DOG BITE LAWYERS MN
According to a recent USA Today article, fatal dog attacks, while rare, claim dozens of lives in the U.S. each year. Although experts say it’s difficult to predict when a dog will attack, dog owners can take precautions to avoid inflicting bite wounds. Our lawyers handle many dog bite cases every year.
The article notes that 4.5 million Americans are bitten by dogs every year, according to the World Health Organization. However, being fatally mauled is extremely uncommon. Just 81 people died after being bitten by dogs in 2021, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported. Experts say the number of annual fatalities from a dog bite is small enough that measuring year-to-year trends becomes difficult.
DOG BITE SITUATIONS
Although it’s hard to predict that a dog will injure someone, most dog bites aren’t unforeseeable. Dogs typically bite as a reaction to something in their environment, said Lori Teller, former president of the American Veterinary Medical Association. “If a dog feels like it’s in a really stressful situation and has no other way out, it may bite to defend its territory,” she said. “Some dogs may bite because they’ve been very scared or startled or are feeling threatened. In some cases, dogs will bite to protect something, like a mother protecting her pups,” Teller said. Pain or sickness can also trigger a reaction in dogs.
Small children are the most common victims of dog bites and they frequently suffer more serious injuries. With this in mind, parents should teach kids how to interact with dogs. “They should not be allowed just to go run over and try to pet or hug that dog without knowing how the dog is going to react,” Teller said.
There’s a longstanding controversy in dog circles about pinpointing some dog breeds. Some people argue that certain breeds tend toward violence or aggression. However, Teller said the data to back that up isn’t fully fleshed out. The focus on a dog’s breed leads people to overlook the importance of its training. In fact, any dog breed can bite. Teller stressed that it’s “much more important to focus on the individual animal, making sure it’s trained, making sure it’s socialized.” Breed ban Dog breeds banned by insurance companies.
COMPENSATION FOR DOG ATTACK – ATTORNEY PAM ROCHLIN
If you have been attacked by a dog, our lawyers can help. We have 25 years’ experience representing people in dog bite cases throughout Minnesota. Our lawyers go after the homeowners insurance of the dog owner to make sure you are fully compensated. That means payment of medical bills and lost wages. In most cases, compensation for scarring and pain is most important. When you call us, the initial consultation is free. Further, we will never charge anything unless you receive compensation.