Arizona Dog Bite Lawyer Explains Aggressive Dog Behavior & Bite Injuries

Arizona Dog Bite Lawyer Explains Aggressive Dog Behavior & Bite Injuries

For centuries, a dog has been widely considered a “man’s best friend.” A dog can be a loyal companion and a staunch protector. Dogs, however, sometimes act in ways that are erratic and threatening. The aggressive behavior of a dog can lead to a dog attack. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, dogs bite 4.5 million people each year in the United States. Dog bites can cause serious emotional and physical injuries.

Why Dogs Behave Aggressively

A dog’s behavior is often unpredictable, especially when a dog perceives a person, action, or situation as threatening. According to the Humane Society of the United States, dogs display several types of aggressive behavior, including the following:

• Dominance aggression: Occurs when a dog perceives an action or person as a challenge to its place in the social hierarchy.
• Fear-motivated aggression: Occurs when a dog reacts to a perceived danger.
• Protective aggression: Motivated by a perceived threat to the dog’s family or pack.
• Territorial aggression: This occurs when a person or animal violates the dog’s space or territory.
• Redirected aggression: This occurs when the dog directs its aggression toward someone else instead of the person or event that provoked the aggressive behavior.

Since every dog is different, what motivates aggressive behavior will vary for each dog.

Arizona Dog Bite Injuries

Dog bites can cause both physical and emotional injuries. Physical injuries from a dog bite include punctures to the skin, tissue loss, fractured bones, infections, and scarring. Emotional injuries can be just as severe. The trauma from a dog bite may cause a person to experience flashbacks, depression, nervousness, or a long-term fear of dogs.

Recovering Compensation for Dog Bite Injuries

In Arizona, the law allows a person injured by a dog to recover compensation from the dog’s owner. According to Arizona statute, a dog owner is strictly liable for the injuries caused by their dog even if the owner had no prior knowledge of the dog’s viciousness. Compensation can include recovery for medical costs, loss of earnings, pain, and suffering, and emotional distress.

If you, or a loved one, have suffered from dog bite injuries in Phoenix, Mesa, or its surrounding areas, contact one of our dog bit attorneys for a consultation. The lawyers at our law firm have experienced Arizona dog bite attorney who helps their clients recover compensation for dog bite injuries.