Some of Southern California’s postal workers received a dose of good news last month, when the United States Postal Service (USPS) revealed new rankings for cities with the most frequent dog attacks against postal workers.
Los Angeles dropped from number one to number four on the USPS list, as the City of Houston reclaimed the top spot as the dog bite capital of America with a whopping 77 incidents. Though the second and third slots were tied, other cities that beat Los Angeles for USPS dog attack frequency included San Diego, Cleveland, Chicago and Dallas.
Increased Dog Bite Safety Measures
In the wake of the most recent rankings, USPS revealed that it is planning to implement widespread measures to further protect workers from aggressive guard dogs. Such measures include notifying USPS of any canines on the property prior to a schedule package pickup, which is meant to allow postal employees time to mentally and physically prepare (if necessary) prior to a canine encounter.
Additionally, USPS reported that it is working on an additional safety measure that would allow postal workers to log the addresses of any aggressive dogs into a database, which would help streamline information for all parties, including substitute workers filling in for normal letter carriers.
Together, these measures could, USPS hopes, help reduce dog bites in LA by a further 25 percent in the next year.
In the state of California currently, there are specific civil codes that are meant to address dog bites. Specifically, these codes state that, if a dog bites someone, it is the dog owner’s responsibility, regardless of whether or not it was on private or public property.
Dog-Bite Injuries in California
Dog bite injuries have the potential to be very dangerous, especially if they are not handled with swift care. The most important thing in any dog bite situation is to seek the appropriate medical attention, especially if you cannot be certain of the vaccination history of the animal that attacked. It is also important to have a qualified medical professional diagnose any lasting injuries or disabilities as soon as possible.
In many cases, those injured in a dog bite attack are eligible to pursue a personal injury claim, which can help offset a number of financial challenges during the course of recovery, including:
- Past, present or future medical expenses
- Past, present or future lost income, such as salary, commissions or other wages
- Related economic losses
- General damages, otherwise known as pain and suffering
Have you or someone you love been injured in a dog bite incident? If so, it is in your best interest to consult with a qualified Encino personal injury attorney, who can guide you through the process of filing an injury claim to help recover any and all possible damages or related compensation.
If you reside in the City of Los Angeles or the surrounding communities in Southern California, the attorneys at Binder & Associates serve as the premier personal injury resource for those dealing with severe injury or disability, including those stemming from dog attacks.
Dealing with any type of personal injury is never easy, but victims should know that the recovery process is not a path you have to walk alone. Our team of personal injury advocates are prepared to stand by you and your loved ones to build a strong, convincing case that yields the results you both need and deserve.
In addition to handling dog bite injury cases, the attorneys at Binder & Associates also focus on other areas of personal injury, including auto and truck accidents, brain injury, and wrongful death.
Our skilled personal injury attorneys are prepared to help you today. To schedule a free, no-obligation consultation to assess your personal injury matter, call Binder & Associates at (818) 659-8588.
