A dog bite can leave you shaken, bleeding, embarrassed, angry, or unsure what to do next. That confusion is normal. Dog attacks happen fast, and most people are not thinking about insurance claims, animal control reports, rabies risk, or Pennsylvania dog bite laws in the moment.
But what you do in the minutes, hours, and days after a dog bite can matter.
The right steps can protect your health, create a record of what happened, identify the dog and owner, preserve evidence, and help protect your right to compensation.
If you or your child was bitten by a dog in Pennsylvania, take these steps as soon as possible.
Step 1: Get Away From the Dog and Make Sure You Are Safe
The first step is simple: get away from the dog.
Do not try to argue with the owner. Do not chase the dog. Do not try to prove who was right. Get to a safe place first.
If the dog is loose, aggressive, or still nearby, call 911, local police, or animal control. This is especially important if the dog is roaming a neighborhood, attacking another person, or creating a danger to children, delivery drivers, pedestrians, or other pets.
Once you are safe, focus on the wound.
Step 2: Wash the Bite Wound Immediately
Dog bites can introduce bacteria deep into the skin. Even a wound that looks small can become infected.
For a minor animal bite that breaks the skin, Mayo Clinic recommends washing the wound with soap and water, applying antibiotic cream or ointment, and covering the bite with a clean bandage. Mayo Clinic also recommends prompt medical care if the wound is a deep puncture, the skin is badly torn or crushed, the wound is bleeding severely, or signs of infection appear.
Rabies is another concern, especially if the dog is unfamiliar, acting strangely, sick, unvaccinated, or cannot be located. The CDC recommends washing wounds immediately with soap and water for 15 minutes after a possible rabies exposure and speaking with a healthcare or public health professional about whether rabies-related care is needed.
Do not assume the bite is “not that bad” just because you can still move your hand, arm, leg, or finger. Dog bites can damage skin, nerves, tendons, muscles, and tissue beneath the surface.
Step 3: Get Medical Care
You should strongly consider medical care after any dog bite that breaks the skin.
Medical treatment is especially important if:
- The bite is on the face, hand, wrist, foot, neck, or near a joint
- The wound is deep
- The skin is torn, crushed, or bleeding heavily
- The victim is a child
- The dog’s rabies vaccination status is unknown
- The dog was a stray
- You have not had a recent tetanus shot
- You notice redness, warmth, swelling, pus, worsening pain, fever, or red streaking
- You have diabetes, immune system issues, or a condition that increases infection risk
Medical records are also important evidence. They help show when the bite happened, how severe the injury was, what treatment was needed, and whether future care may be necessary.
That matters because insurance companies often downplay dog bite injuries. A medical record makes the injury harder to ignore.
Step 4: Identify the Dog and the Owner
Before memories fade or the owner disappears, try to get basic information.
Ask for:
- The dog owner’s full name
- Address
- Phone number
- Email address
- Homeowners or renters insurance information
- The dog’s name and breed
- Proof of rabies vaccination
- The name of the dog’s veterinarian
If the owner refuses to provide information, write down anything you can. Take note of the home address, license plate, neighborhood, apartment number, building name, or any detail that could help identify the dog later.
If the bite happened in a public place, ask witnesses if they know the dog or owner.
Step 5: Report the Dog Bite
Report the bite to the appropriate local authority. Depending on where the attack happened, this may mean calling local police, animal control, the local health department, or the Pennsylvania dog warden.
Reporting the bite helps create an official record. It may also help determine whether the dog has attacked before, whether the dog is properly vaccinated, and whether the dog needs to be confined or evaluated.
Pennsylvania’s dangerous dog information explains that the owner or keeper of an attacking or biting dog must pay the victim’s medical treatment costs. It also explains that the investigating officer is responsible for notifying the bite victim of the medical results of the dog’s confinement.
This is important because the report can become a key piece of evidence in a dog bite injury claim.
Step 6: Take Photos and Videos
Dog bite injuries can change quickly. Bruising may get worse. Swelling may increase. Stitches may be placed. Scars may form over time.
Take photos as soon as possible.
Photograph:
- The wound before treatment, if possible
- The wound after treatment
- Stitches, bandages, bruising, swelling, or bleeding
- Torn or bloody clothing
- The location of the attack
- The dog, only if safe
- The leash, fence, gate, door, yard, sidewalk, apartment hallway, or property condition involved
- Warning signs, or lack of warning signs
- Any blood on the ground, clothing, or nearby objects
Continue taking photos during the healing process. A dog bite case involving scarring may depend heavily on visual proof.
Step 7: Save Clothing and Physical Evidence
Do not throw away torn pants, shirts, shoes, jackets, gloves, leashes, bags, or anything damaged during the attack.
Put damaged clothing in a bag and save it. Do not wash it first.
This may feel dramatic, but it is not. Physical evidence can help show the force of the bite, the location of the injury, and how the attack happened.
For example, torn sleeves may help prove the dog lunged at your arm. Damaged pants may help show where the dog grabbed your leg. Bloody clothing may help show the seriousness of the wound before medical treatment.
Step 8: Get Witness Names and Contact Information
Witnesses can make a major difference in a Pennsylvania dog bite case.
Ask for names and phone numbers from:
- Neighbors
- Bystanders
- Delivery drivers
- Mail carriers
- Store employees
- Apartment staff
- Dog park visitors
- Friends or family members
- Anyone who saw the dog before, during, or after the attack
Witnesses may know whether the dog had a history of escaping, growling, lunging, chasing children, attacking other dogs, or biting people before.
That history matters. Prior warning signs can help prove the dog owner knew or should have known the dog was dangerous.
Step 9: Write Down What Happened
As soon as you can, write down your memory of the attack.
Include:
- Date and time
- Exact location
- Weather and lighting conditions
- Where the dog came from
- Whether the dog was leashed
- Whether the dog escaped from a yard, house, vehicle, apartment, or business
- What the owner said before and after the bite
- Whether the owner apologized
- Whether the owner said the dog had bitten before
- Whether the dog was growling, barking, lunging, or acting aggressively
- Names of witnesses
- Names of police, animal control, or medical providers involved
Small details can become important later. The dog owner may change their story. The insurance company may argue that you provoked the dog. A written timeline helps protect you from that nonsense.
Step 10: Do Not Post About the Bite Online
It is natural to want to post about what happened, especially if the bite was scary or involved a child.
Do not do it.
Insurance companies and defense lawyers may look at social media. A photo, joke, comment, or update can be twisted against you.
Avoid posting about:
- The bite
- The dog owner
- The injury
- Your pain level
- Your medical treatment
- Settlement expectations
- Whether you are feeling “fine”
- Photos of activities after the injury
Even an innocent post can create problems. Social media is where context goes to die.
Step 11: Do Not Give a Recorded Statement Too Quickly
If the dog owner’s insurance company contacts you, be careful.
The adjuster may sound friendly. That does not mean they are on your side.
Insurance companies may ask questions designed to reduce the value of your claim, such as:
- Did you provoke the dog?
- Did you ask permission before petting the dog?
- Were you trespassing?
- Did you see a warning sign?
- Did the dog bite or just scratch you?
- Are you sure the injury is from the dog?
- Are you feeling better now?
- Have you had similar injuries before?
Do not guess. Do not minimize your injuries. Do not say you are fine just to be polite. And do not accept a quick settlement before you know the full extent of the injury, especially if there may be scarring, nerve damage, infection, or future treatment.
Step 12: Understand Pennsylvania Dog Bite Law
Pennsylvania law requires dog owners or keepers to keep dogs confined on their premises, firmly secured so they cannot stray, or under the reasonable control of a person.
That rule can matter if the dog was loose, escaped a yard, ran from a porch, broke free from a leash, or attacked someone in a public place.
Pennsylvania also has dangerous dog rules. A dog may be deemed dangerous by a Magisterial District Judge if it attacked a human without provocation, inflicted severe injury without provocation, killed or severely injured certain domestic animals off the owner’s property, was used in a crime, or has a history of attacking without provocation.
This is why it is important to report the bite and preserve evidence. The dog’s history may help determine whether the owner or keeper should be held responsible.
For a deeper legal breakdown, read our guide to [Pennsylvania dog bite laws].
Step 13: Keep Track of Medical Bills and Expenses
Save everything related to the bite.
This includes:
- Emergency room bills
- Urgent care bills
- Doctor bills
- Plastic surgery evaluations
- Prescription receipts
- Medical supply receipts
- Mileage to medical appointments
- Physical therapy bills
- Missed work records
- Photos of scarring
- Notes about pain, sleep problems, anxiety, or fear of dogs
Pennsylvania’s dangerous dog guidance states that medical treatment costs resulting from an attacking or biting dog must be paid fully by the dog’s owner or keeper.
But a serious dog bite case may involve more than medical bills. Victims may also have claims involving pain and suffering, lost wages, scarring, disfigurement, emotional distress, and future medical care.
For more detail, read our guide on [who pays after a dog bite].
Step 14: Watch for Infection and Long-Term Problems
Dog bites can get worse after the first day.
Call your doctor if you notice:
- Increasing redness
- Swelling
- Warmth around the wound
- Pus or drainage
- Fever
- Worsening pain
- Red streaks from the wound
- Numbness
- Trouble moving fingers, toes, wrist, ankle, arm, or leg
- Wounds that reopen
- Scarring that becomes raised, thick, painful, or discolored
Dog bite injuries can also cause emotional trauma. Children may have nightmares, fear of dogs, anxiety around animals, or fear of going outside. Adults may also experience anxiety, embarrassment, anger, or sleep problems after an attack.
A dog bite injury is not just a wound. It can affect how a person feels, moves, works, sleeps, and lives.
Step 15: Speak With a Pennsylvania Dog Bite Lawyer
A Pennsylvania dog bite lawyer can help investigate the attack, identify the owner or keeper, find insurance coverage, request animal control records, gather witness statements, document medical treatment, and protect the victim from insurance company tactics.
This is especially important when:
- The victim is a child
- The bite caused facial injuries
- The wound required stitches
- The bite may leave a scar
- There is nerve or tendon damage
- The dog had a history of aggression
- The owner denies responsibility
- The insurance company calls quickly
- The dog was loose or uncontrolled
- The bite happened at an apartment, business, dog park, or rental property
Most Pennsylvania personal injury claims must be filed within two years. Pennsylvania law gives a two-year limitation period for actions seeking damages for injuries to a person caused by wrongful act, neglect, unlawful violence, or negligence.
Do not wait until the deadline is close. Dog bite evidence can disappear fast.
Quick Checklist: What to Do After a Dog Bite in Pennsylvania
After a dog bite, you should:
- Get to safety.
- Wash the wound with soap and water.
- Get medical care.
- Identify the dog and owner.
- Ask for rabies vaccination proof.
- Report the bite.
- Take photos and videos.
- Save torn or bloody clothing.
- Get witness information.
- Write down what happened.
- Avoid posting about the bite online.
- Do not give a recorded statement too quickly.
- Save medical bills and receipts.
- Watch for infection and scarring.
- Contact a Pennsylvania dog bite lawyer.
Talk to Pisanchyn Law Firm After a Dog Bite in Pennsylvania
If you or your child was bitten by a dog in Pennsylvania, you do not have to figure everything out alone.
Pisanchyn Law Firm helps injured people throughout Pennsylvania, including dog bite victims in Scranton, Wilkes-Barre, Hazleton, Harrisburg, Pittsburgh, Allentown, Northeastern Pennsylvania, and communities across the state.
Our team can review what happened, explain your rights, investigate the dog’s history, and help determine whether you may be entitled to compensation.
Contact Pisanchyn Law Firm today for a free consultation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I go to the doctor after a dog bite?
Yes, you should strongly consider medical care after any dog bite that breaks the skin. Medical care is especially important if the wound is deep, bleeding, on the face or hand, caused by an unfamiliar dog, or showing signs of infection.
Do I have to report a dog bite in Pennsylvania?
You should report the bite to local animal control, police, the local health department, or the Pennsylvania dog warden. Reporting helps create a record, identify the dog, confirm vaccination information, and determine whether the dog has attacked before.
What information should I get from the dog owner?
Get the owner’s name, address, phone number, insurance information, the dog’s name and breed, rabies vaccination proof, and veterinarian information.
Who pays for medical bills after a dog bite in Pennsylvania?
Pennsylvania guidance states that medical treatment costs resulting from an attacking or biting dog must be paid fully by the owner or keeper of the dog. More serious injury claims may also involve compensation for pain and suffering, scarring, lost wages, and future treatment.
What if the dog owner says the dog never bit anyone before?
A prior bite is not always required for a claim. However, prior aggression, complaints, escaping, lunging, growling, or attacks on other animals may help prove that the owner knew the dog was dangerous.
What if my child was bitten by a dog?
Get medical care immediately, report the bite, take photos, save evidence, and speak with a lawyer. Child dog bite cases should be handled carefully because children are more likely to suffer facial injuries, scarring, and emotional trauma.
How long do I have to file a dog bite lawsuit in Pennsylvania?
Most Pennsylvania personal injury cases have a two-year statute of limitations. You should speak with a lawyer quickly because evidence can disappear long before the legal deadline.
Should I talk to the insurance company after a dog bite?
Be careful. Do not give a recorded statement or accept a quick settlement before understanding your injuries and legal rights. Insurance companies may try to minimize the claim or blame the victim.
