DOG BITE ATTORNEY IN CHICAGO SHARES TIPS TO PREVENT CHILDREN FROM BEING BITTEN

April 26, 2010, by Jeffrey J. Kroll

The rate of dog bite–related injuries is highest for those ages 5 to 9 years. As a Chicago personal injury attorney who handles dog bite cases, I have handled a number of matters involving dog bites. Two common scenarios involving children include: (1) a child is bit by a neighborhood dog who has run away from its owner's home and (2) a child visiting a friend's home is bit by the family dog. To help prevent children from being bitten by dogs, encourage them to follow these safety tips from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control:

- Keep your distance from an unfamiliar dog;
- Do not pet an unfamiliar dog with
- Do not run from a dog or scream;
- Be very still when approached by an unfamiliar dog;
- If a dog knocks the child over, he or she should roll into a ball and lie still;
- Avoid direct eye contact with the dog;
- Let the dog sniff and see you before you pet it; and
- Do not disturb a dog that is sleeping or eating.

Remember that an adult should be present and supervising when a child is playing with a dog. Also, the presence of stray dogs or dogs displaying unusual behavior to an adult should be reported to the authorities.

If you or a loved one have been bitten by a dog, contact the Law Offices of Jeffrey J. Kroll to discuss your potential case with one of our experienced dog bite attorneys.