There may be no telling when you might sustain a dog bite at work from a scared or aggressive dog. However, you should know that workers in residential areas run the risk of being bitten or attacked by a dog during their workday.
Dog bites are not among the most common injuries you may experience while working. However, they can be severe and cause you to miss work and the wages you need to support yourself and your family. Fortunately, if this does happen to you, there are a few options you have to cover your losses while you heal.
Options for Workers Bit By a Dog
One of your options is to file a claim against the dog owner’s homeowner’s insurance. In most instances of dog bite liability, a pet owner’s homeowner’s insurance covers them against liability if their dog attacks someone.
A successful dog bite liability claim can pay for medical bills, lost wages or earning capacity, pain and suffering, and other damages related to the dog bite.
Filing a Workers’ Compensation Claim for a Dog Bite at Work
A homeowner’s claim against the dog owner is not your only option if a dog bit you while you were at work. You could also file for workers’ compensation benefits.
The bite must have occurred while you were on the job. Workers’ compensation will not cover you if the dog bite occurs on your day off or if it happens before or after you are on the clock.
If successful, you may be able to recover benefits for part of your lost wages and your medical bills.
Filing a Third-Party Lawsuit
You cannot take legal action against an employer. For instance, if you were bit by a dog while working as a mailman, you could file a claim against this company.
However, if a third party was liable for your injuries, you can file a personal injury lawsuit. You have six years from the day of your injury to take action.
For a free legal consultation, call (614) 538-1116
Things to do After a Dog Bite
When you are bitten, you might have sustained an injury. This injury would require you to seek medical attention.
Get Treatment for Your Injuries
If the dog pierced your skin or severely wounded you, you should go to urgent care or the hospital. You could even call emergency services to send an ambulance. However, doing this makes it so that the insurance company cannot claim you didn’t suffer harm.
You do not want to wait to receive treatment. A gap between the injury and getting medical help allows the insurer to challenge the validity of your claim.
Gather Evidence
If you can, take photos of your injuries, the animal, any information on the dog’s tags, and the location where you were injured. You could go back later and utilize these photos to find the dog’s owner. Try to take down any contact information of witnesses, so you can speak to them later.
Report Your Accident to Your Employer
If you sustained a minor injury, you could take the time to fill out an accident report. This document establishes an official record of the bite. You can use this report to pursue benefits or an award. Jobs where on-the-job dog bites are possible include:
- Mailmen
- Garbage collectors
- Door-to-door salesmen
- Landscapers
- Meter readers
- Plumbers
- Contractors
- Cable and internet technicians
- Property inspectors
- Home healthcare workers
- Childcare workers and tutors
Secure Representation
Lastly, we encourage you to retain the services of your lawyer with our firm. Our legal representatives could take on the burden of proving fault and negotiating for a fair settlement or benefits. You might not be in a position to advocate for yourself. Your personal injury lawyer can:
- Make your case to the insurance company, the Workers’ Compensation Board, or a judge
- Protect your legal rights
- Keep you informed
- Make themselves available to answer your questions
- File paperwork
- Help you adhere to timelines
- Search for evidence to support your testimony
While doing all these tasks for you, we will work on a contingency-fee-basis. In other words, we won’t charge you a dime out of pocket, upfront, or hourly. Instead, we will take our fee out of your compensatory award. If we can’t secure a settlement or verdict, you won’t owe us anything.
Get Help From Bressman Law After a Dog Bite
A serious dog bite can cause you to miss work, lose important wages, and maybe even incur expensive hospital bills. If you live in Columbus or the surrounding areas and have been attacked or bitten by a dog at work and suffered severe injuries, reach out to dog bite lawyers at Bressman Law.
Give us a call now for your free, no-obligation consultation with one of our team members. Pay no attorney’s fee unless we win.
Call or text (614) 538-1116 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form
