Wednesday, September 3, 2008
Dog Bite Injuries
We call them "man's best friend," however dog bites are a common injury sustained by both adults and children (60% of dog bite victims are children).
Dog bites can result in permanent disfigurement, psychological trauma and even death. Even loving family pets can attack family members if certain conditions exist.
Why do dogs bite?- Fear or surprise: if a dog thinks you might hurt him, he may bite to protect himself
- Excitement: a dog could accidentally bite you while playing - they don't have hands so they use their mouths (and sharp teeth) to grab things
- Pain/Sickness: dogs don't understand pain and may think that you touching him is causing that pain
- Protecting property: dogs are loyal and protect things that belong to them, including toys, food, people, houses, yards, etc.
What should you do to avoid dog bites?- Never touch a dog if no owner is present.
- Ask permission from the dog's owner before touching him. Then let the dog sniff the back of your hand and pet him under the chin.
- Play with dogs gently and quietly.
- Leave sick or sleeping dogs alone.
- Never enter a yard with an unknown dog.
- Avoid touching a dog's food or toys.
- Don't assume a wagging tail means the dog is friendly
Even the most cautious people are sometimes victims of dog bite injuries. In many cases this is due to negligence on the part of the dog owner. If you have suffered injuries from a dog bite, please
contact our office for a free case evaluation to learn more about your legal rights.
posted by Patti at 11:38 AM
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