Getting bitten by a dog can be a frightening experience, especially for children. They are much more likely to be the victim of a dog attack and to suffer serious injuries. Fortunately, you can take steps to protect your child and reduce the risk that they will be bitten by a dog.
Tips to Prevent Your Child From Being Bitten by a Dog
While you cannot control how dog owners treat their dogs and protect others from an attack, you can teach your child how to act around dogs and what to do if a dog is being aggressive. Here are some easy tips you can teach your child to protect them:
- Instruct your child to avoid unknown dogs. If they see an unknown dog that is wandering around unsupervised, they should stay away from the dog and have an adult call animal control.
- Before petting a dog, teach your child to ask the dog owner’s permission. They should do this even if they know the dog.
- Do not approach a dog that is in their crate or bed, is eating, or is caring for their puppies.
- Do not leave any small children alone with a dog.
- Teach your child how to play safely with a dog. They should not play aggressive games, such as tug-of-war, pulling their tail, or wrestling, with a dog.
- Instruct your child to walk away slowly and calmly from an aggressive dog if possible. They should not run because this will increase the chances that the dog will chase and attack them.
- If it is not possible to move away from a threatening dog, your child should remain calm, avoid eye contact with the dog, and stand still “like a tree” with their fists under their neck and their elbows into their chest.
- Teach your child what to do if a dog knocks them over. They should curl up in a ball and use their arms and fists to protect their face and eyes
Your Child’s Right to Compensation After a Dog Attack
Even if your child takes these safety precautions, they could still suffer injuries from a dog bite. Under Virginia’s dog bite laws, they may be entitled to compensation for their injuries from the dog’s owner. Types of compensation they can recover includes:
- Medical expenses
- Lost wages and lost earning capacity
- Property damages
- Pain and suffering
If your child was bitten by a dog, they are relying on you to pursue their claim against the dog owner and any other liable parties on their behalf. You need an experienced premises liability attorney who will fight so that they receive all they deserve in their settlement. To find out how we can help, call our Norfolk office to schedule your free case evaluation today.
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