Walking through the neighborhood, you are enjoying the sunshine. You see an unleashed dog walking down the street with its owner, who is your neighbor.
When the dog sees you, it growls and charges at you. Before you can run to safety, the dog jumps and clamps its teeth around your forearm.
You should not have to suffer because a dog’s owner was careless
People in North Carolina have the right to expect others to act responsibly when they are working in their yard, driving or giving their dog a walk. The dog’s owner was negligent in not keeping their dog leashed.
Go to the doctor or urgent care for treatment
Before going to the doctor, clean your wound and cover it with a sterile bandage.
Dog bites are potentially serious. You should go see your doctor or go to the urgent care center in your community for medical treatment. If you have any medical conditions, such as diabetes or any illness that lowers your body’s immune response, you could be facing a more serious infection. If you don’t know whether the dog has been vaccinated against rabies, the doctor might want to give you the rabies vaccine. You could also get a tetanus shot.
Learn about the leash laws in your city. Because the owner didn’t have the dog on a leash, they have violated any leash laws in your community. You may be able to file a claim against the owner of the dog.
