When Dog Attacks Prove Deadly
Dog attacks sometimes cause significant injuries to victims and in some cases these injuries are so severe that lives are lost. Although nothing can take away the pain of losing a loved one to a vicious dog, surviving family members can file a wrongful death lawsuit to hold the responsible parties liable. If the claim proves successful, survivors can receive financial compensation for medical expenses, funeral costs, lost past and current wages, loss of consortium and more. Such compensation can help relieve some of the stress that accompanies the financial obligations associated with an unexpected death so that loved ones can concentrate on morning their loss and healing.
Dangerous Dogs Take Lives
In 2016, severe dog attacks took the lives of 31 victims. The majority of people who were killed (58 percent) by these vicious attacks were adults over the age of 30. Alarmingly, about 42 percent were children age 9 and younger. Pit bulls were responsible for a whopping 67 percent of the dog bite attacks that year. While pit bulls have been deemed the deadliest of dogs when attacks occur, a wrongful death attorney often sees cases involving other dogs as well. German shepherds, rottweilers, chow chows and doberman pinschers all made a recent list of the top 25 most dangerous dogs.
Preventing Deadly Dog Attacks
Fortunately, the Humane Society of the United States has put together a tip sheet to help people avoid becoming a victim of a dangerous dog bite.
Watching Body Language: Paying attention to a dog's body language can mean the difference between life and death. Since most dogs display physical warning signs before they attack, people should watch for a tense stance, stiffened tail, pulled back hear or ears, intense stare and backing away.
Keeping Children Safe: Young children should never be left alone in the presence of a dog- even when it is a well-known family dog. About 45 percent of all deadly dog bites in 2016 involved family dogs.
Being Weary of Unfamiliar Dogs: People should never try to approach a dog that is unfamiliar, especially if the dog is injured. In an attempt to protect itself or its territory, the dog could very well attack.
Remaining Calm: As tempting as it may be, people who suspect that a dog might attack should try to stay calm. The Humane Society recommends standing still and quiet until the dog loses loses interest.
