Postal Workers Attacked by Dogs

Understanding the Risks Postal Workers Face

Each day, postal workers walk into unfamiliar yards, climb porches, open gates, and encounter dogs on residential and commercial routes across Tennessee. While most dogs are friendly or restrained, far too many delivery professionals suffer serious injuries from unprovoked dog attacks while doing their jobs. These incidents can lead to painful physical injuries, lasting emotional trauma, and lost wages—especially for postal employees who rely on physical mobility to earn a living.

At the Law Offices of John Day, P.C., we represent postal workers and delivery professionals injured by dog attacks throughout Brentwood, Nashville, Murfreesboro, and the greater Middle Tennessee area. We understand the unique issues faced by U.S. Postal Service (USPS) workers, UPS and FedEx drivers, Amazon delivery agents, and gig workers such as Instacart or DoorDash employees. If you’ve been bitten while delivering mail or packages, you may be entitled to compensation—and our team is here to help.

The Scope of the Problem: Dog Attacks on Delivery Workers

Each year, thousands of postal workers across the United States are bitten or attacked by dogs. According to the U.S. Postal Service, more than 5,000 mail carriers are bitten annually, with attacks occurring on front porches, driveways, sidewalks, and even through screen doors. Tennessee ranks among the states with a high number of reported dog attacks on postal workers.

While many believe dog bites are rare or minor, these injuries often require emergency medical care, rabies testing, surgery, or physical therapy. Some attacks result in disfigurement or permanent loss of mobility, while others cause long-term psychological effects, including anxiety and PTSD. In addition to physical harm, workers may face time off work, medical expenses, and difficulty returning to their route.

Legal Protections Under Tennessee Law

Tennessee law provides legal avenues for postal workers injured by dogs. The most important statute is Tennessee Code Annotated § 44-8-413, which imposes strict liability on dog owners when their animal injures someone who is in a public place or lawfully on private property. This means that if a postal worker is delivering mail and is bitten by a dog, the owner is responsible for the injury—even if the dog had never previously attacked anyone and even if the owner took steps to restrain it.

Importantly, postal workers are considered lawfully on the premises when delivering mail. They are not trespassers, and courts have consistently upheld that delivery professionals acting within the scope of their duties are entitled to protection under Tennessee’s dog bite laws. Strict liability eliminates the need to prove that the owner was negligent—only that the dog caused the injury and that no statutory exceptions apply.

There are some exceptions under § 44-8-413. For example, if the attack occurred on the dog owner’s residential property, and the dog was properly confined, strict liability may not apply. In those cases, a postal worker may still pursue a claim under the common law theory of negligence by showing that the owner failed to act with reasonable care in preventing the dog from causing harm.

Negligence and the Duty to Control a Dog

Even when strict liability is not available—such as when a bite occurs inside a private gate or behind a fence—injured workers can bring claims based on negligence. To succeed in a negligence claim, the victim must prove:

1. The dog owner owed a duty of care to keep others safe from harm.
   
2. The owner breached that duty by failing to control or confine the dog.
   
3. The breach caused the worker’s injuries.
   
4. The worker suffered actual damages.
   

Negligence may be shown by a dog owner’s failure to fix a broken fence, keep gates secured, follow leash laws, or heed warnings about a dog’s aggression. Prior attacks, barking or lunging at mail carriers, or citations from animal control can all support the claim that the owner knew—or should have known—that their dog posed a danger.

Workers’ Compensation and Third-Party Liability

Postal workers employed by the federal government are generally covered under the Federal Employees’ Compensation Act (FECA), which provides benefits such as wage replacement, medical coverage, and disability payments. Private delivery workers (e.g., FedEx, UPS, Amazon, or food delivery drivers) may be covered by their company’s state workers’ compensation insurance. These benefits are no-fault, meaning workers can recover regardless of who caused the injury.

However, workers’ compensation does not always provide full financial recovery. It does not cover pain and suffering, loss of enjoyment of life, or punitive damages. That’s why it’s often critical to pursue a third-party claim against the dog’s owner. These claims are made in addition to a workers’ compensation case and can significantly increase the amount of compensation an injured postal worker receives.

At the Law Offices of John Day, P.C., we frequently handle both types of claims. We coordinate with workers’ compensation carriers and pursue full damages from negligent dog owners through separate civil lawsuits or insurance negotiations.

Other Potentially Liable Parties

While the dog’s owner is usually the primary defendant in these cases, other parties may also share liability. For example:

• Landlords or property managers may be liable if they knew of a dangerous dog on the premises and failed to enforce lease provisions prohibiting such animals.
  
• Homeowners’ associations (HOAs) may be responsible if they ignored prior complaints or failed to implement animal control rules.
  
• Employers of the dog owner may be held liable if the dog was being used as part of a work activity or if the attack occurred during the course of employment.
  

Each case depends on its facts, and our legal team conducts a detailed investigation to identify every potential source of compensation. We review property records, HOA rules, lease agreements, and witness testimony to determine whether others besides the dog’s owner contributed to the danger.

Damages Available to Postal Workers

A successful dog bite claim can result in compensation for both economic and non-economic damages. These may include:

• Medical expenses (emergency care, hospitalization, surgery, physical therapy)
  
• Lost wages and future earning capacity
  
• Pain and suffering
  
• Mental anguish and emotional trauma
  
• Disfigurement or scarring
  
• Loss of quality of life
  
• Disability accommodations or retraining
  
• Punitive damages for reckless or malicious behavior
  

If the attack results in a permanent disability or scarring—particularly to the face, arms, or hands—the value of the claim can be significant. Our team works closely with medical professionals, economic experts, and mental health specialists to fully document the impact of the injury.

USPS Dog Bite Prevention Policy and Its Legal Impact

The U.S. Postal Service has implemented multiple safety measures to reduce dog attacks on mail carriers. These include mandatory reporting of previous incidents, tracking dangerous dogs by address, and notifying carriers through mobile scanners when dogs are present along the route. While these precautions are helpful, they do not eliminate the risk—and they do not relieve dog owners of their legal responsibilities.

It’s important to note that if a USPS worker fails to follow internal safety policies, it may affect workers’ compensation but typically does not eliminate the dog owner’s liability. The key legal question remains: Did the dog bite someone who was lawfully present and not provoking the animal? If so, the owner is likely responsible under Tennessee law.

Case Example: Postal Worker Attacked Through a Storm Door

In one case our firm handled, a postal worker was bitten through a storm door by a dog that had broken the screen and lunged as the mail was being delivered. The dog had previously barked, scratched, and jumped at the door when mail was delivered—but the owner had never taken steps to secure the entrance or restrain the animal. We brought a strict liability and negligence claim, presented veterinary and postal service records showing a pattern of aggression, and recovered full compensation for our client’s medical bills, wage loss, and emotional trauma.

What to Do If You Are Attacked

If you are bitten by a dog while delivering mail or packages, take the following steps immediately:

1. Seek medical attention — Even small bites can become infected or cause complications.
   
2. Report the incident to your employer and to animal control — This creates an official record.
   
3. Photograph your injuries and the location of the attack.
   
4. Obtain the dog owner’s name and address if possible.
   
5. Contact an attorney — Dog bite laws are complex, and early legal action protects your rights.
   

Do not assume that your injury will be fully covered by workers’ compensation alone. Many postal and delivery workers suffer serious, career-altering injuries and are entitled to compensation well beyond what insurance provides. Our firm can help you understand your full rights under both state personal injury law and any applicable workers’ compensation laws.

Why Choose the Law Offices of John Day, P.C.?

Our firm is deeply experienced in handling dog bite claims across Tennessee. With offices in Brentwood, Nashville, and Murfreesboro, we serve injured workers throughout Davidson County and Middle Tennessee. Attorney John Day is the author of Day on Torts: Leading Cases in Tennessee Tort Law and a recognized leader in personal injury litigation. Our attorneys have been selected for Best Lawyers in America, Super Lawyers, Martindale-Hubbell, and more.

We approach every case with the care and attention it deserves. We understand that being attacked while performing your job can affect not just your health, but your livelihood and dignity. Our team will fight to ensure you receive full compensation for everything you’ve lost—and the support you need to move forward.

Contact Us Today

If you are a postal worker, delivery driver, or courier who has been attacked by a dog, don’t wait to learn about your legal rights. The sooner you act, the stronger your case will be. We offer free consultations and handle all dog bite cases on a contingency fee basis—meaning you pay nothing unless we recover compensation for you.

Call the Law Offices of John Day, P.C. at (615) 742-4880 to speak with an experienced attorney. We proudly serve Nashville, Brentwood, Murfreesboro, Davidson County, and communities throughout Middle Tennessee. Let us help you pursue justice for the harm you’ve endured.