Even the cutest dogs can bite people
Dog bite injuries, lawsuits and insurance settlements are a serious issue in the United States.
According to the American Association of Vets there are there are approximately 4.5 million dog bites occur in the United States every year. Of these, about 800,000 require medical attention or treatment.
Any dog is capable of biting no matter how cuddly or cute they might be. More often than not the victims are children.
It’s not the dogs breed that determines their propensity to bite. A better determinant is the dog’s personal history and behavior in stressful situations.
Dogs bite for a variety of reasons.
Usually they are reacting to something that startles them or stresses them out. They get startled and react or they might feel they need to defend themselves or their territory.
The dog could be sick or injured causing them to be overly defensive in an effort the defend themselves.
Children, more than adults, like to put their faces very close to the dog’s face.
Facial injuries can be severe and require multiple treatments or surgeries to minimize scarring.
Other times dogs could be playing and decided and nip at a person. In the cases of small children this can lacerate and tear their tender and young skin.
The American Association of Veterinarians has a good list of tips to prevent dog bites.
If you own a dog, it’s important that you keep their shots and vaccinations up to date.
In the event that your dog bites and injures someone you don’t to infect that person with rabies or another disease that could have been prevented with proper vaccinations.
If your dog bite’s someone causing injuries, know that you’ll have to meet with insurance companies and attorneys.
Make sure that you have proper insurance to protect you and your family from a financially devastating dog bite insurance settlement. Many people choose to have an umbrella policy.
To better understand if you are protected in the event of a dog bite, contact your insurance provider.
Read actual dog bite settlement amounts.