Dog Bite Information
Every year, millions of innocent people are bitten and injured by dogs. In fact, every year there are more than 850,000 dog bites requiring medical attention and more than four million dog bites ranging from minor bites to serious dog maulings, resulting in serious bodily injury and even death.
If you are one of the millions being bit by a dog that the owner should have control over, contact a
dog bite attorney to file suit.
At least fifteen people die each year as a result of dog attacks in the United States. Unfortunately the majority of dog bite victims are children, and in approximately 75 percent of child dog bite cases, the dog belongs to a family member or friend.
Friend or not, your child could be traumatized for life after a dog bite, so contact a local dog bite injury attorney for compensation and to make sure the dog never bites anyone again.
Dog Bite Injuries
Often a bite will result in:
- Permanent scarring
- Nerve damage
- Infection
- Trauma
Many times there is psychological harm that lasts well beyond the physical injury.
Dog Bite Statistics
- Every 40 seconds, someone in the United States seeks medical attention for a dog bite related injury
- It is estimated for every dog bite that is reported, three go unreported
- More than 334,000 victims end up in the emergency room
- More than 4.7 million people, or 2 percent of the U.S. population, are bitten by dogs each year
- National figures estimate that 60 percent of dog-bite attacks happen in the home, either by the family or a friend's dog
The
dog bite statistics are staggering.
Who is Liable?
Several factors, including the dog's prior behavior, the use of a warning sign, whether the dog was provoked, and the law of the particular city or county where the bite occurred, will be important in determining the dog owner's legal liability. These factors should be analyzed by a dog bite injury attorney to see if you have a case.
Some states impose liability only if the dog owner knew or should have known that his dog is aggressive. In these states, the
first bite is said to be "free." Other states impose liability regardless of the owner's knowledge. In these states simply owning a dog is sufficient for legal liability.
To see what the laws are in your state, you should seek the legal counsel in your area.
- Regardless of the varying state laws, a victim can recover compensation due to the following:
- A person who violated a leash law or a dog bite law prohibiting dogs from, "running at large"
- A person who kept a dog with the knowledge that the dog had a history of injuring or attacking people
If either of these fit your situation, you need to contact a attorney to file suit as soon as possible.
Compensation
The family of a young boy who was the victim of a dog attack in 2005 recently received an $850,000 jury award, which included $500,000 in punitive damages due to the negligence of the dog owner. The 100-pound Rottweiler left permanent scarring on the child's back and hips.
The dog owner had been warned five times in the past to keep her dog on a leash and under control - warnings she apparently ignored.
As you can see, the law takes negligent dog attacks seriously and so should you. If you have been attacked, contact a dog bite injury attorney now to seek compensation.