The relationship between postal workers and dogs has been parodied a lot over the years. From cartoons to the big screen, Hollywood has made much of the adversarial nature of these figures. We’ve all seen depictions of dogs on the loose, chasing after wacky mailmen as letters fly out of their bags. While they may seem comedic on the face, these kinds of conflicts mimic an all too common reality. Every day, on virtually every mail route in the country, delivery drivers and postal workers must defend against dangerous dogs.
Defensive Strategies
There are several different strategies to employ when protecting yourself from dog attacks as a mail carrier. Some postal workers carry treats to befriend the dogs along their route. Others carry pepper spray to use in emergencies. Should a stray dog along their route suddenly become violent, that pepper spray may be the only deterrent available to stop an attack.
What All Dog Owners Need to Know
Dog owners have a duty to restrain their pet when expecting guests on their property. This includes postal workers. If you know you’re expecting mail, do your part to keep your beloved pooches away from delivery drivers and postal workers. Fail to do so and you could find yourself at the center of a dog bite lawsuit. When an unrestrained dog attacks a postal worker, the owner may be held financially responsible for any damages their pet caused in the attack. This can include medical bills, ongoing prescription costs, and any time off of work the victim required for recovery. Do yourself and your pet a favor by keeping your dog inside when expecting a delivery.
Dog Bite Lawyer Richard Serpe
Virginia dog bite lawyer Richard Serpe has 34+ years of experience helping victims of personal injuries. We have helped numerous victims to get the compensation they deserve. These clients include children, adults, mail carriers, delivery drivers, joggers, pedestrians, and others. Contact Richard Serpe if you’ve been attacked by someone else’s dog.
- Named “Lawyer of the Year” by Best Lawyers for Personal Injury Litigation – Plaintiffs, Norfolk, VA (2020)
- Rated 10/10 – “Superb” by the online attorney rating service, Avvo.com
- Listed in The Best Lawyers in America ® (2006 – Present)
- Received an AV rating from the Martindale-Hubbell law directory, which is the highest given
- Named a “Super Lawyer” – among the top 5 percent of lawyers in Virginia (2006 – Present)
- Listed as a Top 100 Virginia Trial Lawyer by the National Trial Lawyers 2014
