Lawyer Approved Advice on How to Handle a Dog Attack

1. Egress the Attack Scene With Slow Deliberation: Use caution and care after the dog determines you are no longer a threat. Egress slowly away from the attack scene, breathing calmly. This is not easy to do when stressed, but remaining stationary and backing away when safe is the best way to get away and resist more damage.

Summary:

Dog bites are rarely accidents and the cost of being chased and injured remains very high.

• You must avoid staring at the dog or extending your gaze into the animal’s eyes as this could make the animal take the offensive.
• Keep your face away from the dog’s face.
• Stay away from dogs you don’t know or recognize.
• Never shock or surprise a dog.
• Don’t leave your child unattended around dogs.
• Never pass off aggressive behavior as “normal.”
• Always let a dog sniff you before petting the dog.
• Never dart toward a dog’s face.
• You must never scream, yell, or run from the canine, as this can cause it to set upon you.
• Use your body weight and hard points to pin the dog, break its limbs, and cut off its oxygen.
• If a large dog knocks you over, assume the fetal position, protecting your head and neck.
• Escape with deliberation.

Part 4 – What Are Some Dog Owner Tips for Reducing Dog Bite Risks?

If you own a dog, it is yourresponsibility as a prideful dog owner to make sure that your dog does not pose a danger or mauling threat to other individuals or their children.

Following these basic guidelines should help reduce your risk:

• Spay or neuter your dog
• Avoid aggressive attack dog training
• Avoid rough-housing
• Leash your dog at all times outside the home in an area your dog cannot grab hold of a passerby with its teeth or claws
• But especially around children, never leave your dog unattended. In any case, it can quickly overwhelm an innocent
• Please do not allow your dog to roam freely and keep it in a fenced and gated yard.

If you’ve been hurt, you may want to take legal action against the dog’s owner. Many states have laws holding owners responsible for the actions of their dogs attack you or your dog.

Part 5 Warning Signs of Impending Attacks

• Look for warning signs. Most dogs are not aggressive, but, rather, just curious or defending what they perceive as their territory. Thus, to avoid unnecessary conflict, it is important to be able to tell if a dog is just playing or is being truly aggressive. While some breeds have been singled out as being particularly vicious, any mid-size and large dog breed can be dangerous, so do not ignore warning signs because you think a certain breed is harmless or friendly. Watch for common signs of aggression (and non-aggression):
• Growling, snarling, and baring teeth are obvious displays of aggression and should be treated as such.
• An angry dog may show the whites of his eyes, especially if these aren’t normally visible.
• Pulled-back ears laying flat against the head are a telltale sign of aggression, whereas normal floppy or elevated ears usually signal a dog’s nonchalance.
• If the dog approaches you with its body relaxed and with a sloping curve in its midsection, the dog is probably not going to attack.
• A dog whose body is tense, straight and stiff (head, shoulders and hips aligned) could mean that the dog might attack.
• A loping gait means the dog is playful and checking you out. An even, steady run means the dog may be dangerous.

Avoid aggravating a dog. Most dog attacks are the result of insufficient containment of the dog, poor training, or taunting. Unfortunately, the world will never be rid of bad owners, so it is wise to be prepared. Common sense should tell you not to aggravate any kind of animal.

• Never irritate a dog who’s eating or caring for her pups. Dogs are extra-protective during these times.
• Avoid smiling at the dog. You may think you are putting on a friendly face with a big toothy smile, but an aggressive dog sees you baring your teeth for a fight.
• Dogs that are chained or tethered to a stationary object for extended periods of time are more likely to be aggressive, so do not come within their reach.

Assume all unknown dogs are threats. In general, the best policy when it comes to dog attacks is to do everything you can to avoid them in the first place. If you see a dog that may be dangerous, stay away.

• Report any dangerous-looking dogs or possible strays in your neighborhood to the authorities.
• Teach your children never to approach unfamiliar dogs until they are sure they are safe.
• By giving all unknown dogs a wide berth until you find evidence that they are safe, you can avoid the majority of dangerous dog encounters.

Part 6 – Steps To Take in the Aftermath of a Dog Attack

• Treat any wounds: If you are scratched up or bitten, get triaged immediately. Even a scratch from a rabid dog can kill you later after infection. sets in.

Here are some basic first aid tips for treating dog bite injuries and clawing lacerations caused by a dog attack before seeing a medical professional:

• Apply Gentle Pressure to the Wound: To stop minor bleeding, try and find a sanitary cloth, gauze pad, or even torn-off piece of clothing. If heavy bleeding and pressure won’t clot the area after a minute or so, seek professional medical attention immediately, and do not pass. If there is an off-duty or retired medic or Navy Corpsman around, they may even have some Quick Clot in their tactical bag. You must stop the bleeding!
• Safely Clean the Wound: Try thoroughly washing the area with warm water and soap to gently cleanse the wounded body party.
• Dress the Dog Bite Wound: If you can find a gauze pad or sterile band-aid you can temporarily cover more minor lacerations and cuts. For larger lacerations there are larger bandages.
• Eyeball the wound for several days for the symptoms of any infections. Even a foul odor could be a warning sign. (Look for skin redness, tenderness, excess heat, pus oozing, and excess puss inside the bandages. Get to a doctor right away!
• Get to the hospital. After being bitten by a dog, minor injury or not, you must seek medical care. Sure there will be some out-of-pocket medical costs. But if you suffer a severe infection, your damage may turn into a critical health issue. You may require a rabies shot sequence right away after the bite. If more than five years has passed, you may require a tetanus shot and other preventative tetanus procedures. Medical documentation will be crucial evidence to winning damages. Sometimes victims can use pet owner’s homeowner’s insurance to recover damages for the injuries caused. But for a victim to obtain full and fair compensation, they must deal with an insurance company to seek reimbursement for their medical and other expenses like economic damages, including lost wages.
• Call Animal Control and File a Police Report: It’s important to find out if the attacking dog was infected with rabies. Also, maybe it has a prior history of being aggressive. Calling the authorities immediately after a dog attack helps prevents the canine from harming another person and allows it to be tested for infectious diseases and euthanized as required by law.

  • If the attacking dog was a stray and no longer fenced on the dog owner’s property, he may harm children and elderly people in the area. By having Animal Control remove the animal, you help protect your community and assure these dog owner’s are held responsible for any damage caused, including life-saving emergency surgery.

• Do preserve your clothing: Take pictures of wounds and any other evidence from the dog bite attack. Never launder the bloody garment. This is a huge mistake. This evidence is to use later when you pursue legal action.
• Do obtain witness names and contact information if the harm is not severe.
• Locate the Dog’s Owner: If the dog bite is not a big deal, finding the canine’s owner remains crucial. Tell them their dog just bit you and inquire about their dog’s shots, especially rabies shots. If you cannot locate the dog owner, animal control and the police may help you locate them if their dog attacked someone.
• Seek the Advice of a Highly Experienced Dog Bite Attorney: Get someone experienced in this area of the law to help your and your injured family members. At a minimum, a dog bite attorney specialist should evaluate your strict liability claim over the dog’s actions, being financial compensation recovery experts.

Now you will have official documentation and be able to present evidence showing what happened and how. If your friend or relative owns the canine, filing a police report over the damage caused may not be necessary for most states. In addition to the above tips, you can go here to learn more about what you can do to prevent diseases after a dog attack. Our firm’s experienced dog bite lawyer is also available 24/7 to walk you through the process.

What Victims Must Never Do Afterward?

• After a canine attack, there are some things victims should avoid. Some actions could harm their claim, meaning they will receive lower settlement amounts or no settlement.
• When speaking to insurance company representatives of the pet owner, do not offer information. Answer the questions truthfully without volunteering extra information. Any information you provide to the insurance company adjuster helps them determine the settlement amount offered.
• Do not admit fault in the incident. Consult an accomplished dog bite injury attorney who can determine your amount of error, if any. When you admit guilt to an insurance company adjuster, you can kill your case, with admissions like this often resulting in outright liability denial or settlement reduction.
• Do not delay consulting a dog bite attack lawyer. Avoid delay because a statute of limitations for filing personal injury claims remains. But there are other reasons to act quickly, including avoiding deterioration of evidence, fading of witness memories, or problems locating witnesses later.

More Dog Bite Prevention Tips:

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  Never mess with a sleeping dog or wander near them when they are eating. Especially avoid female dogs caring for their puppies.

• Teach your kids the mnemonic: “Never run from a dog, be a tree or a log” in case they ever encounter an aggressive dog.

• Move away from howling, aggressive dogs till you are no longer perceived as a territorial threat.

Other Warnings

• The dangerous animal’s owner may reflect the dog’s angry personality, so be careful. Many people don’t care about dog bite laws or you for that matter. If you are forced to wound or kill an attacking dog, exfiltrate the location immediately and get hold of law enforcement to avoid further serious injury.

• Like a human, dogs all have unique personalities. They also have many unpredictable genetic propensities. You must remain alert and be prepared to fight.

• If you or your canine seem ill within ten days of being bitten by another animal, you and your dog should be tested for rabies at once. If the dog that attacked you or your dog tests positive, you must be administered a battery of rabies shots.

• Wag Late Rule: The “wag late” principle accepts that most dogs wagging their tail are happy and that a dog on the attack will tuck its tail. Wag Late says all dogs are different, so don’t assume a dog attack is certain by a dog not wagging its tail.

Many of these dog attacks result in severe harm or mayhem to individuals and their children. And the physical and emotional scars may remain forever from these onslaughts. First, you need to understand there are many reasons dog attacks occur. But you can reduce your risk of a dog bite using proper precautions.

Many cases like this end up in a law court with multiple parties fighting over who should pay you for your disfigurement, pain, and suffering. No one wins in the end. Education is the first step in having a hassle-free experience with a man’s best friend and a wolf’s descendant.

Whether you are an animal lover or would rather steer clear of people’s pets, being attacked by a dog can be one of the most traumatic experiences of your life. Dog attacks can lead to serious injuries such as painful bites, infections, broken bones, severe lacerations, and lifelong disfigurement. To make matters more complicated, if the dog that attacked you belongs to a neighbor, you may feel anxious about pursuing the compensation you need to recover from your injuries.

How Are Dog Bite Damages Calculated?

You may be entitled to payment for your past and future medical expenses to receive the necessary treatment from a doctor. You may also have a claim for lost income, pain and suffering, and even punitive damages from the attack.

How much compensation you will receive depends on the nature and severity of your losses. The insurance company and the court will review the fact and decide the outcome of each case on its individual merits.

Some of the common types of damages we seek on behalf of dog bite victims include:

• Medical Bills: Our lawyers will try and obtain money for the hospital emergency room, future surgeries, follow-up physical therapy, and doctor checkups. We also make negligence claims to recover out-of-pocket costs for prescription pain and antibiotic medication (you may have torn muscles and facial disfigurement) and any other future potential chrges connected to the defendant’s negligence.

• Lost Wages: Lost income, including lost contracts, is a compensable loss. You can even recover money if you were forced to use your lost sick leave pay or vacation time. If you can no longer work in your job from your injuries, you can seek compensation for duties you did before, you may also be entitled to payment for diminished earning capacity in the future.

• Non-Economic Losses: There are some intangible damages your lawyer can value. These are things besides medical bills and receipts. These include emotional distress and the attendant pain and suffering. In a wrongful death case and extreme cases, you can receive a large award for loss of enjoyment of life, and even post-traumatic stress disorder. This is all something you should be compensated for.

At Ehline Law Firm, our experienced dog attack lawyers can explain your legal rights and being a detailed investigation. When you contact us we will confidentially speak to you. We will discuss the process for pursuing compensation from your negligent neighbor’s homeowner’s insurance policy, even if your were trespassing at the time.

If a neighbor’s dog has attacked you or a family member, please contact our attorneys for a free consultation so we can perform sensitive steps on your behalf. Don’t let the statute of limitations expire to sue in a strict liability case. If you do, the negligent or reckless defendants will avoid liability in civil court. Injured people have to act quickly, or they can waive their rights to receive any compensation as a general rule.

When Should You Sue Over Dog Bite Injuries?

Most people do not think of themselves as the type to sue, and many dog bite cases can be settled without ever having to go to court. Don’t expect insurance companies to roll over and throw money at you. Your lawyer must conduct an investigation, get the evidence of violations of regulations, knowledge of provocation, and manage the claim with your care providers to properly prepare your settlement.

If you were bitten by a dog, you should get a free consultation with a personal injury attorney when:

• You had to see a doctor.
• You are disfigured in your face or limbs.
• You had surgery like skin grafts or muscle reattachment procedures.
• You are generally struggling with mauling emotionally.
• You had to miss work or take time off work. (Or you can no longer work due to your injuries suffered (permanent disability.).)

Are you thinking about suing? Did you know you may even be able to sue a public or private animal shelter for failing to the truth to individuals who adopt shelter dogs that go on to bite.(See Alvarado v. City of Los Angeles.)

Being attacked can cost relationships, and quality of life. Never hesitate to seek wise counsel after you are hit with a dog bite. We may be able to help you file a claim for compensation after being bitten. At Ehline Law Firm Personal Injury Attorneys, APLC, we provide a free consultation with a charismatic, award-winning attorney.

Schedule a Free Consultation With a Dog Bite Lawyer in LA If You Were Unsuccessful in Safely Thwarting a Dog Attack

If you were knocked for a loop or masticated by a dog, you deserve to receive expert medical attention. But dog bite victims must immediately consult with a severe injury legal advocate to protect their rights to afford this new, unwanted medical treatment. The initial consultation is risk-free and designed to help a personal injury lawyer investigate the facts to see if you have a viable claim.

Accident victims can also fill out our convenient online contact for an even faster response from a personal injury law legal representative after an animal attack injury caused by a dog. Let our aggressive, highly skilled dog bite lawyers negotiate and strengthen your claim. We can handle any matters with private or public parties before you ruin your case!

Everything will be confidential. Additionally, there is no charge unless we recover a satisfactory settlement in the form of money damages from the dog’s owner or controller. Ehline Law Firm employs the very best Los Angeles personal injury lawyers, and we await your call 24/7 at (213) 596-9642.

More Helpful Info:

• Personal Observations On Dealing With Dog Attacks
• U.S. Post Office Dog Attack Rankings: (Source.)
• Prevent Your Dog From Biting: (Humane Society.)
• Australian view on Preventing Dog Attacks.