How to Avoid Injuries Resulting from Animal Bites

Almost every day, humans come into contact with wild and domesticated animals. Although many of these encounters are harmless, some result in injury. According to the World Animal Foundation (WAF), about 4.5 million Americans suffer from a dog bite each year, making it the most common animal-related injury. The WAF also reports that “over 800,000 people bitten by dogs require medical attention. According to 2019 population figures, 1 out of 73 are victims of dog bites.”

Bites from cats account for the second most common pet bite, and “cat bites account for 2–50% of injuries related to animal bites.”

In some cases, animals attack without being provoked, but many times these injuries can be avoided. Educating yourself and your children on how to properly approach an animal may save you a trip to the emergency room and money spent on dog bite treatment.

Preventing Animal Bites

 The most common pet bites involve an animal that you know. This may include a family pet or a friend’s animal. Out of the millions of Americans who suffer from a dog bite, half of them are children between the ages of five and nine.

Children are the most likely to be injured by an animal because of their outgoing personalities and lack of education. Sadly, these bites are often the most traumatic. A young child’s face, neck and chest are more exposed due to their height. Even after receiving dog bite treatment, there may be permanent scaring.

Here are some helpful tips on how to prevent animals biting children:

• Ask permission before petting an animal
• When approaching, remain calm and let the animal approach you
• If the pet becomes aggressive, remain calm, quiet and move away slowly
• Never leave children unattended with pets
• Teach children to be gentle when interacting with an animal

Respecting an animal’s space is the most effective prevention method. Teaching your children to follow these rules may come in handy. Although these tips are often effective, there are certain instances when they are not.

Treating an Animal Bite

Not all bites are preventable. If you or a family member are bitten, the choices you make immediately after are extremely important. Once safely removing yourself from the dangerous situation, start thinking through the following questions and assessing your injuries:

• Do you know the owner of the animal?
• Is the animal up to date on all vaccinations?
• Was the aggression provoked or unprovoked?

Superficial injuries should be properly cleaned and monitored for infection. Wounds that penetrate the skin need to be handled differently. The first step is to apply pressure to the wound to slow the bleeding. This can be done using a clean cloth. Cleaning the wound immediately after will help remove harmful bacteria and prevent infection. Once the wound is cleaned, seek medical attention. Nearly 1 in 5 people that receive a dog bite end up needing some degree of medical attention. Dog bite treatment is especially important due to the possibility of infection.

Legal Action After an Animal Bite

Animal injury lawyers will want you to have basic information ready. If possible, first gather information and proof that the bite has occurred. This information includes medical bills, photos of the injury, an accurate description of the events, witnesses, and the owner’s personal information. Once you meet with a personal injury attorney or animal injury lawyer, he or she may be able to help you gather some of this information and build your claim.

At KBG Injury Law, we offer a free consultation to meet with one of our animal injury lawyers and decide if we’re a good fit for you and your claim.

Request a free consultation today to get the Results You Deserve®.