What should I do if I’m bitten by a dog in Tennessee?

When you are bitten by a dog on another person’s property, you need to make a plan of action. The first thing on the list is likely going to be getting medical care. This helps you to learn the scope of the injuries that you suffered. It also gives you a treatment plan to help you recover from the injuries.

Next on the list of things that you might need to do is to decide whether you are going to seek compensation from the dog’s owner or not. This is a decision that can hinge on several factors. Here are two important questions for you to answer as you get your case started:

What was your status on the property?

In Tennessee, people who are trespassing may not have any claim for a dog bite injury. Other people who are on the property with permission will be able to file a claim for the injuries. The laws here don’t place any requirements for the owner to have prior knowledge of the dog being aggressive in order for a dog bite victim to be able to seek compensation.

What damages did you suffer as a result of the bite?

The damages that you suffered include financial, emotional and career related impacts of the injury. It also includes the pain and suffering that you have to deal with as a result. When you are considering this, you need to think about the impacts you have already dealt with and the ones that you will incur in the future. All of this is part of your case if you do opt to pursue compensation.

Source: FindLaw, “Dog Bite Laws by State,” accessed March 30, 2018