You may be told many things after you have been bitten by a dog, but it is only the law that counts. There are many circumstances where you may be told that it was your fault or partly your fault, and you need not bother with an attorney. But you should ignore the talk, and consult with a personal injury attorney. Dog owners are often held legally responsible for injuries caused by their dogs, even when they don't believe they were at fault. The following are three situations when you should contact an attorney due to injuries caused by a dog.

You were bitten by a leashed dog

Too often people think that having a dog leashed absolves them of all responsibility, but a dog owner still needs to take care that his or her pet does not attack another person in public. Strangers often get bitten by dogs on sidewalks as they pass by the animal, but even with leash laws, it is not a pedestrian's responsibility to avoid the dog. In most cases, as long as you did nothing to provoke the dog, it is the owner that will be held responsible. Never assume you have no legal recourse because the dog was leashed.

You were bitten attempting to protect another

The only reason you were bitten was because you tried to protect your dog from an attack from another dog, or perhaps it was an attempt to protect another person when they were being attacked. In general, the law covers a good Samaritan when attempting to help another person under attack. You will most likely be entitled to compensation for your injuries, even though you were not the original target of the dog attack.

You were working on the property or invited

Just because you were on someone's property does not absolve the dog owner of responsibility. Neither will the presence of a Beware of Dog sign. As long as you were not trespassing, the owner will likely be responsible. This includes those working on the property such as a plumber, an electrician, a handyman and a postal carrier. In addition, if you were invited to be on the property, the property owner has a responsibility to keep guests safe from attacks by pets.

Being attacked and bitten by a dog can be quite traumatic. Your first thought is not likely to be a legal one, nor should it be. Depending upon the severity of the attack, you should contact the police or your local animal control department. Seek medical attention as soon as possible, then once you have recovered sufficiently, make a phone call to a personal injury attorney with experience in dog bite cases.