We’ve all heard the horror stories: a family dog, despite having no history of aggression, snaps suddenly and bites a child. This can be extremely traumatic for everyone involved. Fortunately, there is protocol in place that can make the legal aspects of a dog bite’s aftermath go smoothly.

According to the ASPCA, more than 4.7 million dog bites occur annually in the U.S., and children are the victims of more than half of these. If your dog bites someone else’s child, the top priority is getting the child the medical attention he or she may need. If the bite breaks the skin, a doctor visit is necessary, as animal bites can get infected easily. Once the situation has calmed down, you can begin to think about the repercussions that could affect you and your dog.

Dog bite law varies slightly locally or by state (a full list of state statutes can be found at www.nolo.com), but the general idea is the same throughout the U.S. The penalties are largely dependent on your dog’s history. If your dog has never bitten anyone or shown any type of aggressive behavior, it’s entirely possible that the damages will be covered by your homeowners or renters insurance, according to attorney Kenneth M. Phillips. But if your dog has a history of biting, jumping on people or showing any other potentially violent behavior, it’s an entirely different story; you will probably have to pay for the damages and possibly additional fines or penalties. This is often called the “one bite rule” and is law throughout the U.S. Many states also have statutory liability acts, which say that the dog owner can also be held responsible for the damages if they did something irresponsible that led to the bite.Whether this is the first time your dog has bitten someone or not, the child’s parents will almost certainly report the incident to a local animal control officer or animal services department. This serves as a record; if your dog bites someone again, the report will be used to prove that the one bite rule has been exceeded. The bite will also likely be reported to the police, who will determine if an investigation is necessary.

Now, you’re probably wondering what will happen to your dog during this process. It is very, very unlikely that you will have to euthanize your dog; this generally only occurs if the dog has killed someone. The courts that deal with dog bite injuries are not trying to get revenge on you or your dog; they are in place to ensure safety and fairness. The same is true for the family of the child who was bitten. They are simply trying to help their child recover physically and emotionally from a traumatic event.

Although it may be helpful for you to seek representation to navigate complicated legal jargon and procedures, you do not have to worry about exposing incriminating information. The best way to settle these cases is to be honest and willing to help the victim recover.

It’s also important to take action to prevent this from happening again. Dogs don’t bite people without reason; they usually do it because they feel provoked or threatened in some way, according to the ASPCA. It can help to retrace the events leading up to the bite to determine whether something out of the ordinary made the dog uncomfortable. Once you pinpoint these stressors, you can either start your dog on a comprehensive behavioral training program or work to eliminate these stressors. Often, the simplest solution is to put the dog outside or in another room when the stressor is present.