Dogs can make for wonderful pets. However, some dogs are aggressive and may bite you if they perceive you to be a threat.

The severity of the injuries you could sustain when a dog bites you will vary depending on numerous factors, such as a dog’s size, breed, etc.

It’s always wise to see a doctor after being bitten by a dog. This is true even if a bite was seemingly harmless. Although you may not notice any signs of injury, it’s possible for a dog bite to cause an infection.

Let a doctor take a close look at your bite to confirm no treatment is necessary. Be aware, that seeing a doctor right away after a dog bites you can also potentially improve your chances of recovering financial compensation later if you decide to file a claim or lawsuit against a negligent dog owner.

By seeing a doctor the same day you were bitten by the dog in question, you can more easily prove to an insurance company that the injuries for which you are seeking compensation directly resulted from this dog bite incident, and not a separate incident that occurred at another time. This will make it more difficult for an insurance company to justify denying your claim.

Of course, your primary goal is to avoid being bitten by a dog in the first place. Animal safety experts offer these tips for achieving this goal:

Get to Know Your Neighborhood

If you’ve moved into a new neighborhood, one of your top priorities may involve learning whether any of your neighbors own dangerous and aggressive dogs.

Various people can offer this information. Postal workers and delivery workers who operate in your area will likely know where aggressive dogs live. New neighbors who seem to have lived in the community for a reasonable amount of time can also answer questions you may have on this topic. Additionally, animal control might have records about where dog attacks have occurred in the neighborhood.

Stay Still & Look Down

Your natural impulse may be to run when a frightening dog approaches you. Of course, if you absolutely know you have the opportunity to step into your home, vehicle, or business before a dog can reach you, this may be your best option.

However, if you have nowhere to go, experts recommend doing something that might seem counterintuitive: standing still where you are, breaking eye contact with the dog, and looking down. This can signal to a dog that you are not a threat.

That said, you must exercise your own judgment in these situations. The information here, while based on the advice of the executive director of the International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants, should not be misconstrued as official recommendations.

Just know that if a dog does bite you and causes injury, you can often take legal action to recover compensation for your medical bills and related losses. A Pittsburgh dog attack attorney at Shenderovich, Shenderovich & Fishman is prepared to review your case and help you better understand your legal options. Learn more about what we can do for you if you’ve been injured by an aggressive dog by contacting us online or calling us at 888-98-TWINS (89467).

Because the pandemic has caused everyone to become a pet owner, dogs are happier for the situation, but not all owners know how to handle their dogs. Our Pittsburgh dog bite attorneys at Shenderovich, Shenderovich & Fishman have seen the tragic stories of innocent children, teens, and adults mauled by dogs. We are here to help you tell your story in court to get the compensation you deserve.

 Not All Endings Make Sense

In recent years people have been increasingly online shopping. This means companies like UPS and FedEx are constantly on the move and delivering more and more to doorsteps. In 2019, a UPS driver was mauled by three dogs on someone’s private property. The delivery woman suffered a major injury to her leg. She commented that the injury to her calf resembled what she imagined a shark bite to look like. The owner of the dogs went to court and won against the UPS driver. His defense attorney stated that the dogs were confined to his private property and that the confinement statute was not violated. This shocking result has left victims shaken. The UPS driver is going back to court with a $50,000 negligence lawsuit.

The three dogs responsible for the injuries were put down after the incident. A sad ending all around: the owner knew of the aggressive nature of the dogs, the UPS woman was trying to do her job, a defense attorney who knew to work the legal system, and a judge willing to accept the defense attorney’s argument. Our dog bite attorneys are very experienced and aware of dog bite laws in Pennsylvania.  Even though there is no magic wand to wave to make the situation better, we know some steps you can take to make the situation easier.

• First, call 911. It is very important to get access to medical staff because you do not know if the dog has had its vaccines or not. The spread of rabies is real and having a medical team to look for signs and symptoms is important. The medical staff can also document all the injuries related to the incident. If you don’t need 911, then please make sure you see some medical person.
• Second, get names and witness statements. Everyone has their own story, but the truth is a dog bit you, and now you are injured. Getting other people to tell part of the story can help bolster how it happened and where it happened.
• Third, get an attorney.

An attorney by your side can ensure that the dog is properly isolated after such an incident as required by law. An attorney can also ensure that you get the compensation you deserve from medical bills to physical and mental therapy. We advocate for your financial needs, and the dog owner will be held responsible. You can contact us for a free consultation by clicking here or calling 888-988-9467.

Dogs are a unique species. They’re smart enough to shake, roll over, and fetch. Dogs protect our children and us from intruders. How many times have we stopped for an “aww” moment scrolling through Facebook when we see a cute puppy and baby sleeping together? Dogs are wonderful pets. Still, even the friendliest and most protective pets can hurt those we love.

Dog bites are a problem. There are too many tragic news stories that start with a sleeping baby and family dog and end with the dog inexplicably mauling and killing the child. A dear friend of mine had a similar story that almost ended tragically.

While she was visiting her neighbor, her six-month-old baby boy played on a blanket on the floor. The baby innocently grabbed at the dog’s toy. The night ended with her baby being bitten severely in the face and head.

Her son lived. Today he is a happy ten-year-old boy who excitedly told me about his holiday and all the presents he received. It’s not something you notice at first glance, but look closely, and you can still see the bite marks along his jaw, temple, and cheek.

Injuries from dog bites are, unfortunately, all too common. The attorneys at Shenderovich, Shenderovich, & Fishman P.C. have extensive experience with dog bite and personal injury cases. When you need a personal injury lawyer in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, call Shenderovich, Shenderovich, & Fishman. Our highly sought team will secure the compensation you deserve. Call us today.

Dog Bites Are a Greater Health Risk for Children

According to the CDC, 50% of dog bite victims are children. Dog bites threaten children more than the mumps, whooping cough, and the mumps combined. When we think of all the ways our children are injured daily, we count bike accidents, mopeds, skateboards, hoverboards, and falling off the monkey bars. However, dog bites are far more common in children.

If we break down the numbers:

• There are 2,400 dog attacks every day
• 100 dog attacks each hour
• In the latest reporting year, there were approximately 800,000 dog bites that required medical attention.

Dogs bite. It’s in their nature. We never know what could set them off. Maybe the neighbor’s dog is old and doesn’t want to share his toy with the baby. Perhaps the usually friendly dog down the road gets spooked and bites the closest thing to him, your child. Whatever the circumstance, dog bites are common. Let’s educate our children on how to be safe around dogs, even ones they know.

Why You Need Representation

If a dog has bitten you or your child, the case is never as simple as you think. Liability can be challenged. For example, what if the dog owner claims your child was teasing the dog at the time of the attack? Liability could be shifted onto your child as well as the dog owner. What if the insurance company minimizes its responsibility and refuses to cover all the medical bills due to shared liability? A personal injury lawyer in Pittsburgh will protect you from being taken advantage of by the insurance company’s tactics.

Conclusion

If you or someone you love has been injured as the result of a dog attack, you may be entitled to compensation to cover:

• Medical Bills
• Loss of earnings if you are unable to work
• The estimated cost of future medical care
• Household expenses

Call your personal injury attorney in Pennsylvania today at Shenderovich, Shenderovich, & Fishman P.C. You can contact us for a free consultation by clicking here or calling 888-988-9467.

What is the first thing you think about when you hear of a dog bite or attack? It is not something that most of us think about often or expect, but we want you to know that it can happen to anyone. It seems like we are hearing more and more stories like this one, where a Pennsylvania mother and her 13-month-old baby were attacked by a dog while walking down the street.

In that case, not even a neighbor could stop the dog. Luckily, a passing motorist pulled over and was able to stop the attack. Unfortunately, the little girl was seriously injured. Her mother also had multiple bites and the man who helped stop the attack suffered a serious leg injury after falling on the ice while struggling with the dog.

At Shenderovich, Shenderovich & Fishman, we are here to help when you need a Pittsburgh dog attack attorney. Our knowledgeable and experienced team will work to secure the compensation you need for all of your incident-related expenses.

The Incidents

Dog attacks can be terrifying and devastating, especially for young children and the elderly. Both groups are more vulnerable because they cannot fight back as easily as an able-bodied adult. However, anyone is at risk of an attack when a dog’s owner is negligent and careless in their duties. With the story above, we do not yet know where to dog came from or why it was roaming the street. We do know that it was improperly secured.

Dog owners should always take steps to keep their pets secured on their property. If they leave a fence or door open, a dog can get out and cause chaos. We also know that dog owners should always have their pets leashed according to municipal leash laws. Under no circumstances should a person allow their dog to be around other people or pets if it is known to be aggressive.

You may be surprised to learn that there are approximately 4.7 million dog bites each year in the United States. While most of these bites are minor, there are many that cause serious damage. Dogs have powerful jaws that can cause significant soft-tissue damage. Many attacks require a person to undergo both emergency surgery and reconstructive plastic surgery to repair the damage.

What Happens Now?

We know that the last thing you expected to be dealing with was a dog attack injury. If you or someone you love has been attacked, you need to seek legal assistance. At Shenderovich, Shenderovich & Fishman, we will work diligently to secure the compensation you need. This can include:

• Coverage of your medical bills
• Loss of income if you cannot work
• Pain and suffering damages
• Psychological and emotional treatment
• Punitive damages

If you need a Pittsburgh dog attack attorney, you can contact us for a free consultation by clicking here or calling 888-98-TWINS(89467).

Children, as we know, are the most vulnerable of our population. Parents and close family members do all they can to ensure that their children are protected at all times. This includes when their children are around animals. Yet, people get really comfortable around animals and sometimes even too comfortable with animals that they aren’t familiar with. Children are at a higher risk of serious injuries or fatalities than adults. Children who are under the age of 15 make up for 60% of those who are bitten by dogs. Children from ages 5-9 are the most vulnerable. Children are unable to understand a dog’s signs of fearfulness, aggression, or attack. Because of this, they are more likely to engage with dangerous dogs at a young age than as an older teen or adult. This means that parents need to take extra precautions with their children around animals and learn to read the animals for them.

Dog Bite Injuries

There are about 800,000 bites every year in the nation that require some form of medical attention. A study broke down this number into smaller increments and discovered that every day there are 2,400 dog attacks that break down further to an attack happening every 36 seconds. Children have the highest percentage of needing to get medical attention. The CDC has suggested that dog attacks are a greater health concern than measles, mumps, and whooping cough. This speaks to the commonality of dog attacks on our youth.

The most common injuries for a dog bite are a puncture wound, lacerations, deep bruising, and scarring. Unfortunately, when these kinds of serious injuries happen to a child they more likely to suffer more damage and maybe even succumb to their injuries they sustained. Children not only suffer significantly from physical damage but also emotional trauma. A child who is attacked by a dog at a young age can form post-traumatic stress disorder which interrupts a child’s academic and emotional growth. It can interrupt their sleeping and therefore negatively influence the playtime or sports time. If your child was attacked by a dog then you are looking at medical bills as well as psychological bills too.

What To Do

In the Pittsburgh area, it is not uncommon to hear of dog bites. Unfortunately, this story was of a 9-year-old boy who was playing in the neighborhood was tracked down by a dog who chased him to his home where he was scratched and bitten. You can never be too careful with your children and the neighborhood animals. Just because you keep your animal in controlled spaces doesn’t mean that other people are just as responsible as you.

If you or someone you love has been attacked by a dog then you have the right to receive compensation for the injuries that you or your loved one has sustained. The dog owner is responsible for the dog and you deserve financial compensation for all the medical or psychological bills because of their neglect of the owner. Call 888-98-TWINS(89467) at SSF Law Group today.

When Ami Demi was attacked by three German shepherds while she was working last August, the only thing she was focused on was getting away and getting to the hospital. She certainly did not anticipate the attack, which happened quickly.

“I pulled up, beeped the horn,” she said. “The first dog came right at me. The dog ripped my calf open, it looked like a shark bite. The two other dogs followed.”
Demi says the attack felt like it took forever to end.

This case just went to court over whether or not the dog’s owner, Matthew Zavarella, was guilty of violating the state’s dog containment statute. Zavarella was found not guilty even though an animal control officer argued that Zaveralla lost control of his dogs.

Now, attorneys for Demi have filed a negligence lawsuit against the man.

At Shenderovich, Shenderovich & Fishman, we wanted to bring you this case because it highlights the difficulties that a person can face after they have been attacked by a dog. It is not a good idea to try to handle these cases on your own. If you need a Pittsburgh dog attack attorney, you can count on us to be by your side, fighting to get the compensation you deserve.

The Numbers

Incidents of dog bites and dog attacks are not uncommon. In fact, there are nearly 4.7 million dog bites each year in the US, which the CDC says cause nearly 1 in 5 people to seek medical treatment. Yes, most dog bites are minor, but many of them are severe.

When a dog attacks a person, or in the case above, multiple dogs, the potential for injuries is high. Dogs have strong jaws. Whether they are biting out of fear or aggression is irrelevant – they can inflict life-changing injuries.

It is not uncommon for a dog attack victim to need surgery to repair both function and appearance to an area of their body. These are scary events that can leave both physical and emotional damage.

Dog Owners

Most dog bites and attacks can be prevented. It is up to a dog’s owner to properly secure their pet. If they fail to do so, the dog could cause major harm. Similarly, all municipal leash laws must be obeyed. They exist for a reason – to ensure everyone’s safety. Many people think that their pet would never hurt another person, but they never know when their dog will act in a way that they do not expect.

What You Can Do

If you or a loved one have been injured in a dog attack, you need to seek legal assistance as soon as possible. At Shenderovich, Shenderovich & Fishman, we will work tirelessly to secure the compensation you deserve for all of your accident-related expenses. This can include coverage for medical bills, pain and suffering damages, and punitive damages. If you need a Pittsburgh dog attack attorney, you can contact us for a free consultation by clicking here or calling 888-98-TWINS(89467).