Thousands of animal attacks occur each year in the United States. From minor scratches to fatalities, these attacks can come from your neighbor’s dog or a bear on a camping trip. Although some are more prone than others, any and all animals are capable of attacking. However, many of the attacks that do occur could or should have been prevented.
Animal attacks generally occur when an animal fears that it is in danger. Their natural response is to fight for their lives. Whether we mean to harm or not, our actions can make an animal believe that we are putting it in danger. This is usually more common for wild animals. The animals we keep as pets are much more used to human interaction, so they are less likely to be afraid of humans.
Domestic pet owners are usually responsible for any attack of their pet. This means that pet owners must not only take steps to prevent injury to others, but also to reduce their own risk of liability. There are several ways pet owners can do this.
– Prevent your pets from leaving your property. You can keep your pets indoors or in your backyard. It doesn’t matter how you do it. You just don’t want your pet to be able to run off your property and attack another person.
– Always be present and alert when your pet encounters strangers. Being around when your pet encounters a stranger will reduce your animals’ fear and reduce the chances of them attacking.
Wild animals are like a completely different breed of animal. They are used to fighting with other animals for food and for their safety. It’s fun to go camping or get out into the wild and see these wild animals, but the best way to avoid an attack is to simply leave them alone. Seeing them from a distance is usually not a problem, as most animals will simply run away if they feel they are in danger. If you try to get too close and the animal feels cornered, the animal’s natural response is most likely to attack, so be smart about putting a wild animal in that position.
When attacks occur due to someone else’s negligence, the attacked party has the right to seek compensation for those injured. To learn more about animal attacks or actual animal attack cases that have taken place, visit this Chicago personal injury attorney’s website.
