Though dog bites can happen to anyone, they are an occupational hazard for postal workers, with almost 5700 mail carriers suffering canine bites every year. Read on to find out more about the cities where these bites are most likely to occur, and what you can do to prevent them.
Top Areas for Dog Attacks
According to the United States Postal Service, the cities with the most dog attacks on postal employees in 2010 were:
- Houston, Texas – 62 attacks
- Columbus, OH and San Diego, CA – 45 attacks each
- Los Angeles, CA – 44 attacks
- Louisville, KY – 40 attacks
- San Antonio, TX and St. Louis, MO –39 attacks each
- Cleveland, OH and Phoenix, AZ – 38 attacks each
- Minneapolis, MN and Portland, OR – 35 attacks each
- Denver, CO and Philadelphia, PA – 31 attacks each
- Sacramento, CA – 30 attacks
- Seattle, WA – 28 attacks
This list demonstrates that dog attacks can happen anywhere, and statistics show that any breed of dog can become aggressive.
Preventing Dog Attacks
If a dog is threatening you, do not turn and run away, because his instinct will be to chase you. When approached by a dog, try to stay calm and still, then calmly walk away when he loses interest. If the situation escalates and the dog begins to attack, try to place a large object like a bike between yourself and the animal for protection. Because of their small size, children are especially vulnerable to dog bites, so be sure to keep kids away from strange or aggressive dogs, and educate them about what they can do to stay safe.
If you’ve been bitten by a dog, you deserve compensation for your medical bills and pain. To speak to a personal injury attorney in Chicago who has experience in dog bite cases, call (773) 365-0040 and speak with a member of the Shea Law Group.