Dog Bite Statistics

In fact, 4.5 million Americans suffer a dog bite each year and one of every five requires some sort of medical attention. If that's not enough of an eye opener, consider the following statistics:

  Over 350,000 dog bite victims (about 1,000 per day) require emergency room medical attention each year. The number of dog bite victims requiring emergency hospitalization or hospital care has increased by over 85 percent in the last 16 years. Victims are likely to suffer scarring, nerve damage and infection.

 

  Dog bites are responsible for the death of 30-35 Americans each year.

 

  The average cost to treat a hospitalized dog bite victim is more than $18,000. Annual dog bite losses total over $1 billion.

 

  Hospitalized dog bite victims are most likely to be children (ages five and under) or senior citizens over the age of 65.

 

 Dog bites are the fifth most common reason why children are hospitalized.

 

 

 Now, perhaps the most alarming statistic; in over 75 percent of dog bites, the dog is the pet of a family or friend.

 

The United States Center for Disease Control and Prevention has estimated that over 4 million dog bites occur each year in the United States. They have estimated that 880,000 dog bite victims have sought medical treatment in the emergency rooms of hospitals across the country. 30,000 of these victims typically have to undergo some sort of reconstructive surgery every year and unbelievably 15 to 20 people actually die from dog bite attacks each year.

 

Common Dog Bite Insurance Defenses

 

Dogs can be provoked to bite and the insurance industry often attempts to use this against the victim.  For instance, some of the most common situations they try to use to blame the victim involving a dog bite, are when one attempts to either “bother” the dog or take its food away while the animal is eating or playing with a toy.  Another common situation is when you're playing with dog, like a game of tug-of-war with a chew toy or when you're wrestling or roughhousing with them.  It is true that dogs are more likely to bite when they feel scared or threatened.  Another occurrence that defense attorneys for insurance companies use is if the victim allegedly approaches a stray or lost dog; they may argue that the dog may not have realized that you're trying to help.  These insurance industry folks fail to realize that some dogs are just raised mean and will strike out of habit. Those types of bites are typically the most severe.

 

 

How to Avoid a Dog Bite

Obviously, the most effective way to avoid a dog bite is to avoid dogs. But with about 75 million dogs living in the U.S., that's not likely to happen for extended periods of time. So, here are tips to keep in mind to prevent a potential trip to the hospital:

 

  Never pet or approach a dog until you get the OK from the canine's owner and never approach a stray dog.

 

  Pet gently: (insurance experts will try to tell a jury that the reason why children are among the largest demographic to be attacked by a dog is because they often pet, tug and grab dogs, simply because they don't know any better).

 

  If a dog is barking or growling at you, back off. Proceeding toward the dog will likely only cause the animal to act with more aggression.

 

  Always proceed with caution around unfamiliar dogs: Don't just start petting an unfamiliar dog, instead place your hand out in a welcoming gesture toward the animal. If the dog wants to be pet, it will often nuzzle your hand, which serves as an invitation to pet it more.

 

While keeping in mind the following tips can help keep you safe, also keep in mind that dogs don't always follow a pattern of regular behavior, so you can never really be sure if or when one will strike.

 

 

 

What to Do if You've Been Bitten

You have a one in 50 chance of being bitten by a dog, so there are certain things to keep in mind if you don't want to become one of the victims. While this first tip may seem unusual, consider that pet trainers typically tell you to punish improper dog behavior by ignoring the animal. So if you've been bitten by a canine, DON'T MOVE, stay still and avoid eye contact with the animal. Attempting to run away from the animal, or acknowledging it, will likely only make the dog become more aggressive. Here are a few more tips:

 

  Clench your fists. This ensures that the dog can't bite your fingers.

 

  Don't pull away. This is likely to only worsen any injuries you've already suffered.

 

  Call for help.

 

  Slowly move away after the attack and seek medical attention, if necessary.

 

Dog bite victims can not only experience serious injury, but suffer psychological harm from such an incident as well. Needless to say, it can be an extremely traumatic experience. In conclusion, if you or a loved one has been the victim of a dog bite, consider contacting a lawyer that has experience in handling dog bite and attack cases.