Which Careers are Most Susceptible to Dog Bites?
In the United States, about 4.5 million people get bitten by a dog every year. That’s more than 12,000 people per day. Additionally, almost one out of five of those who have been bitten seek medical treatment. To make matters worse, nearly half of those are children, followed by the elderly.
However, some people are most susceptible to dog bites because of what they do for a living. These workers are prompt to dog bites when they unintentionally disturb dogs for merely doing their job. According to a report of the U.S. National Library of Medicine’s National Institutes of Health, it indicates that “most attacks are unprovoked, but dogs are not always to blame. Dogs resent being disturbed while eating and dislike being threatened or feeling that their territory is being invaded, and they can be jealous of the attention given to other family members.” That is why it is likely that individuals that work outdoors are more prone to dog bites than others.
Careers that are Prone to Dog Bites
About 4.5 million people get bitten by a dog every year, some people depending on their particular job are most susceptible to an attack.
Jobs whose tasks involve entering into dog owners’ private property get bitten by dogs reasonably frequently. For example, postal workers are being bitten quite often. They are permitted to enter private property to deliver mail and parcels, however, due to a dog’s natural instinct to protect, they may think that they are there to hurt their owners, which is why dogs often attack mail carriers. If you are a mail carrier, it’s important to know that while making sure that delivering the mail on time is important, so is your safety. If you see a dog coming towards you, calmly make your way back to your vehicle. If you are on foot, make sure to retreat from the property as calmly as possible in order to not make the dog feel threatened by your presence in “their territory”.
Other careers that have to deal with dogs guarding the properties they have to enter include meter readers, utility workers, painters, handymen, service repair technicians, landscapers, and the like. They have to potentially pass by dogs in the yard to do their jobs, and if these dogs are not friendly to them, they may end up hurt and having to seek medical help for their injuries. Having a career in any of these professions doesn’t mean that you’ll get bitten sooner or later, but it means that you have to be extra cautious.
If you are a dog owner and know that you are expecting these kinds of workers at your home, it is best to keep your dog inside for both the safety of the workers and your dog as well as avoiding any potential legal battles at the same time, especially if your dog tends to be aggressive towards strangers.
How to Protect Yourself from Getting Attacked
Since these jobs are very much prone to getting bitten, it’s essential to know how to defend yourself to avoid months or even years of suffering and even loss of income.
- Wear a whistle around your neck
- Dogs are sensitive to high-pitched noises, therefore if a dog ever gets too close to you, using a whistle will most definitely have it retreat.
- Use commands
- If the dog attacking you happens to be trained on the following commands, chances are that it may stop an attack from happening. Try using words such as “Off!”, “Down!”, “Come!”, “No”, “Stop!” and “Back!” assertively to see if the dog will let go and leave you alone.
- Carry treats
- If your route has many dogs, for example, carrying dog treats in your vehicle or even in your pocket wouldn’t hurt. You may be able to distract it with the smell of the treat and have them forget about the fact that it even wanted to bite you.
- Protect your body
- In a worst-case scenario where none of the above tips have worked, protecting your body is the best way to prevent any severe or even life-threatening injuries. Fold your arms in a criss-cross position and duck your head underneath them. Then curl the rest of your body into a ball and stay as still as possible to prevent stressing the dog any further.
Obtain Legal Help if a Dog has Bitten You
If you get too close to a dog keep in mind they might feel uncomfortable and end up biting you.
Individuals that have been bitten by a dog need to understand that they have rights and even if the bite was not intentional, they still would need to seek medical treatment to treat any injuries caused by the attack. “The ‘hole and tear’ effect—whereby canine teeth anchor the person while other teeth bite, shear, and tear the tissues—results in stretch lacerations, easily piercing immature cranial bones. The biting force of canine jaws varies with the breed, from 310 kPa (kilopascals) to nearly 31,790 kPa in specially trained attack dogs. Large wounds, significant devitalization, and high mortality can result, with the highest death in neonates (six times that in toddlers), who are usually bitten by household pets,” indicates the article, “Fatal Dog Attacks”.
After a dog bite, many people wonder if the need to hire a lawyer to handle the situation. Attorney David Zagoria explains why hiring a lawyer is crucial: “Only by retaining a personal injury lawyer can you ensure that your rights are being protected. The adjuster protects the insurance company’s interest, while your attorney protects yours. Furthermore, your attorney can help make sure all of the proper evidence on your case is presented to the adjuster or a jury so that you receive fair compensation for your injuries.”
If you have been attacked due to a dog owner’s negligence, make sure you talk to a lawyer who specializes in dog bites as soon as possible to help you gain compensation for the injuries you have sustained. It would be best if you acted quickly to guarantee your rights and to maximize your compensation. For a free consultation, call the Zagoria Law Firm at (404) 653-0023.
