Some Basics on Dog Bites and Attacks

Sometimes the responsibility of having a dog is more than an owner may anticipate and when part of that responsibility gets neglected, problems ensue. Not only to dog owners have to feed, shelter and maintain the health of their pets, but they also have to ensure that they don't harm people in the environment. Dogs are the largest offenders when it comes to domestic animal attacks and almost 50% of dog bite occur in children.

Why Dogs Attack

Some of the more common reasons dogs attack people are as follows:

• Dogs love their owners and feel they must protect them and sometimes become aggressive if they think you might in some way harm their owner or family members.
• The dog was trained to be vicious and is unfriendly with most everyone
• Dogs are very territorial and will attack sometimes if they feel their territory is being invaded
• Certain types of herding dogs will chase people on bicycles and motorcycles because of the strong herding instincts
• Children try to play with the animal or frighten it in some way and it attacks

What to Do If Attacked

If you are attacked by a dog you would be wise to take the following actions:

• Get any needed medical treatment as quickly as possible
• Get the contact information of the owner if at all possible
• Get as much information about the dog as possible (has he had his/her shots?)
• Obtain any insurance information from the owner if possible (homeowners or renter's insurance)
• Get contact information of any witnesses who may have seen the attack
• Take pictures (even with your cell phone if you have a camera feature) of any injuries for evidence
• Contact a personal injury lawyer to help you file a claim so you can receive compensation for your injuries.

Dog bites can cause serious injury sometimes resulting in the need for reconstructive surgery. Medical expenses can get overwhelming and even emotional trauma can occur after a dog bite attack; you may even lose the ability to work for awhile during recovery.

If you have been injured by a dog bite or dog attack in the Long Island area, you need to contact a Long Island lawyer as quickly as possible. Allowing too much time to intervene can weaken the case due to lost evidence, witnesses, and so on. At the Odierno Law Firm, P.C., we specialize in personal injury law and have been successfully helping people get compensation for injuries for several decades.

Contact a Long Island dog bite attorney in our office for a free case evaluation today.