be able to provide you.