Charlotte is in the Top 20 for Dog Attacks on U.S. Postal Service Workers

Postal workers making deliveries have a tough job. The US Postal Service (USPS) recently did a survey related to dog bites. In the survey, postal workers listed Charlotte, North Carolina, in the top 20 cities for dog bites. They posted the survey as part of national dog bite awareness week. The goal of the survey is to bring awareness to the public of the dangers faced by mail carriers from aggressive dogs. The survey found that California had the most dog bites of mail carriers at 675.

Texas and New York had 404 and 321 dog bites, respectively. The survey found that over 5,300 employees were bitten by dogs well delivering the mail. This number is probably lower than the true number of dog bite victims because some bites were likely not reported. One of the most surprising aspects of the study is that mail carriers were usually bitten by good dogs that had never bitten anyone or behaved aggressively in other situations before biting the post office worker.

Dogs are generally protective of their turf and their owners. This is not an excuse for dog owners not to take responsibility for controlling their pets and ensuring mail can be safely delivered. Most people know what time their letter carrier arrives each day. They should use reasonable care to secure their dogs before the mail carrier approaches the property to minimize potentially dangerous interactions.

When a letter carrier comes to the person's home, they should keep their dog inside or securely behind a fence. They may want to keep them on a leash, away from the door, or in another room. Another smart preventative strategy is to remind children not to take mail directly from a letter carrier, as the dog may view the mail carrier as a threat to the child.

As the survey discussed above indicates, mail deliveries are at a high risk of being attacked by dogs. Unfortunately, mail deliveries are not the only people who become seriously injured in dog bite accidents. Children, neighbors, pedestrians, bicyclists, and people walking in their neighborhoods can suffer serious injuries due to dog bite attacks. Navigating North Carolina's dog bite laws, managing a medical recovery, and pursuing a claim for compensation can be challenging for victims of dog bites.

Victims also need to file proper incident reports with animal control, negotiate homeowners’ insurance policies, and check their local dog laws and leash laws. These are only a few tasks survivors must manage. Working with an attorney can help dog bite victims navigate their claims, pursue justice, and obtain compensation for their medical damages and other damages, such as loss of income from time off of work.

North Carolina is one of a dozen states that uses a one-bite rule. A dog that has bitten another dog or human once will be classified as a potentially dangerous dog. The owners must take extra precautions to ensure the safety of others around their pets. If you were bitten by a dog with a history of dog attacks, it might help build evidence of the dog owner's negligence. The North Carolina General Statues define a potentially dangerous dog as one that has:

• Inflicted a bite on a person that resulted in broken bones or disfiguring lacerations or required cosmetic surgery or hospitalization; or
• Killed or inflicted severe injury upon a domestic animal when not on the owner’s real property; or
• Approached a person when not on the owner’s property in a vicious or terrorizing manner in an apparent attitude of attack.

As with any type of personal injury lawsuit, dog bite claims are time sensitive. The statute of limitations for dog bite injuries in North Carolina is three years from the date of the dog bite. If you do not file a claim within three years of the dog bite, you will lose your opportunity to pursue compensation. The sooner you speak to an attorney, the sooner your attorney can gather evidence proving that the owners engaged and negligence and that the dog bite caused your injuries.

The attorneys at Arnold & Smith, PLLC, have extensive experience representing victims of dog bite claims. We understand how devastating dog bites can be, especially when children suffer disfigurement due to a dog attack. Do not hesitate to Contact the skilled dog bite attorneys at Arnold & Smith, PLLC, to schedule a free case evaluation.