5 Tips to Prevent Dog Bites

Dog bites are a common phenomenon in the United States, affecting over 4 million people each year. While many dog bites are minor issues that require nothing more than a scolding and a band aid, approximately 800,000 dog bite victims visit emergency rooms and other medical treatment facilities each year for their injuries.

Children are affected by dog bites far more often than adults due to their smaller size, which makes them more likely targets for an attack. Of the 16 people who die each year from dog attacks, most are children who were too small or weak to recover from significant injuries. If you or your child was a victim of a dog bite injury, you may be eligible for compensation for your unnecessary pain and suffering. Contact the Cincinnati dog bite attorneys at Stepleton Dugan, LLC, by calling 513-321-7733 for information on what we can do to help you fight for compensation.

Don’t Be a Victim

You can’t control how other people raise and care for their pets, but you can take steps to prevent yourself and your loved ones from becoming dog bite victims:

1. Never leave small children unsupervised with a pet. Even a good-natured and gentle animal can become irritated by the overly energetic affections of a child.
2. Teach children to ask permission from the owner before they pet a dog. Kids love dogs, and they often won’t recognize the danger in running up to a strange animal and laying hands on it.
3. Be aware of possessive aggression. Dogs sometimes aggressively defend things they have deemed to be their possession. If you don’t know the dog, don’t come between it and food, water, toys, or sticks.
4. Read a dog’s body language. An agitated dog will often growl, bare its teeth, raise the hair on the back of its neck, or lay its ears back. Tense or frightened dogs are much more likely to become violent.
5. Do not run away from or yell at an aggressive dog. Instead, stand still and avoid eye contact until the dog loses interest. Alternatively try throwing an object away from you and the dog, allowing you time to slowly walk away while the dog investigates.

Unfortunately, even those who take every safety precaution available cannot prevent every dog attack. A dog owner is responsible for the actions of their pets, even if the animal is not in their control at the time of the incident.

Contact Us

If you or a loved one has been the victim of a dog attack, you have the right to seek compensation for your medical bills, pain and suffering, and other losses. Contact a skilled and knowledgeable Cincinnati dog bite lawyer at Stepleton Dugan, LLC, today at 513-321-7733 today to discuss the details of your situation.