June 28, 2013
Dog attacks can result in lifelong injuries. According to the American Humane Association, a total of more than 4.7 million Americans are the victims of dog bites each year. The dog bite injuries sustained in these attacks result in more than $1 billion in claims paid to victims through insurers.
This leaves many citizens wondering what is being done to reduce the number of dog bites that occur in the United States each year. Most municipalities have their own laws regarding responsible pet ownership.
These laws outline what is deemed as appropriate action to be taken by an animal owner to prevent their pet from harming someone else. For instance, Michigan Dog Bite Laws state that a dog owner is held strictly liable for any injury a victim sustains in an attack by the owner’s animal, provided the attack was not provoked and the victim was legally on the property where the incident occurred.
The Michigan Personal Injury Attorneys with Michigan Injury Lawyers explain that awareness of the risks posed by a dog attack is the best line of defense form injury though. The firm states that learning when and how to approach a strange dog only after receiving the owner’s consent is vital. Some of the signs that a dog wishes to be left alone include growling, hair standing up on the animal’s back, and heavy salivation.