Most of the world came to a standstill in 2020, but one of the essential services that kept on churning was the United States Postal Services. The employees had an especially hard time last year. With more people adopting dogs, the old cliché of dog versus mailman came to be a reality as the post office reported that thousands of mail carriers suffered from dog attacks in 2020.
If you or a loved one has been attacked by a dog, do not delay in filing a claim against the responsible party. The Los Angeles dog-bite attorneys at JML Law are here to help you receive damages for your injuries.
The details of the report
“From nips and bites to vicious attacks, aggressive dog behavior poses a serious threat to postal employees and the general public,” claims a postal service statement regarding the 5,800 mail carriers attacked by dogs in 2020.
In the same findings, California ranked first in dog attacks. Two California cities also found themselves in the top 10 cities with the most dog attacks. Los Angeles landed in third place with 54 attacks, and San Diego was in tenth place with 35. Houston and Chicago were the only cities with more attacks than Los Angeles.
Released just ahead of National Dog Bite Awareness Week, the statistics included any attack which prompted the employee to submit an injury claim or report an attack to a supervisor. The types of dogs that attacked most often were not included.
Why have dog attacks increased
The COVID pandemic has caused a higher volume of home deliveries, and this leads to increased interactions between mail carriers and dogs, leading to a higher chance of being attacked.
Letter carriers are trained to deal with dogs. They may use warning cards as a reminder of dangerous dogs along their route, or they may use the dog alert feature on their handheld scanners.
The Postal Service states, “All dogs can bite.” Dogs often act out of instinctive behaviors and want to protect their home. Dog owners can reduce the number of dog attacks by:
- Not taking mail directly from a letter carrier because this might seem like a treat to a dog
- Keeping dogs inside during the time of mail delivery
- Keeping dogs away from doors if there is a mail slot or porch delivery
When should I contact a lawyer
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report 4.7 million dog bites each year. More than 800,000 of these require medical care. In California, 77% of all injury-causing animal bites come from dog attacks.
Under California Civil Code 3342, a dog owner is strictly liable for the injuries their dog causes, regardless of the dog’s history of dangerous tendencies. A dog bite victim only needs to prove they did not provoke the dog, and they were in a public place or legally and lawfully in a private place when the attack occurred.
If you or a loved one has been impacted by a dog attack, contact the Los Angeles dog bite attorneys at JML Law by clicking here for a free consultation or by calling us at 818-610-8800.
