What to do in the first 48 hours after a dog bite.
Dog bite cases turn on documentation that's easy to lose. The animal, the owner, the witnesses, and the medical record. Get all four locked down quickly.
At the scene
The first 60 minutes.
- 01
Get away from the dog and call 911 if needed
Severe bites need EMS. Even minor bites usually warrant urgent care for irrigation, antibiotics, and tetanus. Don't try to wait it out.
- 02
Identify the dog and owner
Owner's name, address, phone. The dog's name, breed, vaccination history if you can find out. If the dog is unknown or off-leash, get a description of the dog and any direction it ran.
- 03
Photograph the wound, the location, and the dog if possible
Wounds change fast. Photos within the first hour are markedly different from photos a day later. Photograph any broken fence, open gate, or condition on the property that contributed.
- 04
Get witness contact info
Anyone who saw the bite or saw the dog before the bite. Their testimony often makes the difference between a contested case and a clear one.
First 24 hours
Report the bite. Get checked.
- 01
Report the bite to local animal control
Missouri and Illinois both require dog bites to be reported. The animal-control file becomes evidence. The dog will typically be observed for 10 days for rabies. Reporting also creates a record of any prior complaints.
- 02
Get full medical care
Even small bites can produce serious infections. Document everything. Wound dimensions, photographs, treatment plan, prescriptions, any rabies-prophylaxis discussion.
- 03
Find out about the dog's history
Prior bites, prior animal-control complaints, breed and weight. Illinois's strict liability statute (510 ILCS 5/16) makes prior history less critical than in many states; Missouri's law differs.
- 04
Don't accept a fast settlement from the owner's homeowners' insurer
Bite cases often get fast lowball offers in the first week. Wound healing, scarring, and emotional sequelae take longer to appear than the offer takes to arrive.
First week
Build the file.
- 01
Get the animal-control report
Your attorney requests it formally. The report shows whether the dog had been quarantined before, whether there were prior complaints, and what the owner reported.
- 02
Document all bills and out-of-pocket costs
Medical bills, pharmacy receipts, transportation, time off work. Save all of it.
- 03
Photograph the scarring at intervals
Scarring changes over weeks. A series of dated photographs. Week 1, week 4, week 12. Helps document the long-term cosmetic and functional damage.
- 04
Talk to an attorney about the homeowners' policy
Most dog-bite recoveries come from the owner's homeowners' insurance, not the owner personally. Coverage analysis is a critical early step.
Five things never to do.
- · Sign a release in exchange for an early payment without legal review.
- · Skip reporting the bite to animal control. The agency report is essential evidence.
- · Accept the homeowner's offer to 'just pay your medical bills.' That offer almost always leaves out scarring, future care, and other damages.
- · Throw away clothing that was bitten through. It's evidence of bite force and contact area.
- · Post photos of the wound or commentary about the bite on social media before the case is resolved.
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