Danville Dog Bite Lawyers

Dogs can be a great source of love and friendship for their human owners. When properly taken care of and provided for, they make an excellent addition to a home. Despite years of domestication, however, dogs are often unpredictable animals and they require a large amount of training to ensure that they are well behaved. If this training is lacking or nonexistent, a dog’s behavior can quickly turn from a nuisance to a public danger. An uncontrollable dog may be prone to destructive behavior that puts other people around them at risk. Dog bites, in particular, may result in serious injury or, in the worst cases, death.

Dog bites may have serious consequences and often require immediate medical care. In these cases, a dog bite results in not only physical harm, but also expensive medical payments. These payments come at the expense of the individual harmed rather than the individual who owns the aggressive dog. The Danville dog bite lawyers at Spiros Law, P.C. understand the frustration of this situation and are prepared to help you understand your legal rights.

Owner’s Responsibility

When deciding to adopt and care for a dog, the owner makes a commitment to the animal and its care. They not only provide for the animal, but they also must ensure that their dog behaves appropriately and is not a danger to the community. Caring for a dog is a large responsibility that many owners do not fully understand and are not prepared to undertake. If the owner does not fulfill their duties as a caretaker, they put anyone who interacts with the dog at risk. Dog bites are often the result of the owner’s negligence of basic responsibilities, such as:

• Providing appropriate fencing when outdoors
• Keeping the dog on leash at all times
• Overseeing interactions with people – especially children
• Obedience training
• Adequate food and water supply
• Safe and appropriate shelter
• Medical care

Each of these responsibilities is essential to owning a well-behaved dog. Without any of these components, dogs are liable to become uncontrollable and may exhibit aggressive or defensive behavior out of fear. If a dog bites someone due to improper care, the owner must be held accountable.

Injuries Caused by Dog Bites

When dog bites occur, they can have a serious impact on the victim. Depending on the dog’s size and bite strength, the severity of injuries can vary greatly. The average bite strength for an adult Rottweiler reaches 328 pounds of bite pressure, twice the bite pressure of an adult man. A dog with this much strength could cause pain even with a playful nip, but when paired with aggression, their bite could be deadly. A list of possible dog bite injuries may be found below.

• Abrasions
• Lacerations
• Punctures
• Muscle and tendon damage
• Sprains or strains
• Broken bones
• Nerve damage
• Infections such as Rabies

Not only are these injuries painful but they can be expensive to care for, especially if additional medical attention is required. Additionally, dog bites can lead to permanent scars and bodily damage. If another person’s dog has injured you, you should not face financial hardship for that person’s negligence. Payment should be the owner’s obligation.

Dangers of Dog Bites

According to the Centers for Disease Control, approximately 4.5 million dog bites occur in the United States every year. Approximately 900,000 of these bites become infected, and they often require additional medical care to heal properly. Dog bites typically occur in situations where a dog feels threatened or scared and they have not been properly trained or enclosed by their owner. Nonetheless, some dogs are more dangerous than others based on their bite strength and national dog bite statistics. Below is a list of some of these dangerous dogs.

• Rottweilers
• Pit Bull Terriers
• German Shepherds
• Boxers
• Dobermann Pinschers
• Chow Chows
• Huskies
• Labradors

While labeled as potentially dangerous, these dogs are also some of the most popular and loving breeds. When a dog presents excessive aggression or defensiveness, environment and caretaking often play as much of a role in the dog’s behavior as breed does.

Contact a Danville Dog Bite Lawyer

If an owner does not take responsibility for their dog, the consequences to people around them can be severe. If you or a loved one has been the victim of a dog bite, you may be able to receive compensation for your expenses and hardship. The dog bite lawyers at Spiros Law, P.C. understand that dog bites should be the responsibility of the owner, not the victim. They are ready to help you fight for your rights and make the dog owner face the appropriate consequences. In order to discuss your dog bite case, contact Spiros Law, P.C. by calling (217) 443-4343 today.