Dog bites continue to increase in the number of cases each year and with it the dollar amount that insurance companies pay out as part of their policies. 2011 was a gigantic year for dog bite lawsuits, with the total reaching nearly half a billion dollars. An average case involving a dog attack can settle for nearly $30,000 home owners need to make sure they protect themselves legally. If you own a dog and own a home, you need to make sure your home owners insurance policy covers you in case your dog attacks either another dog or a person. Besides legal protection, there are a number of common sense steps you can do as a pet owner to help prevent an unfortunate outcome.
First, never leave your animal unattended around small children, they can often scare or startle a dog and are the victim of dog attacks nearly half the time. Additionally make sure your dog is secured at all times. Leaving a dog on it's own can often lead to bad habits and unsupervised behavior leading to bites. Be aware of the timing of visitors, especially the mail man. It may seem like a tired cliche, but mail carriers are often victimized by unruly or aggressive dogs. So much so that the United States Postal Service is the leading proponent of dog bite awareness week, a public relations push designed to increase safety for it's employees.
Picking a less aggressive breed and making sure the animal is properly trained can also help avoid the potential disaster that is a dog bite attack. Make sure your dog is up to date on his shots and vaccinations. Dogs can carry disease, so if he does bite someone an unhealthy dog can add to it. Plus if a dog is sick, it can lead to more erratic behavior and increased potential liability for the home owner.
If your dog does attack another person or animal there are a number of steps you can do to help minimize additional damage. First make sure the animal is secured to avoid another attack. Second, make sure the person who was victimized seeks immediate medical attention. Letting a dog bite go untreated can have disastrous results for both the victim and person who is liable. Make sure you collect as much information about the incident as possible. If the altercation leads to a potential legal action you'll want to cover all your bases. Lastly consult an attorney who specializes in dog bites, to understand your liability or opportunity to recover damages.
Jeffrey Nadrich is a Los Angeles personal injury expert who is a specialized dog bite attorney. His law firm Nadrich & Cohen works completely on a contingency basis and only collects a fee, if you collect a settlement. Nadrich & Cohen offers a free consultation.
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