Category : Dog Bites
Dog Attack? Learn Safety Tips and Your Legal Rights
A startling number of Americans suffer dog bites each year, and the American Humane Association estimates that 800,000 dog bite victims seek medical attention for their injuries every year. Preventing dog bites (link to Article – Dog Bites Safety and Prevention Tips) from occurring in the first place is wise, but if you find yourself under attack, these steps can help limit your dog bite injuries.
Stay Calm
Dog attacks are scary and traumatic, but everyone will tell you to stay as calm as possible. According to the Humane Society, screaming and running are what you want to avoid, as this behavior excite the dog and increases the ferocity of the dog attack.
Stand Still
While it may seem to go against your instincts, the Humane Society also recommends staying still if a dog is threatening you or preparing to bite. The dog may come up to sniff you; if you stand still and avoid eye contact, the dog may lose interest and leave. If the dog is still far enough away, you can back away slowly.
Protect Your Face and Ears
According to the Centers for Disease Control, you should curl into a ball if you are knocked to the ground during a dog attack. Tuck your head down towards your chest, and wrap your arms around your face, neck and ears. Make fists with your hands to protect your fingers. Again, stay still and the dog will eventually lose interest.
After the dog attack, seek immediate medical attention for your dog bite injuries and hire a personal injury lawyer to help you navigate the legal process and understand dog bite liability laws.
Dog Bite Help
Statistics show that 4.5 million people are the victims of dog attacks each year. One in five of those dog bites will require medical treatment. There are certain things you can do to prevent a dog attack as well as action you can take if you are attacked that may help minimize your injuries. Talk with a personal injury lawyer to help explain your rights.
Dog Bite Prevention
Obviously, preventing an attack is the ideal goal. Here are some deterrence steps from the American Human Organization:
- Avoid contact with stray dogs
- Don’t run away from a stray
- Don’t scream
- Stand still if approached by a stray
- Don’t approach strays
- Never chase or tease dogs
- Don’t make eye contact with a stray
- Place an object in between you and the stray
- Constantly be alert
- Don’t disturb a dog that is eating, drinking, sleeping, or with puppies
Dog Bite Treatment
If you are attacked and/or bitten by a dog, there are some steps you should take right away:
- Identify the dog that bit you
- Seek medical attention
- Get the owner’s contact information
- Get the names and addresses of any other victims
- Document what happened
- Take photos of wounds and clothing
- Contact an attorney
- Contact the authorities
Legal Representation
Once you’ve been bitten or attacked, you should contact an experienced personal injury attorney.An attorney will:
- Protect your rights
- Ensure you receive proper medical treatment
- Ensure you receive proper compensation for your injuries and trauma
Who is Liable for a Dog Bite?
American Humane Association dog bite statistics show that 800,000 dog bite victims require medical treatment each year. In many cases, those dog bite victims will hire a personal injury lawyer (or a dog bite injury lawyer) to help them obtain money for their medical bills. In these cases, the issue of dog bite liability is a central one.
Strict Liability States
According to Rebecca Wisch of the Detroit College of Law, most states have enacted strict liability laws regarding dog bites. These states hold the dog owner responsible for dog bites and dog attacks, even if the dog owner had no previous knowledge that their dog would bite or become aggressive. However, dog owners are generally not held liable if the victim was abusing the dog in question.
Other Dog Bite Liability Laws
Those states that do not have strict liability laws often require that the owner had knowledge of the dog’s aggressive tendencies, according to Wisch. In these cases, the dog owner is found liable (or negligent) if he or she knew of the dog’s behavior and did nothing to prevent the dog attack.
If You Are Unsure of Your State’s Dog Bite Liability Laws
If you have questions about dog bite liability or dog biting laws in your state, a personal injury lawyer is the best person to contact. Personal injury lawyers deal with dog bites and dog attacks on a regular basis, and they can help you interpret the dog bite liability laws in your area. Some personal injury lawyers (often referred to as dog bite injury lawyers) specialize in representing dog bite victims.
