Isenberg & Hewitt, PC | A Business And Personal Injury Law Firm | Since 1989
Isenberg & Hewitt, PC | A Business And Personal Injury Law Firm | Since 1989
To talk with a lawyer call (770) 901-2666
Isenberg & Hewitt, PC | A Business And Personal Injury Law Firm | Since 1989
To talk with a lawyer call (770) 901-2666

Distinguished Georgia Trial Attorneys

  1. Home
  2.  » 
  3. Premises Liability
  4.  » How to avoid getting bitten by a dog

How to avoid getting bitten by a dog

On Behalf of | Sep 6, 2019 | Premises Liability

According to an agent from State Farm, most dogs in Georgia and throughout the country will not bite. However, it is also important to remember that any dog has the potential to bite. California, Illinois and Ohio were the states that had the highest number of bites in 2018. State Farm alone has paid $1.1 billion in dog bite claims over the past decade, and more than 50% of bite victims are children.

A bite can lead to negative consequences for both the person who was attacked and the animal that caused it to happen. Victims may have both emotional and physical wounds long after a bite occurs. A dog may be put down if it bites a person, so it is important to know how to prevent such an incident from taking place. Ideally, a dog will be socialized at an early age and exercised on a regular basis.

Doing so will help the dog feel calm and relaxed when it is around people. Dog owners should know that sick, stressed or injured animals are more likely to bite a person, so it is important to provide pets with timely vet care. Furthermore, people should stay alert to any changes in a dog’s body language that could indicate that it is feeling stressed and may be preparing to defend itself.

Generally speaking, dog bites are seen as preventable accidents. Therefore, dog bite victims may be able to pursue a premises liability case if they are bitten on someone else’s property. Even if the bite occurs in a public place, the dog’s owner is generally responsible for making sure it doesn’t hurt anyone. A bite victim may be entitled to compensation for current and future medical bills, lost wages and other costs associated with the incident itself.