A mail carrier’s job can be fraught with hazards, including encounters with aggressive dogs. In fact, over 5,300 USPS postal workers were attacked by dogs in 2022 alone.
Dog bites and attacks pose a significant risk, resulting in injuries ranging from minor cuts and bruises to severe wounds requiring medical attention. However, liability hinges on the individual facts of each case.
Dog owner liability
In many cases, the owner of the dog that bites a mail carrier can be held liable for the resulting injuries and damages. Dog owners have a legal responsibility to control their pets and prevent them from posing a danger to others, including mail carriers who are lawfully performing their duties.
Under Ohio’s strict liability dog bite statute, dog owners may be held accountable for injuries caused by their pets, regardless of whether they were aware of the dog’s propensity for aggression. This means that even if the dog has never shown aggressive behavior before, the owner can still be held liable for damages resulting from a bite or attack.
In addition to strict liability, owners may also be held liable for injuries resulting from dog bites if they acted negligently in preventing the attack. For example, if the owner knew or should have known that their dog had a history of aggression towards mail carriers or other individuals, they may be found negligent for failing to take reasonable precautions to prevent the attack, such as keeping the dog restrained or warning others of the potential danger.
Employer liability and workers’ compensation
If a mail carrier is bitten by a dog while performing their duties as an employee of a mail delivery service, workers’ compensation may cover the injuries and lost wages after a serious dog bite.
However, employers generally have a duty to provide a safe working environment for their employees. This includes taking measures to protect them from known hazards, such as suspending mail service to certain addresses, or even entire neighborhoods. Depending on the specific facts of your case, a mail delivery employer could also bear liability, beyond workers’ compensation benefits.
If you’re a mail carrier who has been bitten by a dog, call the Law Offices of Tim Misny. We will evaluate your specific dog bite incident, determine liability, and help you recover compensation from workers’ compensation or other responsible parties.
Consult a Columbus personal injury and workers’ compensation lawyer today
The Law Offices of Tim Misny can help you with your dog bite claim. When you’re the victim of negligence or recklessness, I’ll Make Them Pay!® Call my office at (877) 614-9524 so that I can evaluate your case right away.
