You've just been bitten by a dog. Obviously you're in anguish. As a Washington dog bite victim, there are certain important actions you need to take right away after being bitten by a dog. Here are some tips you may find helpful:

First, you'll need to identify the dog that bit you. In some instances, a dog may be a stray or feral dog or could even just be lacking appropriate identification tags. However, if you can locate the dog's owner, you'll absolutely need to write down all of their contact information such as phone number, name, address and email. Also, take down their insurance company and policy number.

Once you've gotten all that information, the next step to take is seeking medical attention. If you have any deep punctures, it's important that you specifically see a plastic surgeon. In some instances, plastic surgery reconstruction may be necessary and they'll be able to let you know if this applies to you. It's very important that you go to all your follow-up appointments and comply with all their directions, particularly taking medication. If you do not abide by your doctor's orders, this could be seen as negligence on your part and may compromise the validity of your case.

Do not talk about the value of your claim. By doing this you could put your case at risk and possibly compromise the case entirely. Not to mention the fact that until the case is settled you never know how much it's worth. . Do not give any verbal or written statements to anyone. The reason you want to avoid giving statements is because you might say something that was innocent, but the insurance companies may twist it out of context and use it against you. It's better to keep to yourself.

Do not allow yourself to be tape-recorded, video-taped or photographed by the dog owner's insurance company or attorneys for the other side. You only want your personal attorney to take pictures or video tape and record your statement. This will help protect you and your case.

At the scene and after the accident, you never want to admit any blame, even if you think your actions provoked the attack. Remember, it's not up to you to figure out who was to blame, leave that to the experts. If you say anything about you being to blame, you can be sure that it will be used against you in the case and could ruin any chances of gaining compensation for your injuries.

If anyone witnessed the attack against you, make sure you obtain all of their contact information as well. This includes their name, phone number, address and email. Even if they didn't see the attack first hand but assisted in helping you afterwards, they could be a valuable asset in your case.

Right after the incident, get as many pictures of your injuries as possible. Even a cell phone will work to take photos of your wounds right after the attack until you have access to a better camera. The more detailed your photos are to document the progression of your healing, the better. Keep in mind that often times wounds look their worst two or three days following the incident.

Lastly, you'll need to contact a Washington state personal injury attorney that has valuable experience in dog bite cases. They will be able to educate you on your legal rights in the situation and guide you on the steps to take from here on out. You want someone to represent you that will work tirelessly in recovering your damages.