According to statistics, dog bites are a common cause of trips to the emergency room in New York and across America. In fact, about 4.5 million dog bites are reported each year in the United States. Experts say that liability claims involving bites are going up.
About 359,000 children were bitten by dogs between 2010 and 2012. Dog bites accounted for a third of all homeowner's insurance premises liability claims in 2017, with an average payout of $37,051.
Dog owners can do their part to reduce the risk of dog bites. Owners should carefully supervise their animals anytime they are around children. Some dogs are fine with adults but become nervous around small children. In addition, dogs should be confined when deliveries are made to the home.
Rather than punishing their dogs for bad behavior, owners should use positive training methods based. It's also helpful to socialize dogs by bringing them around people.
A veterinarian can help dog owners make sure that behavior problems are not due to pain or another condition. A vet can also help dog owners find a good training program appropriate for a dog's age and abilities.
Dog bites are just one of the many preventable types of premises liability cases. Homeowners may also be responsible for slip-and-fall accidents if they failed to disclose a hidden danger to a guest. An attorney may be able to help an individual who has been injured as a result of a dangerous condition on someone else's property. In dog bite cases, owners might have a defense if the dog had never acted viciously. If the dog is known to be dangerous, the owner could be held liable for any injuries the dog causes.