Whether you are the owner of a dog, the neighbor to a person with a dog, or just a citizen of California, the latest stats on dog bites are not bringing good news. Keep reading to find out more about what has changed and what the dangers are. If you have been bitten by a dog, or a loved one has been, then you should contact a personal injury attorney right away. You can do so by calling The Law Offices of Larry H. Parker at 800-333-0000 for a free case evaluation.
The Most Common Injuries Caused by Dog Bites
One thing that is true of most dog bites is that the true seriousness cannot be assessed immediately after the accident. While a major injury may be obvious, there are other injuries that may seem minor that, if they do not heal right, could lead to disfigurement and the need for surgery – not to mention long-term medical care. Remember as well that physical injuries are only part of the problem – emotional pain and suffering can last for the remainder of the injured party’s life.
Frightening Statistics About Dog Bites
Are you surprised to learn that 86% of all dog bites result in bodily harm to the person who was bitten? You may be further surprised to learn that 42% of people who are hospitalized for dog bites end up treated for skin lacerations as well as underlying tissue infections. 22% of injuries are on the arms and legs, with 5% of dog bite injuries occurring on the head, neck, or torso. Other people can suffer from broke bones or even blood poisoning due to a dog bite.
Frightening Facts About Dog Bites
There are even scarier things to know about dog bites. While there is currently a push to stop “demonizing” pit bills and other “aggressive breeds,” it is important to take into consideration more than 75% of all fatal dog attacks between the years 2005 and 2014 involved either pit bulls or rottweilers. In that period of time, 203 people were killed by pit bills and 38 were killed by rottweilers.
Even scarier, almost half of the fatalities were children 13 years or younger. Of the adults who lost their lives in dog attacks, nearly 75% of them were older than 50 years old. From the year 1980 to 2012, fatal dog attacks went up by more than 80%. More women are killed by dog bites than men, and in more than half of fatal dog attacks, there is more than one dog involved.
Personal Injury Facts About Dog Bites
About 25% of dog bite attacks result in criminal charges. Some of those, and some that were not charged criminally, resulted in personal injury claims too. In fact, about 33% of all the money paid out in 2012 on homeowners insurance claims was the result of dog bites – a total of nearly $490 million. If you were injured, then it is time to contact The Law Offices of Larry H. Parker at 800-333-0000 right away.
