Once you are safely away from the dog, the immediate question is what care the injury needs. Seek prompt medical attention for a bite that breaks the skin, and emergency help for severe bleeding or other serious symptoms. Do not delay treatment to take photographs, speak with the owner, or arrange a legal consultation.
What to keep from the first day
MedlinePlus explains that animal bites can cause infection and deeper injury. Tell the provider when and where the attack happened and what is known about the dog. Save the care instructions and follow-up plan.
Rabies decisions belong with medical and public-health professionals. The CDC’s post-exposure guidance describes treatment that depends in part on prior vaccination. An owner’s verbal assurance should not replace that assessment.
When you can gather information safely, keep the owner’s name and contact details, the dog’s description, available vaccination records, and the animal-control or police report number. If the dog or its vaccination status is unknown, contact animal control. Do not approach the animal again to obtain evidence.
Record what happened before contact
Louisiana’s dog-owner rule makes the circumstances of the attack especially important. Civil Code article 2321(B) imposes strict liability for injuries the owner could have prevented and that did not result from the injured person’s provocation. Applying the rule requires facts about this event.
Write down where the dog was, how it reached the injured person, and who saw the approach. Photograph relevant gates, fences, latches, leash conditions, and signs if doing so is safe. A later repair may change what the location looks like.
Ask witnesses for their contact information and note what each personally observed. Preserve nearby video if it can be obtained, including the moments before and after the attack. A short clip without that context may leave the central dispute unresolved.
Follow the injury over time
Keep original photographs with their dates. Follow-up photographs can document healing and scar changes. If clothing, glasses, or another item was damaged, photograph it and ask about safe preservation, particularly when there may be blood or other contamination.
Medical records should describe the actual findings and treatment. Keep referrals, medication records, work restrictions, and any recommendation for future care. Do not assume the final appearance of a scar or the need for a procedure from the wound’s first appearance.
Our dog-bite medical and proof guide explains how those records fit together.
Keep communications with the owner and insurer
Save texts, emails, claim numbers, and proposed releases. If an insurer requests a statement or medical authorization, understand what is being requested before responding. Correct errors with supporting information and keep copies of what you submit.
Responsibility and insurance coverage are separate questions. Our article on insurance for Louisiana dog-bite claims explains why the policy itself matters. A promise to pay a bill does not answer every coverage question or settle the extent of the injury.
Evaluate the claim before signing a release
Depending on the evidence, a claim may seek medical expenses, lost income, scarring, and other injury-related harm. The amount depends on what can be established, applicable law, and available recovery sources. Review any unresolved treatment or future-care question before agreeing to end the claim.
The incident date matters. Article 3493.1 generally provides two years for delictual actions arising on or after July 1, 2024. Earlier attacks and special circumstances require their own deadline analysis.
For causes of action arising on or after January 1, 2026, article 2323 bars recovery at 51 percent or greater claimant negligence and reduces damages proportionately below that threshold. Earlier causes of action remain subject to the prior comparative-fault rule. Preserve the facts needed to evaluate a provocation or fault allegation rather than treating either party’s label as the answer.
Our Baton Rouge dog-bite lawyers can review the records and explain the available options. Call (225) 500-5000 or contact us online.