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Legally Reviewed by:

Jonathan Rosenfeld
J.D

October 22, 2015

Over $400 Million worth of case results

Awarded The Best Lawyer in 2024 by U.S. News

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Preventing Dog BitesAccording to data compiled in 2008, nearly 75 million dogs have been welcomed into homes across the United States, and these animals are often considered endeared members of our families.

The Chicago dog bite attorneys of Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers, LLC has taken on thousands of cases on behalf of clients who have had unpleasant encounters (dog bites) with dogs due to the irresponsible behavior of their owners, serving as a reminder that dog ownership comes with responsibility.

To make your home safer and to reduce the chances that you or a loved one is involved in an attack, consider the following tips to reduce your risk of being involved in a dog attack.

Protecting Yourself and Children From Strange Dogs

It is much easier to predict the behavior of an animal that lives with you and has been the subject of your love and attentive training for its entire life.

Other peoples’ dogs may not have received the same treatment, and strays can be dangerous for various reasons, including exposure to disease or a protective instinct.

Consider the following tips for you and your family when encountering dogs you are not familiar with.

  • Never approach a dog that is growling, snarling, or acting defensively. It is essential to teach your children that these are signs that a dog is afraid of or defending its territory and to back off when these signs are displayed.
  • Always obtain permission from a dog’s owner before interacting with the animal. Dogs often pick up on cues from their owners and are more likely to be open to contact when the owner shows signs of accepting you. Additionally, the owner is more likely to know the dog’s temperament and whether it is approachable.
  • When seeing a stray, it is best to keep your distance as the animal may be diseased or have rabies. If a dog charges, it will be faster than you are, so it will be impossible to outrun it. The best option is to find an object you can use as a distraction and feed it to the dog while you escape. Options include a backpack, coat, bicycle, or any other object that will distance you from the dog.
  • If a dog does attack and knocks you onto the ground, the safest response is to curl into a ball, protecting your stomach by pulling your knees up and locking your fingers behind your neck to protect your neck. Once in this position, remain still, and there is a high probability that the dog will no longer feel threatened and walk away after smelling or licking you.

How to Keep Your Dog From Biting Others

Taking steps that prevent dog bites from occurring altogether can avoid the economic, emotional, and physical toll on the dog’s owner and the attacker’s victim.

Tips to Avoid Dog Bites

Follow these tips to make your home safer for your family and guests if you own a dog.

  • Socialize your dog early and often so that it understands humans are friendly and not to be harmed. Dogs are more likely to act defensive in the presence of things that are not familiar to them, so familiarizing them with other people will make them less defensive.
  • Never punish your dog with your hand; this establishes all hands as weapons. When your dog encounters another person who offers his or her hand, it may feel threatened and attacked.
  • Consider taking your dog to training classes, even if you have experience training animals. This will allow the dog to socialize with other humans and dogs and earn rewards and positive reinforcement for good behavior.
  • Try to keep your pet away from children under ten, as many dog bites result from children playing too roughly with dogs and not understanding their boundaries. If a guest has a young child, it is crucial never to let the child near the animal without proper supervision. Establish rules for interaction, including never pulling, striking, or aggressively pushing the dog.

Dog owners are responsible for ensuring that their animals will not harm other people. If another person’s animal has harmed you, you are entitled to collect compensation to pay for treating your wounds.

Many of the claims are paid for by the owner’s homeowner’s insurance companies, so if the owner of the dog that bit you is a friend, you should not feel any guilt filing a claim.

Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers, LLC is the most dependable personal injury firm in Illinois, and our Chicago dog bite attorneys have recovered compensation on behalf of thousands of clients.

Contact us today to learn more about your legal options and how we can maximize your recovery.

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