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Dog Bite Prevention

Dog bite prevention is something that we at Terry Bryant Accident & Injury Law feel committed to. Because of this, we would like to share with you some facts and tips to help protect you and your loved ones from an all-too-common and sometimes very serious dog bite.

Did you know that each year in the United States, an estimated 5 million people are bitten by dogs? That is fully 2% of the population. About 800,000 of these people require medical attention as the result of the bite or attack, and about 15-20 people die from their injuries. Based on these numbers, we feel it is important to make our clients and their friends and family members aware of ways to prevent dog bites.

Below are 8 things to keep in mind when you are around a dog.

  1. If you don’t know a dog, keep your distance. It is very common for a dog to act protective of its space and so if you go into its territory, you are just asking to be bitten (this includes sticking your hand over or through a fence).
  2. Wait to touch a dog until after it has had a chance to warm up to you. Warming up is a process. The dog may want to sniff you or check you out slowly. Let it do that before you even think about touching it, and then move slowly. Otherwise, the dog may bite you in self-defense.
  3. Be gentle and calm. Sometimes children want to jump right in and play roughly or play chase with a dog. This kind of play is a mistake. Loud or rowdy play with a dog will cause it to become excited and the dog may bite you in the midst of the confusion.
  4. Don’t disturb a dog that is sleeping, eating, chewing on a bone, or taking care of puppies. This is an invitation to being bitten.
  5. Pay attention to the way a dog is acting. If a dog growls, bears its teeth, snarls, barks or seems tense or afraid, stay away.
  6. Don’t run from a dog. If you turn and run from a dog, whether in fear or fun, it may instinctively chase you as it would prey. Instead, you should stand your ground with an unfamiliar dog that appears even moderately aggressive. Once the situation is diffused, turn slowly and walk away without looking back.
  7. Don’t do anything that may cause a dog to feel that you are challenging it. This could be as simple as looking a dog right in the eye. Instead, look indirectly at it, but keep it in the corner of your eye.
  8. Teach your children these strategies and never leave them alone with a strange dog.

At Terry Bryant Accident & Injury Law, we see the unfortunate results of what can happen when a strange dog is not treated with the proper precautions. It is our sincere desire that you will not only become more aware of how to prevent a serious incident with a dog, but that you will also help to make your family and friends aware of ways to prevent being bitten by a dog. If, however, you are bitten and require medical attention, we suggest that you call our offices and speak to one of our legal representatives to ensure that your legal rights are protected. We can be reached at 713-973-8888 or Toll Free at 800-444-5000.

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