Many families in the country have a dog. These animals are often well-loved and are provided quality care. However, any dog can attack, causing serious injury or even death. Because some claim that most, and possibly all, dog bites are preventable, many injured in an attack in Wisconsin choose to pursue a personal injury claim.
Recently, the American Veterinary Medical Foundation sponsored National Dog Bite Prevention Week. The initiative was designed to warn people about the prevalence and causes of dog attacks. It reminds people that even dogs who may not appear aggressive can bite.
According to reports, 4.5 million people are injured as a result of a dog bite annually. Of these, almost 20 percent, more than 800,000 people, require medical attention. Unfortunately, the most common victims of such attacks are children, who are more likely to suffer a severe injury, and the elderly. The AVMF warns that these attacks can be avoided and that dog owners, for example, can reduce the chance of a dog attack by ensuring that their dogs are properly socialized and trained.
Unfortunately, some owners do not take the relatively simple precautions to help prevent an attack on an innocent person, leaving some victims in Wisconsin facing a severe injury. Those injured in a dog attack often require significant medical treatment, both for physical and emotional harm. In order to ensure that pet owners are held responsible for the personal injury a pet in their care caused, victims can seek damages in a civil court. Wisconsin is designated as a strict liability state when it comes to dog bites, making it easier for victims to collect damages in the event of a dog bite injury.
Source: wnct.com, “The Dog Blog: Dog Bite Prevention Week”, Maria Satira, May 16, 2016
