Every year over 4.5 million people are bitten by dogs, and approximately 25% of those people require medical attention for these bites. From these statistics, it appears that serious dog bites are all too common. However, there are a number of ways to prevent dog bite injuries.
Tips for Avoiding Dog Bite Injuries
The first step toward preventing a dog bite injury is to understand the body language of a dog you encounter. Dogs, like people, display signals with their body that correspond with their current demeanor. A dog that is likely to bite will often exhibit body language such as a stiff tail, tensed body, furrowed brow, drawn back ears and/or head, yawning, flicking of the tongue, visible whites of the eyes, retreating, and/or an intense stare.
If you are confronted with a dog displaying any of these signs, the following steps can help to avoid escalating the confrontation to an attack.
1. Resist the Urge to Scream or Flee
It is important that you remain calm and confident, but avoid making eye contact with the dog. Try to remain motionless with your hands at your side until the dog hopefully loses interest in you. At that point you should be able to slowly back away from the dog without turning your back.
2. Put Something Between Yourself and the Dog
If your efforts at avoiding the attack are unsuccessful and the dog does attack you, try to place any object you can between yourself and the dog, allowing the dog to bite down on that object rather than yourself.
3. Protect Your Face, Chest and Throat
If you are knocked to the ground, curl yourself into a ball, protecting your face, chest and throat. Be sure to seek medical attention for any wounds that you might suffer in such an attack.
4. If You Are Attacked, Seek Medical Help Immediately
If your efforts to prevent a dog bite are ultimately ineffective and you are attacked by the dog, it is absolutely imperative that you seek out medical attention as soon as possible. You’ll want to be sure that your wounds are treated quickly and thoroughly so your chances of a full recovery are maximized.
Even if you don’t feel that your injuries are significant enough to require medical help, it’s highly recommended that you have a medical professional check them out anyway. It’s better to err on the side of caution, especially if you don’t know much about the dog’s medical or behavioral history.
Pursuing Legal Compensation After Sustaining a Dog Bite Injury
If you or a loved one has been the victim of a dog bite in Albany, Saugerties, Johnstown or the surrounding areas, contact Maynard Injury Law immediately. Our team of personal injury lawyers understands the unique legal issues involved in dog bite cases. We are here to assist you every step of the way, from understanding your rights as a victim to pursuing the compensation you deserve in the courtroom if that’s what it takes.
With decades of experience handling personal injury cases of all kinds, numerous accolades, honors and recognitions, and a history of successful verdicts and settlements, we are the top choice if you’re looking for a dog bite attorney in Upstate NY.
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Give us a call at (800) 721-3553 or contact us online to schedule a free case review. We look forward to putting our experience and expertise to work for you.
