Los Angeles and California ranked high in the U.S. Postal Service’s list of dog attacks on postal workers in 2021. According to a KTLA news report, USPS released the rankings of 2021 dog attacks by the city as part of National Dog Bite Prevention Week.
On the list of 32 cities, Los Angeles came in fourth place with 44 dog attacks on USPS employees. California was the first state to have 656 dog attacks.
A Danger for Postal Workers
According to the report, more than 5,400 dog attacks on mail carriers occurred in the United States in 2021. The attacks ranged from “nips and bites to vicious attacks,” the agency said in a news release. The theme of this year’s campaign, which runs through June 11, is “The USPS Delivers for America—Deliver for Us by Restraining Your Dog.”
Officials say thousands of postal employees are victims of dog attacks as they deliver mail annually. They say the best way to prevent these attacks is for dog owners to keep their pets inside the house and away from the door.
Dogs are instinctively territorial and protective of their owners and their property. Defending its territory might sometimes mean attacking a mail carrier.
Dog bites may result in injuries to the carriers and costly medical expenses for dog owners, the Postal Service said. Carriers have a dog alert feature tool on their handheld scanners to remind them of a possible dog hazard on their routes.
According to USPS, mail service could be halted when a carrier feels unsafe, not just for the dog’s owner but for the entire neighborhood. The agency said service might not be restored until the dog is adequately secured.
Compensation for Dog Bite Victims
Under California law, dog bite victims can seek compensation for injuries, damages, and losses from negligent dog owners. California has a strict liability statute for dog bite cases.
California’s Civil Code Section 3342 states:
“The owner of any dog is liable for the damages suffered by any person who is bitten by the dog while in a public place or lawfully in a private place, including the property of the owner of the dog, regardless of the former viciousness of the dog or the owner’s knowledge of such viciousness.”
In such cases, victims can seek compensation for various damages, which include medical expenses, lost wages, hospitalization costs, rehabilitation expenses, cosmetic surgery scarring and disfigurement, permanent injuries, pain and suffering, and emotional distress.
Victims would be well advised to contact a law firm in Los Angeles experienced in dog bite cases that will remain on their side, fight for their rights, and protect their legal and best interests.
Source: https://ktla.com/news/local-news/l-a-sees-4th-most-dog-attacks-on-usps-postal-workers-ca-ranked-1st-among-states/
