Bite-related injuries are quite common, the majority of these being caused by dogs. Many pet owners carry special liability insurance to cover claims resulting from injuries caused by their pets. Animal bites can be extremely serious, and if you've been bitten by an animal, you should immediately seek medical assistance. You should also report the matter to your local animal control or humane services. In cases of a serious attack, the offending animal may be taken and held in quarantine to ensure that it's free from contagious diseases. In serious cases, or if the animal has a history of aggressive behavior, it may be destroyed. Bite-related injuries can sometimes involve serious disfigurement and require expensive surgical treatment. All animals can be disease carriers, so it's important to have any bite-related injuries professionally examined and treated. You should also take the name, address, and phone number of the pet's owner and any witnesses, and be sure to keep all receipts for medical treatment and medication in case you can be compensated later. Since many pet owners don't carry insurance, it may be prudent to find out if you'll be able to collect compensation from the owner or an insurance company before taking the matter to court. If somebody's pet bites you or a member of your family, an attorney can usually advise you of your rights and of the best course of action.
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