According to Kids Health, nearly five million people suffer from dog-related injuries each year. Most victims are children under the age of nine. It is important for adults to protect themselves and to encourage safety measures to prevent attacks, whether provoked or innocent. Contact Burger Law today if you or a family member have been bit by a dog. Our winning dog bite injury lawyers will fight for your recovery and can help you understand your options with a free case review today. Call us now at (314) 500-HURT or fill out an online form.
Keeping Children Safe from Dog Bite Incidents
Most children are naturally attracted to animals. Dogs are no exception. It is important to enforce safety measures because you never know when an attack will happen. A child's Labrador may be friendly and never cause harm, but a neighbor's Chihuahua could strike if provoked. Our attorneys will protect you and help you recover. Call us at (314) 500-HURT now.
There are a few rules-of-thumb to follow when it comes to preventing dog bites. See below for more information.
- Especially with children, it is better not to pet dogs without the owner's permission.
- Running from a dog typically excites it, which can exacerbate the situation.
- Give strange dogs their space. If leash-less or wondering, back up slowly and do not provoke.
- Do not squeeze dogs too hard. This may agitate them and cause aggression or accidental excitement.
- Let a dog come to you. Allow them to sniff your hand, finish their meal, or sleep in peace.
The final point above is very important to teach to children. They may be man's best friend, but they have teeth and paws that can cause permanent scarring, childhood trauma, and legal repercussions. Burger Law's dog bite lawyers can help if you or a family member have been injured by a dog.
Another important thing is to never understimate a dog's size, even if you are its owner.
What To Do After a Dog Bite
There are a few steps you should take if you or a family member have been bitten by a dog. Not only for medical reasons, taking these precautions may help secure any financial compensation.
- Seek medical attention immediately. Even if an injury seems minor, we highly recommend seeking professional medical assistance.
- Document everything. Take pictures of the injury, note the name of the owner, your location, and save any medical bills.
- Try to find out if the dog is vaccinated or contains rabies. This part of the process may go directly to the owner.
- If a child is bit, make sure to get a full account as soon as possible. Did a child provoke the dog? Was it unprovoked? Was it leashed?
Get as many details about the incident as possible. It is up to our St. Louis-based dog bite injury firm serving Missouri and Illinois to help you recover fair compensation for you or a family member's injuries. If you or your child have been bitten and injured by a dog, contact our experienced dog bite attorneys right away. We will fight every step of the way and demand the full recovery your family deserves.