161 VA Postal Workers Attacked in 2017

161 VA Postal Workers Attacked in 2017

Dog attacks on postal workers are down slightly from 2016, with more than 6,000 workers injured nationwide in 2017. The number is still staggeringly high, even as the number of attacks locally have gone down. Virginia saw 161 postal workers attacked by dogs last year, compared with 173 in 2016. Even with the small amounts of progress made, experts agree that the number of postal workers being attacked by dogs is still enormous. Several Virginia cities were the site of multiple attacks in 2017, including Norfolk with 18 and Richmond with 22.

Most Dangerous Virginia Cities for Postal Workers

Other Virginia cities were also singled out for their high numbers of dog attacks. Alexandria made the list with 14 attacks, as did Arlington with 7. Virginia Beach saw 6 postal workers bitten by dogs, and Falls Church made the list with 5. Cities with one or fewer incidents were not included in the data. Anyone interested in learning more about the attacks should check out the Patch data on the topic.

Preventing Future Attacks

Dogs and postal workers might be enemies, but there are ways to ensure that 2018’s numbers aren’t as high as previous years. Pet owners should do their part to separate their dogs from visiting postal workers. If you know your neighborhood mail carrier arrives every morning around 11 AM, consider moving your dog to a back room with the door closed as you greet the postal worker out front. Remind children that dogs might perceive a mail carrier handing you a letter as a threatening gesture, so avoid doing so in front of your pooch.

Virginia Personal Injury & Wrongful Death Lawyers

If you’ve been in injured in an accident, you should consult with a personal injury lawyer about your legal rights. Our personal injury lawyers have helped victims injured by the negligence of another for over 30 years. If you’d like to setup a free consultation to discuss your legal rights, contact us today 877-544-5323.