Every spring, the United States observes an event called National Dog Bite Prevention Week. However, many may not have heard of this campaign; veterinarians and animal rights activists across America reserve the second week of April every year to raise awareness about the risk of being around dangerous canines. We may love our dogs — treating them as members of the family — but dog bite injuries are a serious matter that can transcend the bonds we share with pets.

Canine attacks are a far more common mishap than most may think, with thousands of Americans becoming dog-bite victims each year. While responsible pet owners may take extra precautions to ensure that their dogs remain peaceful and obedient around others, there are less conscientious individuals who allow their dogs to become vicious. This often leads to tragic results.

If you’ve suffered a dog bite, you need an experienced Las Vegas dog bite lawyer with a proven track record of success. Call for a free consultation.

If you or a loved one has been injured due to a dog bite in the Las Vegas area, pursuing legal action is the only way for you to fully recover from the incident. Our team of personal injury attorneys in California & Nevada has years of experience consulting victims of dog bites in Nevada. Craig Murphy is an experienced dog bite lawyer in Las Vegas who’s ready to help. This guide on dog bite liability will answer the most frequently asked questions and help you to decide how to move forward.

How Common Are Dog Bite Injuries in Las Vegas?

Clark County is home to about 1,000 reported dog bite incidents each year. Between 2003 and 2009, a total of 6,798 dog bites occurred across the county. A plurality of these cases happened in Las Vegas, but does this mean you’re more likely to encounter a dangerous dog in the area? Unfortunately, this could be the case. Las Vegas is the largest city in Clark County and the entire state of Nevada, and as a high-population center, there are far more dogs around as well.

About seven dog bites occur each day in Clark County, and while only a minuscule number of these attacks in death, residents of Las Vegas, Henderson, and the rest of the county should bear in mind that dog attacks remain a widespread problem. If you’ve been bitten by someone else’s dog, the time to take action is now. Waiting could result in you being responsible for your own medical treatment — and a dangerous dog may remain among the public

What Should I Know if I Was Recently Bitten by a Dog?

The most important thing to remember about canine attack cases is that the dog bite victim typically is not at fault. There are certainly cases that involve a pet acting violently in response to abuse, and in these instances, the blame is likelier to be on the person who provoked the dog. However, these instances only account for a fraction of reported cases each year.

Instead, an individual who suffers a dog bite injury is typically an innocent person who was bitten by dogs that were improperly supervised by their owners. The canine, as well as its owner, will almost certainly be held at fault. In each of these cases, though, the degree to which either is responsible varies significantly.

Following a dog attack, your chief concern should be to seek medical attention as soon as it’s safe to do so. Speaking with or even attempting to locate the dog’s owner is also critical. The owner’s reaction to the incident can speak volumes and potentially strengthen your claim — particularly if you have to file a dog bite case in court to receive compensation.

You should also collect the contact information of any and all witnesses and remember that reporting the event to the police is a necessity. Once you have communicated with law enforcement and received care from a doctor or emergency medical technician, start researching dog bite lawyers in Las Vegas to learn how to proceed further.

Are There Any Steps That I Can Take to Prevent a Dog Bite?

Dog bite victims should not be blamed for an attack, but there are ways to reduce the risk of experiencing one. One of the most basic steps in reducing the likelihood of a dog bite is to stay cautious around larger dogs. Multiple studies have shown that only a few breeds of canine are behind the lion’s share of dog bite-related fatalities. Dogs belonging to these breeds are not inherently vicious, but their size and strength create dangerous situations if they attack.

Depending on the study cited, pit bulls and pit bull mixes cause between 25 and 60% of all deaths in dog bite cases. Rottweilers rank next, albeit as a distant second. Roughly, only one in seven dog bite fatalities stems from an attack by a Rottweiler. Other breeds that are frequently responsible for dog bite-related deaths are German shepherds, huskies, American bulldogs, and bullmastiffs.

It is important to remember that correlation does not equal causation, and most dogs from these breeds will never show any sort of violent tendency. Victims often blame a dog’s breed rather than more relevant factors — such as the dog owner’s negligence — for leading to an incident. This is why certain breeds are frequently demonized after an animal attack. The science, however, disagrees with such assumptions.

State Farm Insurance has even noted that there is frequent misidentification of dog breeds during attacks, and breed-specific legislation has not been proven effective at curbing dog bites. Nevertheless, maintaining a safe distance from the inherently larger dogs of the above breeds may be the safest bet. That’s especially if the dogs do not appear to be supervised or securely leashed. Following this tip may lower the risk of an attack by a potentially aggressive dog.

What Does the Law Say About Dog Bites in Las Vegas?

The laws of most states in the US feature dog bite statutes that place dog owners at fault for almost every instance of damage or injury their pets cause. However, Nevada is an exception. Instead, dog bites and attacks in the Las Vegas area fall under the “one-bite” rule, which does not hold an owner accountable for a dog’s first bite. This first bite, though, establishes precedence for any future attacks. If your injuries result from an altercation with a dog that has previously bitten others or exhibited a tendency for violence, the dog’s owner will likely be held accountable. To find out if you have a case, contact Las Vegas dog bite attorney Craig Murphy for a free one-on-one consultation.

Dog owners — particularly those whose pet falls into one of the larger breeds — must take proper care of their pup if they want to avoid involvement in a dog bite claim in court. When choosing a pet, they should also avoid those with temperaments that are unlikely to be compatible with their home environment. For instance, residents of apartment buildings in big cities should think twice before adopting large dogs that need ample space. Dog owners should not wrestle, antagonize, or act cruelly towards their pets. These could exacerbate the animal’s viciousness and increase the likelihood of an attack and subsequent dog bite lawsuits.

Contact An Experienced Las Vegas Dog Bite Lawyer

Following a dog bite attack, you might worry that your injury may not be significant enough to warrant legal action. Push this thought out of your head — because it could result in significant losses for you. Our Las Vegas dog bite lawyers believe that every bite deserves attention, and it is our pledge to help you receive the compensation you deserve. After an attack, you could face high medical bills, lost time at work, and even serious phobias, which make it difficult to leave your home. Nevada law says that you don’t have to face these challenges on your own.

If you need a dog bite lawyer in Las Vegas, Contact us at Murphy & Murphy Law Offices by calling (702) 369-9696 today. Our law firm has extensive experience in these and other personal injury cases, and we know what it takes to successfully seek compensation after an attack. Whether you were able to return home quickly after a dog attack or a loved one suffered substantial bodily harm, our free consultation will help you understand the ideal path forward.