On Behalf of Simon & Gilman, LLP | Jul 20, 2018 | Firm News
If you like to head out to the local park to go for a walk, jog, take the kids to play or to ride your bike, then there’s a strong likelihood that you may encounter either a stray or aggressive dog. While some attacks may be unavoidable, there are some basic steps you can take avoid one.
One of the more common reasons dogs are able to attack pedestrians is because people are often too distracted to notice dogs approaching.
Whether they’re talking to someone else, playing with their kids or listening to a phone or earbuds, such distractions can prevent individuals noticing a dangerous dog until it’s right at their feet. Simply removing one earbud can greatly improve your ability to hear a dog or someone else if they’re quickly approaching you.
If you see a dog that appears to be moving fast in your direction or appears to be barking or growling for no apparent reason, then you don’t want to scream at them or run away from them. Instead, gingerly get out of their path. Talk to them in a monotone voice as well. If possible, you may want to move to the other side of the street and continue your commute further away from the animal.
Just as you don’t want to scream or run away from a dog, you also shouldn’t look it in the eyes. If you do, a dog may take this as a sign of aggression.
Finally, if you see where a dog is planning to lunge, take any bulky object you have, whether it’s a backpack, suitcase, jacket or purse and put it between you and the animal. Doing so may end up with your possession being bitten, but this will be far better than having your skin punctured instead.
While some dog bites may simply be nips that do nothing more than puncture your top layer of skin, those that go as deep as your muscle or bone can leave you with a permanent injury or dead. Depending on where an attack took place, an experienced Queens personal injury attorney may advise you of your eligibility to recover the medical costs you’ve incurred.
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