If you have been bit by a dog, your first reaction is probably to run. More often than not, if the dog is not vicious, it will bite and run. Protecting yourself as best you can is the first thing that you should do after being bit by a dog. If the dog has his owner nearby, try to get his cooperation, his name and his address. If the dog is a stray, see if it has a collar and make a mental note of what it looks like.

Your nest step is to go to a hospital and get pictures of the bite as well as medical attention as quickly as possible. Usually, while at the hospital, a police report will have to be made because the dog might be rabid. You will need to tell the police where the dog was and what it looks like and the dog warden will have to find that stray if it didn't have a collar or if you don't know who owns the dog. Taking care of your health is you most important consideration after being bit by a dog.

Filing a police report and calling the dog warden is really your best next step in making sure that the dog doesn't bite anyone else. If the owner is unable or unwilling to restrain his dog, it is only the police or the dog warden that can take charge of the situation and deal with the owner. If the dog is a stray, you need to know that it isn't rabid.

Once you have seen to your own protection and secured medical and police assistance, you should consider talking the matter over with a Los Angeles dog bite attorney. Of course, if the dog is a stray there might not be anything that you can get by way of monetary recompense for your pain and injury. If the dog has an owner, he can be prosecuted if he refuses to pay your medical costs. If you are interested in more than just medical costs, a personal injury lawsuit is the only way to get monetary relief for your pain and injury.