TL;DR: Nearly 6,000 employees of the United States Postal Service (USPS) were attacked by dogs in 2020 alone. The disturbing statistics were announced by the USPS ahead of National Dog Bite Awareness Week, which the agency sponsors each June.
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Aggressive and vicious dogs pose a threat to postal workers and the general public. According to the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA), more than 4.5 million people in the U.S. are bitten by dogs each year, of which nearly 800,000 require medical attention. If you are a mail carrier bitten by a dog on someone else’s property, contact a California dog bite attorney to discuss your options for compensation.
Our knowledgeable personal injury lawyers at Arash Law have years of experience handling dog bite cases in California. Schedule a free initial consultation with our attorneys by calling (888) 488-1391 or filling out our “Do I Have A Case?” form to see if you have a case.
Over 5,800 U.S. Postal Workers Attacked By Dogs In 2020
In its June announcement, the USPS reported that over 5,800 of its employees were bitten by dogs in 2020. The agency stated that these attacks ranged from nips to vicious attacks. The Postal Service also provided a list of states and cities with a high number of dog attacks involving their postal employees.
This list showed that California accounted for one of the largest numbers of dog bites on mail carriers, and Los Angeles was among the U.S. cities with the highest number of attacks. The agency also noted that more postal workers were exposed to a higher risk of dog attacks due to an increase in the number of home deliveries since the COVID-19 pandemic began in 2020.
The U.S. Postal Service released the announcement ahead of National Dog Bite Awareness Week, which usually occurs during the second full week of April. The agency aims to raise awareness about the issue of dog bites among its employees and the general public.
In his statement, the agency’s acting Manager of Employee Safety & Health Awareness, Jamie Seavello, acknowledged that while dogs are “instinctive animals” that protect their territory, it is critical to raise awareness to protect postal carriers from dog bites.
Where Do Most Dog Bites On Mail Carriers Occur In The U.S.?
In its announcement ahead of National Dog Bite Awareness Week, the Postal Service ranked U.S. cities with the most dog bites on mail carriers recorded in 2020. The top ten cities with the highest number of dog bites involving mail carriers included:
- Houston, TX
- Chicago, IL
- Los Angeles, CA
- Cleveland, OH
- Denver, CO
- Baltimore, MD
- Dallas, TX
- Columbus, OH
- San Antonio, TX
- San Diego, CA, and Detroit, MI
Part of the USPS’s data collection practices involves recording dog attack incidents when postal workers report them to supervisors or file injury claims. In other words, there were no criteria for determining what constitutes an attack when recording employees’ complaints about dog attacks.
The agency did not provide data on which breeds were involved in the majority of attacks on postal workers. However, studies have shown that certain breeds, such as pit bulls, German shepherds, and Rottweilers, have been involved in fatal dog attacks, though breed identification in attack reports can be unreliable.
How Can Dog Owners Prevent Dog Attacks On Postal Workers?
California has a “strict liability” dog bite statute codified at California Civil Code § 3342. It means that dog owners are liable for harm caused by their dogs when the person is in a public place or lawfully on the owner’s private property and is bitten. One way to prevent dog attacks on mail carriers is to make sure that dog owners have their pets secured before the postal worker enters their property.
One recommendation is to minimize interactions between mail carriers and dogs to prevent dog attacks, even if the canine has no history of viciousness or aggressive behavior. A dog owner can take the following steps to avoid a dog attack on postal workers:
- Secure their dogs before the mail carrier comes if they know the approximate time when the postal worker will come.
- Minimize any interactions between the mail carrier and the dog.
- Tell children not to accept mail directly from the postal worker because the dog may perceive the mail carrier as a threat.
But how should a pet owner “secure” their dog when a mail carrier comes? Securing a dog to prevent dog attacks on postal workers may mean keeping the canine behind a fence, inside the home, in another room, on a leash, or simply away from the door.
The goal of National Dog Bite Awareness Week is to educate dog owners on how to prevent their pets from biting postal workers and other people. The agency promotes responsible pet ownership, encouraging dog owners to secure their dogs when a mail carrier comes to deliver a letter or package.
Mail Carriers Are Trained To Avoid Dog Attacks
Since dog bites are an ongoing hazard for mail carriers, postal workers are trained to consider all dogs as potential hazards. Postal employees are trained to avoid situations in which a dog may be able to attack them. Mail carriers should take the necessary precautions to remain vigilant at all times when entering property protected by dogs.
Specifically, mail carriers are trained to:
- Avoid provoking or startling dogs.
- Avoid attempting to pet or feed dogs on private property.
- Make noise, so the dog does not get caught off guard.
- Never assume that a dog is friendly and will not bite.
- Take extra precaution, even if a dog owner assures you that their pet won’t bite.
When attacked by a dog, postal workers are trained to protect themselves by putting an item, such as a mail satchel or bag, between their bodies and the attacking dog. The goal is to prevent the dog from biting uncovered skin to avoid serious injuries. It may also be helpful to command the dog to sit or to go away.
Dogs are more likely to exhibit aggression when stressed, provoked, or in pain, and are also more likely to attack people. A dog is likely to become stressed when its routine is disrupted. The USPS noted that such disruptions, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, may have contributed to stress in some dogs, which can lead to aggressive behavior.
Contact A California Attorney Who Handles Dog Bite Cases
If you are a postal worker who has been attacked by a dog while doing your job, consult an attorney to find out how you may be able to seek compensation for your injuries and damages. At Arash Law, our attorneys are familiar with dog bite claims that arise during mail delivery. We can walk you through the steps involved in seeking compensation for injuries that occur on the job.
Our injury attorneys have decades of collective experience helping injured victims in California seek accountability from dog owners for injuries and losses caused by their dogs on public and private properties. We will review your particular situation to help you understand the dog owner’s liability and identify all options for compensation.
Aside from dog bite cases, our personal injury and car accident lawyers handle a wide range of cases. Schedule a free initial consultation by calling (888) 488-1391 or filling out our “Do I Have A Case?” form here.
