A dog bite injury could happen to you when you’re least expecting it, but for delivery workers dog bites are almost an expected injury that can occur and lead to a Connecticut workers’ compensation claim. In fact, the United States Postal Service (USPS) and other delivery companies often train their delivery drivers on how to handle dogs and their owners if they are a perceived threat.
It is an age-old trope that often gets a goofy write up on sitcoms or movies, but to mail carriers and delivery drivers these types of injuries are no laughing matter. In fact, dog bites are so common an occurrence among delivery drivers that they are often posting about their trials and tribulations around these furry monsters on social media.
The USPS alone reports that each year their mail carriers suffer nearly 5,500 dog bites while out delivering the mail. This is something that happens even though the postal service does a lot of education of the public to make sure they are taking the necessary steps to keep their dogs away from their mail carriers.
Dog attacks can lead to serious injuries for delivery drivers and in some cases can even lead to death if the attack is serious enough. Therefore it is incumbent upon all of us to keep our delivery drivers safe and free from this type of danger. Here’s what you can do to help reduce this problem.
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Keep your dog inside, especially when you know you are expecting a delivery or can see the mail truck coming down the block. The safest place for your dog and the mail carrier or delivery driver is to have your dog inside until the delivery is made and the driver has left the area.
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If your dog is outside, make sure she/he is leashed and remains a safe distance away from the delivery driver. It can be tempting to let your dog go and introduce her/himself to the driver, but this can open up major problems and make the likelihood of a dog bite injury increase significantly.
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Encourage your delivery driver or mail carrier to leave the package in a location that is not accessible by your dog. Packages can be left on a porch or patio and if your mailbox is close to your home, maybe you can put a mailbox closer to the street so your mail carrier does not have to approach your home.
In most cases dogs do not intend harm on your mail carrier or delivery driver, but there are times when a dog is trying to protect her/his owner or home and that can lead to a bite. A dog bite is a serious injury that could make it so that the delivery driver or mail carrier misses a significant amount of time at work. This may be considered a Connecticut workers’ compensation claim and should be reported to your supervisor immediately.
Our board certified attorneys can work with you to move through the claims process if you need assistance. Contact our office and one of our attorneys will speak with you about your situation and how we might best be able to help you protect your long-term interests.
