Like people, dogs are not immune to the effects of heat. As Psychology Today noted, a group of investigators from the Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine at the China-Japan Friendship Hospital in Beijing collected data on 42,481 dog bites and found that the number of dog bites increased with increases in the temperature.
If someone else’s dog bit you, you might be able to recover compensation. To find out if you have a case, speak with an experienced Virginia Beach dog bite attorney as soon as possible.
Ruloff, Swain, Haddad, Morecock, Talbert & Woodward, P.C. has been serving clients all over Virginia for more than three decades. Call us or contact us online now to schedule a free and confidential consultation so we can discuss your legal options.
Why Do Dogs Attack in the Summer?
While no single factor can explain the increase in dog bites in the summer, there are several potential reasons why this is the case.
For one, the warm summer weather makes outdoor activities much more inviting. Parks, playgrounds, backyards, and neighborhood streets and sidewalks often see more people during these months. With more people out and about, the more likely it is that you will encounter someone walking a dog.
The Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh reports that more than half of all reported dog bite victims are children. During the summer months, most kids are out of school on break, so the chances of them encountering a dog are much higher than during the months they are in school.
Signs of Aggression in Dogs
As the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) notes, aggression is a term that can have a variety of meanings depending on a person’s perspective. In general, some of the most common aggressive behaviors of dogs include:
- Becoming very still and rigid
- Threatening barks
- Lunging at a person
- “Muzzle punches” (dogs punching people with their noses)
- Growls
- Displays of teeth
- Snarls
If a dog is displaying any of these signs, it is crucial to remain calm and slowly walk away from the animal. Children, unfortunately, cannot always recognize these signs, which could lead to a dog attack.
Dog Bite Laws in Virginia
Virginia has a “one bite rule,” which means that dog owners can avoid liability when their dog bites someone but had no prior history of aggressive behavior. While defendants may present this defense, a victim could still prove that a dog owner did, in fact, know about the dog’s history of aggression.
Dog owners in Virginia are required to exercise reasonable care in handling their dogs. Dog owners may be held liable for dog bites regardless of the history of aggressive behavior when an owner failed to control the dog.
You should avoid speaking to any insurance company about your dog bite until you have legal representation.
How Can Ruloff, Swain, Haddad, Morecock, Talbert & Woodward, P.C. Help Me?
The Virginia Beach dog bite attorneys of Ruloff, Swain, Haddad, Morecock, Talbert & Woodward, P.C. are here to help you seek the compensation you are owed if someone else’s dog bit you. We will review your situation and discuss the best course of action for pursuing the money you need to pay your medical bills and other losses.
We know that taking legal action against the pet’s owner, who is likely a friend, neighbor, or family member, can be difficult. Fortunately, most dog bite claims are against the person’s homeowner’s insurance policy, not the dog owners themselves.
Let us help you if a dog has bitten you, your child, or someone else close to you. Call us or contact us online to schedule a free, no-obligation consultation.