Dog Bite Statistics and Law

Posted by admin on 24 April, 2009

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This item was filed under [ Accidents and Injuries, Dog Bites, Pet Liability ]

Dogs that bite can leave a victim with painful and lifelong injuries. Some of these injuries include the loss of fingers, skin wounds that lead to infections, scarring and facial disfigurations up to and including the loss of life. Owners are liable for their dogs and should be held responsible when their animal attacks.

Statistics compiled in 2007 by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, along with the United States Postal Service and the Michigan Association of Insurance Agents have revealed some startling facts. According to their statistics:

Each year there are about 4.5 - 4.7 million people bitten by dogs in the U.S.
About 800,000 dog bites - one in every six - require medical treatment
Medical treatment for dog bites has increased 15 times faster than the increase in the number of people who own a dog
Each day approximately 1,000 dog bite cases require hospitalization
Mail Carriers are bitten about 2,851 times per year while delivering the mail
About 50% of dog bites occur on the dog owner's property
Dog bites are the second leading cause of injury to children
Men are twice as likely to be the victim of a dog bite than women
More licensed dogs than stray dogs are involved in dog bite incidents
Only ~20% of all dog bites happen when the victim does not know the dog
Male dogs are more prone to bite than female dogs
Dogs over the age of 6 bite less frequently than younger dogs
Mixed breeds are more prone to bite than purebreds
Out of pure bred dogs, German Shepards and Chows are more prone to biting
Pit bulls account for 50% of all serious dog bite injuries
Pit bulls and Rottweilers are most often involved in fatal attacks
A chained dog is 2.8 times more likely to bite than unchained dogs
Neutered dogs are less likely to bite than those who are not neutered
The average time a person is in the hospital for a dog bite is 3.6 days
In 1994, emergency room costs for dog bites in the U.S. was $102 million
One out of every four homeowner insurance claims are for dog bites
In the U.S. about 30 people are killed by dog bite attacks each year (37 in 2007)
1 out of every 55 dogs will seriously bite a human per year

Children that suffer a dog bite are more often than not, bitten by a family pet
As alarming as these statistics are, they are only projected to grow as more people own pet dogs. In the states that have the “Strict Liability” dog bite rule, the victim only has to show that they were lawfully on the property to file a dog bite injury claim. In the “one-bite free” dog bite rule states, the victim has to prove the owner was negligent in the handling of their dog. Search TheLaw.com Legal Guides more information about Dog Bite Law.