Dog Bites
Each year aggressive dogs bite over 500,000 people, killing an average of twelve. The majority of dog bite victims are children. Most dogs do not exhibit aggressive tendencies; nevertheless, sufficient provocation may tempt even the gentlest dog to bite.
Several factors, including the dog's prior behavior, the use of a "Bad Dog" 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. Some states impose liability only if the dog owner knew or should have known that his dog is aggressive. See your doctor if you have been seriously injured by a dog or other animal. In addition, it may be important to contact an attorney who can help you protect your legal rights. Please keep in mind that there may be time limits within which you must commence suit.
Dog Bite Statistics
- Approximately 4.7 million people fall victim to dog bites each year.
- More than 850,000 of these bites require medical attention.
- The number of these dog bite cases has increased 15 times faster than the national increase in dog ownership.
- Letter carriers and children are especially susceptible to dog bites.
