Dog Attacks on Postal Workers

Postal Service Releases Alarming New National Rankings

Every day across the United States, thousands of postal workers risk their safety delivering mail to homes where aggressive dogs may roam.

The United States Postal Service (USPS) recently released new country-wide rankings showing more than 6,000 dog attacks on postal workers last year alone. This is an alarming figure that places Illinois among the states with the highest number of dog bite attacks.

With mail carriers facing mounting medical expenses, lost wages, and severe emotional distress after these incidents, understanding the risks and legal protections surrounding dog attacks on delivery personnel has never been more important.

Why Mail Carriers Are at Such High Risk for a Dog Bite

Mail carriers face an unusually high risk of dog attacks because their job puts them directly in pets’ territory every day. Most postal workers deliver mail on foot, approaching hundreds of houses across their delivery route, which dramatically increases the chances of meeting unsecured or hostile dogs.

Dogs are naturally territorial. Seeing a uniformed stranger at the door day after day can make even friendly pets view a postal employee as an intruder, triggering barking, lunging, or a dog bite. Unlike occasional visitors, postal service employees come often, making them a repeated perceived threat.

Other risks include dogs roaming around freely due to broken fences or open gates, and deliveries during times when owners aren’t home to secure their pets. Even small changes, like a new pet or a stressful household event, can cause a normally calm dog to react aggressively.

Without dog owners taking steps such as using a leash, keeping dogs contained, and properly training them, postal employees remain at significant risk for injuries, lost income, and emotional distress from dog bites.

The Two Legal Claims Available to Injured Postal Workers

Because postal workers are federal employees, they have two distinct paths to pursue compensation after a dog bite in Illinois. Understanding both options is crucial to recovering the full cost of treatment, lost income, and other damages.

Your Federal Workers’ Compensation Claim

The first step for an injured mail carrier or letter carrier is to file a Federal Employees’ Compensation Act (FECA) claim through the U.S. Department of Labor. This federal workers’ compensation program is designed specifically for USPS employees and other federal workers.

It covers:

• All approved medical treatment for injuries caused by dog attacks, including hospital care, wound treatment, scar revision, and ongoing therapy.
• A portion of lost wages while the injured delivery employee is unable to work.
• Certain uniform replacement costs, dog repellent or protective equipment reimbursement when appropriate, and other approved benefits.

This claim ensures immediate support for medical bills and income, but it does not provide for pain and suffering or the full range of damages allowed under Illinois law.

Your Third-Party Claim Against the Dog’s Owner

The second and equally important path is a third-party personal injury lawsuit filed directly against the dog’s owner under the Illinois Animal Control Act (510 ILCS 5/).

This claim treats the incident like any other negligence case and allows the injured postal worker to recover compensation beyond what federal benefits cover.

Through this lawsuit, you can seek damages for:

• Pain and suffering, such as physical pain, emotional trauma, and psychological distress, from the attack.
• Future medical costs or rehabilitation beyond what the federal claim pays.
• Lost wages not covered by federal benefits, as well as other out-of-pocket expenses.

Recovering Full Compensation for Your Pain and Suffering

While federal workers’ compensation benefits provide important coverage for medical expenses and a portion of lost income, they do not address the emotional toll a postal worker experiences after a dog bite.

The physical pain, emotional trauma, and psychological distress caused by a hostile dog can last long after the wounds heal, affecting your ability to work, sleep, and feel safe while delivering mail.

A third-party lawsuit against the dog’s owner under the Illinois Animal Control Act is the only way for an injured mail carrier or letter carrier to recover compensation for this aspect of their harm.

Through this legal action, you can pursue damages for:

• Physical pain from puncture wounds, fractures, and lingering injuries.
• Emotional trauma, including PTSD, anxiety, and fear of returning to the route where the attack took place.
• Psychological distress that interferes with daily life, relationships, or your long-term health.

By holding dog owners accountable for failing to secure their pets, a third-party claim allows you to seek the full compensation you deserve, not just for bills and wages but also for the profound emotional distress endured after a dog attack on a delivery person.

Common Injuries from Dog Attacks on Postal Routes

Dog attacks on postal workers can cause a wide range of injuries, some visible right away and others developing over time. Because mail and letter carriers are often caught off guard while delivering mail, they may be unable to defend themselves or avoid harm when a hostile dog bites or knocks them down.

Common injuries include:

• Puncture wounds and dog bites – Deep puncture wounds from a dog’s teeth can damage nerves, muscles, and tendons, sometimes requiring surgery or long-term care.
• Lacerations and scarring – Bites or scratches often leave lacerations that cause permanent scarring, affecting both appearance and movement.
• Infections – Even small bites or scratches can introduce dangerous bacteria, leading to serious infections that require hospitalization and intensive treatment.
• Broken bones and crush injuries – When postal workers are knocked down or attacked by large dogs, they can suffer broken bones, sprains, or dislocations.
• Severe psychological harm – Many mail delivery employees experience PTSD, anxiety, or a lasting fear of dogs, which can disrupt their ability to work or feel safe on their route.

These injuries often lead to significant medical bills, lost income, and ongoing therapy. That’s why it’s critical for owners to act responsibly: keeping dogs secured, using a leash, and following USPS employee safety guidelines to prevent future incidents.

Owner’s Responsibility to Prevent Attacks on Postal Service Employees

Each year, the United States Postal Service (USPS) launches its National Dog Bite Awareness Campaign, highlighting how dog owners can protect delivery employees and prevent dog bites and other attacks.

This campaign reminds homeowners that letter carriers, mail carriers, and other postal service employees face significant risks on their routes, especially when aggressive dogs are not properly restrained.

The Postal Service’s safety experts and health awareness managers encourage the following steps to prevent dog bites and injuries:

• Secure your dog in a separate room or fenced area before the carrier arrives to deliver mail directly.
• Do not accept mail from the carrier in the dog’s presence because this can cause confusion and provoke the pet.
• Keep gates, fences, and doors closed so your pet cannot roam freely or barge into a delivery area.
• Use a leash or harness when your pet must be outside during mail delivery times.
• Train and reinforce dog-appropriate behavior, especially around strangers wearing uniforms.
• Post visible warnings if a dog is on the property to give delivery employees extra caution.

By following these simple measures, owners help protect delivery workers and their own pets from the consequences of a dog bite, including potential lawsuits, medical bills, and legal liability under the Illinois Animal Control Act.

The goal is to ensure every post office delivery ends safely, with postal service employees free from injury and homeowners confident that their animals are secure when they receive mail.

How We Help Mail Carriers After a Dog Attack

At Dog Bite Injury Lawyer, we know how complex dog bites and other forms of assault on post office workers and other delivery personnel can be. Our team has deep experience managing both federal workers’ compensation claims and Illinois personal injury lawsuits to protect our clients’ rights.

We handle your case on two fronts:

• Federal workers’ compensation claim: We manage all filings with the U.S. Department of Labor, obtain coverage for seeking medical treatment, lost income, and costs for uniform replacement while coordinating with doctors and nurses to fully document your dog bite injuries.
• Illinois personal injury lawsuit: We pursue a third-party claim against the negligent owner under the Illinois Animal Control Act, seeking full damages for therapy, future care, and any lost income not covered by federal benefits.

We also take care of federal subrogation, making sure any reimbursement obligations are handled correctly to maximize your net recovery. Our goal is to hold dog owners accountable and secure the full compensation postal service employees deserve after an attack on the delivery route.

Contact Our Illinois Dog Attack Lawyers for a Free Consultation

If you’re a delivery person injured by a dog bite while on your delivery route, you don’t have to face the aftermath alone.

Our experienced Illinois dog attack lawyers understand both the federal workers’ compensation system and Illinois personal injury law, and we know how to coordinate both claims to protect your rights.

We offer a free, no-obligation consultation to explain your options, answer your questions, and guide you through every step of the process, so you can seek treatment for the dog bite while we fight to secure your expenses, lost wages, and full pain and suffering compensation.

Contact the best Chicago dog bite attorneys today to learn how we can help you navigate both the federal and state legal systems after a dog attack on delivery personnel.