Dog Bite Cases Can Cause Life-Threatening Injuries; Even Death

According to the Cape Cod Today, the Provincetown Police Blotter reported several animal calls for the two weeks ending at July 22, 2013.During that time period, the local police responded to one dog bite incident and several loose and lost dogs, among other matters. In all likelihood, there were many more unreported dog bite cases throughout Cape Cod during the past month. A dog bite can be a very serious matter. Victims may suffer life-long physical and psychological damages. If a dog has bitten you or a loved one, you are encouraged to contact a local injury attorney as soon as possible after the incident.

A dog bite has the potential to cause serious injuries, and in some rare cases, death. A city in the San Francisco Bay area has reportedly settled a lawsuit with the family of a man who was bitten by a city police dog and later died. In 2011, the 89-year-old victim was bitten as the dog was searching for an armed robbery suspect.

According to the family’s complaint, the police had lifted the dog over a security wall at a mobile home park where the victim lived. The officers instructed the dog to continue searching for the robbery suspect. Instead of pursuing the suspect, the dog mistakenly bit the elderly man. As a result of the bite, the man had to have part of his leg amputated. He died weeks after the incident. Although the city has denied responsibility for the man’s death, it nonetheless agreed to settle the lawsuit with the victim’s family for $1.5 million. Reports indicate that the city will be required to pay $250,000 of the settlement, and insurance proceeds will cover the remaining amount.

People should pay close attention to the kinds of behavior that can provoke a dog to bite, and ways to protect oneself should a dog attack. Dogs often exhibit warning signs that indicate when the pet is feeling anxious, leading it to protect or defend itself by biting. Some of these signs include the following: barking or whining, lip licking or tongue flicking, crouching or tucking in tail, turning head or entire body away from a situation, tightly closing mouth, yawning, ears pinned back to head, body is still or in a “freeze,” and something referred to as a “half moon eye,” which happens when the whites of a dog’s eyes are exposed.

If you think a dog is about to attack, the Humane Society provides the following recommendations: 1) resist the urge to scream and run away; 2) stay motionless, with your hands at your sides, and be sure to avoid eye contact with the dog; 3) when the dog loses interest in you, slowly back away until he is out of sight (do not turn and run away); and 4) if the dog does attack, give him your purse, jacket, bicycle, or any item that you can put between you and the dog. If a dog has bitten you or someone in your family, it is important to contact a local dog bite attorney who can help to protect your rights to a fair and just recovery.

Local attorney, John C. Manoog III, has extensive experience helping parties in dog bite cases in Cape Cod. For a free initial consultation, call the office at 888-262-6664 or reach us by email. There is always someone available to talk to you about your case.

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