Getting bitten by a dog is, for many people, something of a nightmare. You can reduce your risk of a bite by keeping your distance from unfamiliar dogs and by asking owners before you approach a dog. But you can't control owners who don't train or leash their dogs properly -- which means there is always some risk of a bite whenever you're around a dog. So what should you do if you are bitten by someone else's dog?

Go to the hospital.

Even if the bite is minor and you think it would be fine with Neosporin and a Band Aid, you need to head to the doctor. Go to an urgent care facility if you don't feel like waiting in the emergency room for hours. Seeking medical attention ensures there is a paper record of your injuries. It is also important since dogs can spread a number of diseases, including rabies, even through minor bites. The doctor will ensure you get the treatment you need to prevent serious future consequences from the dog bite.

Contact animal control and the local health department.

Often, the hospital will make these contacts for you. But if the hospital makes no mention of it, reach out yourself. Animal control generally keeps records of dogs that have bitten people. If the dog becomes a regular nuisance and bites again, animal control may require the owner to put it to sleep. The health department will check to ensure the dog has been vaccinated for rabies. If it has not, they will work with the hospital to get you rabies shots and will also ensure the dog's owner gets the dog vaccinated to prevent future incidents. 

Get the owner's information.

Make sure you get as much information from the owner as possible. Get their name, phone number, vet's name, and dog's name, and their address. If the owner will not give you this information, contact the police and let them file a report.

Contact a lawyer.

In most cases, when someone else's dog bites you, there's a good personal injury case to be formulated. Your personal injury attorney can demonstrate that the dog's owner was negligent in some way, and that negligence lead to the bite. In filing a case, you can get compensation for all of your medical costs, lost wages, and other related expenses. Chances are, you will end up suing the dog owner's homeowners insurance policy rather than the owner themselves, so don't feel too bad.