Postal employees face a variety of hazards, and one of the most dangerous is when they approach the home of a person who owns a vicious dog.
in 2020, dogs attacked more than 5,800 mail carriers
CHICAGO RANKED 2nd WITH 59 DOG ATTACKS
According to USPS rankings
Postal employees in Illinois experienced 290 dog attacks in 2020 even though Illinois as a whole has one of the lowest rates of dog ownership in the U.S.
The state of Illinois Ranked 6th for attacks
6th
WHY DO DOGS BITE?
?
Any breed of dog can attack a human without notice or provocation. Some of the reasons include:
When a dog senses someone is invading their space, the dog may take it as a threat. This can lead a dog that doesn’t typically exhibit aggressive behavior to attack.
Protection
1
If a dog is startled, it may bite out of instinct. Postal workers should make their presence known if they approach a sleeping dog or a dog that doesn’t initially notice them.
2
FEAR
3
What starts off as play in a dog’s mind can quickly escalate, especially if someone pushes the dog away, yells, runs away or makes a sudden movement.
PLAY
TIPS FOR PREVENTING DOG BITES
i
IN CASE OF A DOG ATTACK
Postal workers are advised to calmly stand their ground and use a mail satchel or nearby object as a shield.
1
stay calm
It’s natural to run or scream when threatened. However, doing so will only trigger a dog's instinct to pursue you.
2
SLOWLYBACK AWAY
Once you’ve placed an object between you and the dog, slowly start to back away from the animal while facing it.
3
do not startle a dog
do not assume a dog will not bite
Other precautions include:
Do not try to feed or pet an unknown dog
Do not make direct eye contact with a dog
ILLINOIS DOG BITE LAW
In Illinois, a dog’s owner is liable for any injuries caused by their dog.
You don’t need to prove that the owner knew their dog was dangerous or that the dog had attacked someone in the past.
You must only prove
1) You did not provoke the animal
2) You were “peaceably conducting” yourself
3) You were lawfully allowed to be in the place where you were attacked
Postal workers are legally permitted to be on a pet owner’s property, so if you did not provoke the dog, the owner will likely be held strictly liable for your injuries.
However, it is still important to work with an experienced dog bite lawyer when bringing your claim to ensure that you are fairly compensated for your injuries.