Rockwell City Dog Bite Injury Attorneys

A dog attack can happen in an instant, whether it takes place on a walk through a Rockwell City neighborhood, at a friend's home, or somewhere else entirely unexpected. Knowing how to recognize the warning signs of an attack, how to protect yourself if one occurs, and what health risks and legal rights come into play afterward can make a real difference in both your safety and your ability to recover damages. Below is what Rockwell City residents need to know about preventing a dog attack, understanding the medical risks of a bite, and protecting their legal rights under Iowa law.

What to Do If You Think a Dog Is Going to Attack You

If you get the feeling that a dog is about to attack, the first step is to give the dog space, then stand still and avoid eye contact. A dog attack can result in permanent injuries, disfigurement, post-traumatic stress disorder, and more, so recognizing the warning signs early and reacting calmly can help prevent serious harm.

Preempt the Attack by Giving the Dog a Wide Berth

Dogs display a number of signs when they are feeling angry, scared, or territorial, including:

• Tensing its body
• Raising the hair on its neck and back, known as raising its hackles
• Opening its eyes wide so the whites are visible, sometimes called whale eye
• Backing away
• Flattening its ears against its head

If you notice any of these signs, calmly get away from the dog immediately. Sometimes giving a dog enough space is all it takes to stop an attack before it starts.

Remain Motionless

Sometimes it may be too late to move away. If a dog is close enough to attack and looks like it might do just that, try to remain as still as possible and do not move until the dog moves away. A dog is much faster than a person, and staying calm may remove the perceived threat that is triggering the dog's aggression.

Avoid Eye Contact

Dogs read direct eye contact as aggressive body language. Turning your head and watching the dog out of the corner of your eye is standard submissive behavior that dogs generally understand. Dogs typically attack because they feel threatened, believe their young are threatened, or believe a person is on their territory. What the dog usually wants is for the person to become submissive and leave the area, so acting accordingly can help defuse the situation.

Resist Your Impulses

The natural reaction when a dog looks like it will attack is often to scream, run, or try to hit the dog. All of these instincts should be avoided whenever possible. The better approach is to remain quiet, remain still, and place something between yourself and the dog, such as a coat or a bag. Fighting back can enrage the animal further. Even during an active attack, try to remain as still as possible and keep your face covered.

Can You Use Harmful Force to Protect Yourself From a Dog Attack?

As protection from a dog attack, the use of harmful force against a dog that poses an immediate threat to yourself or a nearby person is allowable in order to prevent injury. However, this is only permitted when acting in self-defense or in defense of others, not as revenge for a bite or unprovoked harm that has already ended.

When Harmful Force Is Considered Appropriate

A person may use force to protect themselves or someone else from a dog attack. For a dog to be considered a genuine threat, it must display actions that would lead a reasonable person to believe the dog was going to attack. The amount of force used should match the degree of threat presented. If a dog is actively attacking a victim, lethal force could be considered appropriate. The person using force against the dog should also be able to show that their action was the only reasonable option available to prevent themselves or others from being harmed or further harmed.

When Harmful Force Is Not Appropriate

Attacking a dog simply because it is barking or growling is typically not appropriate, especially if the dog is restrained or confined in a way that makes it unlikely to cause harm. Similarly, if a dog has already attacked someone and is fleeing the area and no longer poses a threat, using harmful force against it afterward would likely not be considered appropriate, since the dog is no longer an active danger.

Using harmful force out of revenge is also not permitted. If a person was previously bitten by a neighbor's dog, they are not allowed to go back later and harm the dog because of that earlier incident. Instead, the proper step is to report the situation to police or animal control so that the appropriate authorities can assess it and take action.

Under Iowa law, Iowa Code Section 351.28 states that the owner of a dog is liable to an injured party for damages caused by the dog when it is caught in the act of attacking or attempting to bite a person, except when the injured party was engaged in an unlawful act that directly contributed to the injury.

Dog bite cases can become more complicated when harmful force was used by the victim to prevent or end an attack, since the dog's owner may attempt to press charges against the person who harmed the dog, resulting in both a civil claim and a separate legal dispute. Anyone in this situation should speak with an attorney about how the use of force may affect a dog bite claim.

Health Risks After a Rockwell City Dog Bite

People who are bitten by a dog may contract diseases as a result, and some of these conditions can be serious or even life-threatening. Understanding the possible health consequences of a dog bite is an important part of protecting your wellbeing after an attack in Rockwell City.

Possible Diseases From Dog Bites

Rabies is the most well-known disease associated with dog bites. It attacks the central nervous system and can result in death unless treated immediately. Symptoms include fever, headache, and muscle pain, and as the disease progresses, a person can develop inflammation in the brain, seizures, paralysis, and even fall into a coma.

Staph infection can also result from a dog bite. Staph bacteria are common, and most people who carry the bacteria never become infected, but a bite can puncture tissue and allow the bacteria to enter deep into the body, leading to infection. Symptoms can vary widely, which is part of why prompt medical attention after any bite is so important. Pain, fever, and severe headache are common signs of infection.

Pasteurella infection is caused by a common bacterium, Pasteurella multocida, that may enter the body through an animal or dog bite. It can cause pain and swelling at the site of the bite as well as infections in nearby joints.

Tetanus is an infection affecting the nervous system that can cause muscle spasms and contractions, including lockjaw. Anyone who has not had a tetanus booster within roughly the last ten years, including recent dog bite victims, may be advised by a doctor to get a tetanus shot after a bite.

Seeking Medical Care and Filing a Claim

Anyone bitten by a dog in Rockwell City should see a doctor as soon as possible, both to address the physical wound and to be evaluated for any of the diseases described above. When someone has been seriously injured after a dog bite, compensation may be available to help cover the resulting damages.

A claim filed with the help of a personal injury attorney against a liable dog owner can address damages such as medical costs, lost wages, and pain and suffering. Because Iowa follows a strict liability standard for dog bites under Iowa Code Section 351.28, a dog's owner is generally liable for the injuries caused any time the dog bites or attacks a person, aside from certain limited exceptions.

When to Contact Rockwell City Dog Bite Lawyers

For the complete list of things you should do if bitten by a dog you can request our FREE book, "Iowa Consumer's Guide to Dog Bites- Secrets to Not Get Bitten by Your Case" which is available to you with no risk or obligation by clicking here or by calling 641-792-3595. 

Why offer a Free Dog Bite Book?  Since 1997, I have been representing injured Iowans, including many dog bite victims from central Iowa and throughout the state.  I have heard too many horror stories about people making costly mistakes, causing them to lose thousands of dollars.  Before you talk to the insurance company you should know your rights and perhaps more importantly your responsibilities.   

If you need immediate assistance, contact us online or call us at (641) 792-3595. If you are not local to us, we will come to you.

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