What to do After a Dog Attack in Tennessee

Posted in Personal Injury on November 24, 2020

Dog attack injuries often result in significant scarring and disfigurement for victims. These incidents can be scary for victims, and understanding what to do in the aftermath of a dog attack is important.

Dog bite victims regularly sustain severe injuries, including lacerations and puncture wounds, severed arteries, veins, tendons, and muscles, as well as broken bones or amputations.

Here, we want to discuss steps to take after a dog attack in Tennessee, the laws pertaining to dog bites in this state, and what type of compensation victims may be entitled to.

Steps to take after a dog attack in Tennessee

  1. The first step to take after sustaining an injury due to a dog attack in Tennessee is to seek medical attention immediately. By seeking medical attention, the dog bite victim will take steps to ensure their well-being while also establishing your link between the incident and their injuries.
  2. Report the incident to the appropriate authorities. This could include animal control or even law enforcement, depending on the severity of the injuries. This report will provide even more documentation to help your case should you need to pursue an injury claim or a lawsuit.
  3. Continue follow up medical care until you have reached maximum medical improvement. The effects of a dog bite or attack can linger long after the incident occurs. Dog bite victims are prone to infections, and even a minor wound can become severely infected if a victim does not continue their medical treatment.
  4. Document the incident by taking photographs of the injuries right after they occur and throughout the recovery process. If you are able to do so, get the names and contact information of any eyewitnesses to the incident.
  5. Speak to an attorney as soon as possible after a dog attack or bite. A skilled Tennessee dog bite lawyer will understand the laws relating to these incidents, will work to investigate your claim, and help secure the compensation you need.

Is Tennessee a strict liability dog bite state?

Tennessee dog bite laws can be confusing because they incorporated both “strict liability” rules and a “one-bite” rule.

Dog bite victims in Tennessee may be able to hold dog owners strictly liable (no need to prove negligence or fault) under the following circumstances:

  • The dog injured a person
  • The injury victim was in a public place or any private place with permission

A dog bite or attack victim in Tennessee may be able to hold dog owners liable under the “one-bite” rule if they can prove that the dog owner knew, or reasonably should have known, that the dog would act aggressively. This knowledge is typically established after a “first bite” in which a dog has bitten another person. At that point, the dog’s owner is affectively put on notice at the dog could act aggressively.

What types of compensation are available in these cases?

If you or somebody you care about has been injured in a dog attack in Tennessee, there may be various types of compensation available for your claim. A Tennessee dog bite attorney will diligently work to secure coverage of your medical expenses, lost income, general household out-of-pocket expenses, pain and suffering damages, loss of personal enjoyment damages, and more. The total amount of compensation available for these claims will vary depending on the facts related to each particular situation.