What to Do As a Delivery Driver Who Gets Bit By a Dog

 Posted on February 23,2024 in Personal Injury

Getting attacked by a dog while delivering packages can be a scary situation. As a delivery driver, you have legal rights if you suffer injuries from a dog bite while working. A Texas lawyer can help you figure out the next proper steps based on your situation.

Assess Your Injuries and Get Medical Care

If you are bitten by a dog while making a delivery, the first thing you should do is assess your injuries. Are they minor scratches or more serious wounds that require immediate medical attention? Prioritize getting the medical care you need, so you can start the process of documenting what happened. Even if the bite seems minor at first, you should still see a doctor to have the wounds professionally cleaned and checked for signs of infection. Dog bites can carry bacteria deep into tissues and lead to complications. Getting prompt medical care can prevent the wound from getting worse. Make sure to follow all your doctor’s orders, which may include taking antibiotics or getting a tetanus shot. Follow up with your physician until the bite has fully healed. Thorough medical records will help support your case later.

File a Report with Animal Control

Another important step is to file a dog bite report with your local animal control department. Animal control officers are responsible for investigating incidents, checking if the dog’s rabies vaccine is up to date, and monitoring for signs of rabies.

When you file the report, provide all the details you can remember about the dog and its owners. Information like the breed, color, and distinguishing features of the dog, the owner’s name and contact information, and the address where the incident happened are extremely helpful for animal control’s investigation and records.

Notify Your Employer

You should also notify your employer about the dog bite incident as soon as possible. File an injury report according to your company’s policies so that the bite is formally documented. Be sure to get copies of this report for your records.

Notifying your employer promptly can help safeguard your workers’ eligibility for compensation benefits. Getting bitten by dogs on the job, especially in delivery work, would typically be covered under workers’ comp. However, failing to follow reporting procedures in a timely manner can jeopardize your claim.

Document Everything Related to Your Injuries

Throughout this process, from medical treatments to conversations with the dog owner, you must meticulously document everything related to your dog bite injuries. Keep detailed records about:

• Doctor and hospital visits, procedures, medications, equipment rentals, follow-up appointments, and anything else related
• Receipts and invoices for all medical expenses and other costs
• Days of lost wages due to recovery time
• Photos of injuries in the days following the bite
• Statements made by the dog’s owner, if contacted
• Any impacts on your daily routines and quality of life

Contact an El Paso, TX Dog Bite Lawyer

Thorough documentation will help your El Paso, TX dog bite attorney prove liability and seek potential compensation. Call Cal Mundell Law Firm, PLLC at 915-250-0700 for a free consultation.