1) Pro-actively Do Everything Legally Possible to obtain the Attacking Dog Owner's Full Name and Home Address:  This is an extremely important step to follow if you want to make a damage claim for a serious injury. Be assertive to get this crucial information. The best practice is to obtain a photo of the dog owner's driver's license, if possible.

If the dog owner is not co-operating or evading the scene in a serious dog bite incident, call 911 without delay and tell them that dog owner is evading the scene, and then follow their guidelines.  Remember, if you do not have the dog owner's address and name, then it will be an uphill battle to make a monetary civil damage claim.  Unfortunately, police and by-law officers typically do not release name and address of the dog owner without a complicated and lengthy appeal procedure with the Privacy Commission, and so you should not count on government officials simply handing you in the dog owner's name and address. 

2) Visit Doctor or Hospital Emergency As Soon as Possible: Seek medical attention from a doctor asap. Do not hesitate to go to hospital emergency as this may prevent more critical and permanent injuries. For a serious dog attack injury or if unsure about the seriousness of the injury, go straight to the hospital emergency. Call 911 if the injury is serious.

Save all medical records, and follow doctor's advice closely. Your proper treatment also ensures your just compensation after a serious dog bite/attack accident.

Dog Bites can be infectious. Dog bites or attacks can also crack bones, cause backbone injury, head injury or other serious medical conditions.  So seek medical help and do not take it lightly.

3) Report the Dog Bite Incident to the Local Animal Control: Search internet or just call us at 289-678-1637 and we will help you find your local animal control to report a dog bite injury. This starts an investigation and record preservation that may be handy later on for your damage claim. It also starts preventive measures and by-law enforcement that is conducive to the community's safety. We keep a directory of Local Animal Control/ By-law enforcement offices in Ontario that you can access by clicking HERE. 

4) Start Preserving Evidence:

• Take ample pictures and videos of the injury, location and surroundings. Take note of any available video surveillance. Write down or take picture of anything you think relevant to the dog attack injury. Save all written and hard evidence like torn clothes, emergency and medical records etc.
• If there is any witnesses to the incident, keep their full names, phone numbers and if possible, email addresses.

5. Call Hannan Virdi Dog Bite Injury Lawyers  at 289 678 1637for a free no-obligation lawyer's consultation if you think Your Injury is Serious Enough to Make a Monetary Damage Claim. Usman Hannan or Jatinder Virdi, two specialist Ontario dog bite /attack lawyers will directly address your call, and will assess your case.

1. Do NOT Let the Dog Owner Escape without Giving His/her Full Name and Address: The dog owner, if unknown or a stranger, may conveniently try to escape the scene.  Sometimes they play the trick of just giving their first name only and their phone number, which may not be enough to trace them out at a later date. DO NOT LET THEM GO AWAY without providing you their full name, phone number and home address so that you can follow up at a later stage for a possible damage claim.  And we literally mean that the dog owner must give their full legal name and address to you. Calling the authority or the police at a later time, though may be a good step to take, may not help much in finding the dog owner's identity if you do not get it at the scene in the first place. Police usually takes a bit lackadaisical view in a dog bite case unless the injury is truly egregious and the local Animal Control By-law officers are often constrained by limited resources. So often times, an escaped dog owner simply remains unidentified, and no civil claim can be made. And even if the authority finds the dog owner, because of out-of-reality privacy legislations, it can take a lot of pain, money, clearing of red-tapes and many months or even years to get the dog owner's name and address from the authority, unless you obtain this necessary information from the dog owner upfront.
   

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2. Do NOT Prematurely Settle Cheap: The dog owner may offer you medical expense or a measly sum of bucks and induce you to drop the case under various pretentions. DO NOT be bamboozled as such, for if your injury is serious, you would almost certainly end up getting only a fraction of what you are entitled to. If your injury is serious, getting a just and full compensation after a proper assessment by an expert dog bite personal injury lawyer is your civil right - please do not let anyone make you feel  bad about seeking your civil right.
   

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3. Do NOT Talk with Dog Owner's Insurance: Dog owner's insurer may start communicating with you, obtaining evidences, asking for statements etc. DO NOT TALK WITH THEM other than keeping the Insurance Company/Adjuster's Name and Contact Information to Pass it Own to Your Specialist Dog Bite Lawyer. They may appear  friendly, but their incentive lies in denying liability or minimizing your damage recovery. Also, what you say to them may destroy or seriously undermine your rightful case before you know it.  Remember, they are trained professionals who are typically well-advised by defense lawyers to protect the insurance company's interests.
   

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4.  Do Not Go To Generalist Lawyers for Your Serious Dog Bite Injury Damage Claim.  Specialization makes a difference in getting the best outcome in a critical dog attack injury damage claim. Go to a generalist at your own peril.