Dogs have been long labelled as a man’s best friend. Children love playing with their pet dogs, and are constantly left with dogs unsupervised. This has become quite a hazardous choice nowadays, as the breeds of dog people are choosing to keep as pets nowadays have become increasingly of the dangerous kind. Japanese Akita, Pit Bull and Rottweiler are common breeds of dogs that are kept as pets and have been known to attack young children and cause serious injuries. Physical and Psychological Effects The injuries young children sustain have long lasting effects, both physical and psychological. When we hear about dog bites, we tend to think of minor injuries such as a small bite on the arm, or a cut on the leg. However, in reality, the damage caused by dog attacks is underestimated. In Newbold, Derbyshire, a three-year old boy needed 100 stitches to mend a bite on… Continue Reading
Category Archives: Dog Bite Attacks
Subscribe to Dog Bite Attacks RSS FeedDog Bite Facts, Prevention Tips, and Legal Help
Posted in Dog Bite AttacksFacts According to the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA), an estimated 4.7 million Americans will be bitten by a dog this year, children being the primary victims. Close to 800,000 people require medical attention each year for dog bites. Sadly, there are about 12 people who die every year from dog attacks. According to the American Humane Association, the insurance industry pays out more than $1 billion in dog-bite claims each year. Prevention The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) published a list of safety tips for individuals to employ when dealing with a dog; here are a select few: Do not approach an unfamiliar dog; Do not run from a dog and scream; Remain motionless or “be still like a tree” when approached by an unfamiliar dog; Do not play with the dog unless supervised by an adult; and Do not disturb a dog that is sleeping, eating,… Continue Reading
Child Bitten In Face By Dog After Owner Drops Leash
Posted in Dog Bite AttacksAnother tragic example of an irresponsible dog owner caught my attention this weekend. According to WVEC.com a four-year-old girl was bitten in the face by a dog believed to be an Australian Cattle Dog or a Blue Heeler. The problem remains with this incident (and countless other similar events) they dog owner fled the scene of the bite after announcing that her dog’s rabies shots were ‘up to date’. As authorities look for the dogs involving in this attack, they have confirmed that the incident occurred at a yard sale, when the dog owner dropped one of two leashes she was holding and the dog lunged at the young girl. In addition to being irresponsible, incidents such as this are considered illegal and are no different that fleeing the scene of a car accident. As an attorney who concentrates in personal injury work, I tend to see my share of… Continue Reading
Can You Afford Not To Speak To A Lawyer Following Your Child’s Injury?
Posted in Dog Bite Attacks, Medical Malpractice, Motor Vehicle AccidentsI receicve many inquiries from parents of injured children who are concerned both about the long-term impact of injuries on their children— and how to go about seeking legal recourse from the party that may have caused the injured. While the medical implications of an injury are indeed best suited for a physician to address, to potential legal redress may be evaluated by an attorney experienced in personal injury law. Few relationships have such an alignment of interests as an attorney / client relationship in a personal injury context. Under a contingency fee payment plan, the financial interest of client and lawyer and completely aligned. Simply put, a contingency payment is a payment based on a recovery for the injured person. In a contingency fee arrangement, the attorney receives no payment until the lawsuit is tried to verdict or settled. After all the work has been done, the attorney receives… Continue Reading
Dog Owners Need To Remember To Use Common Sense When Bringing Children Around Their Home
Posted in Dog Bite AttacksLet’s not forget that their are plenty of dog-attacks that take place everyday amongst well-behaved children and well-behaved dogs. In these circumstances, the dog owners and child-care supervisors are really the ones who are to blame when a child is attacked by friendly dog. The lack of basic common sense for many dog owners was well-articulated in a recent article by Penny Elms, entitled, “5 yr old child bitten by dog- where has common sense gone?” In her article, Penny discusses a recent dog bite attack in Florida where a child was severely bitten in the face by a baby sitter’s 85 pound Pit Bull. Apparently, the baby sitter knowingly allowed the five-year-old to play unsupervised with the dog. It was after the boy attempted to ride the dog like a horse, he was attacked and bitten in the face in several areas. In the aftermath of the dog attack,… Continue Reading
In Aftermath Of Dog Attack Of Child, Parents Question Police Investigation Procedures
Posted in Dog Bite AttacksThe parents of three-year-old Nevaeh Farrell are angry. Angry because their daughter was mauled by an English Mastiff that attacked her as she played in the fenced-in yard of a her aunt. Perhaps they are even angrier because after the attack and call to the police, officials never came out to investigate the incident as their daughter suffered serious bite-wounds to her nose, eyebrow, chin and forehead. While seeking medical attention following a dog attack is indeed crucial, notifying law authorities of the incident really is important in terms of securing the animal, but also in terms of ascertaining the ownership of the dog. The documentation as to the location, type of dog as well as determining dog ownership is necessary to pursue a claim for personal injuries against the owner of the dog. Even if the dog runs away following an attack, it is a good idea to timely… Continue Reading
Chicagoland Suburb Considers Muzzling Laws For Dangerous Dogs
Posted in Dog Bite AttacksWho hasn’t walked down the street to be greeted by a sneer from an aggressive dog? Sure the sneers are unsettling and most of the time they are relatively harmless. But, what happens when the sneering dog makes a dash and yanks the leash from an unsuspecting dog owner? Hopefully, not much. However, when dogs with violent propensities get away from the control of their owners disastrous consequences can ensue if the dog attacks a person. Now, a Chicago-area suburb is considering a law that would protect people who encounter a situation involving an aggressive dog that gets off-leash. The Deerfield village board is considering a new law that would require owners to muzzle dogs that have bitten other animals or people when the dogs are off the owner’s property— but within the confines of the village. No word on how officials plan would enforce the new law, but the… Continue Reading
Off Leash Dogs Are Just An Accident Waiting To Happen For Children
Posted in Dog Bite AttacksWow, this past weekend brought some incredibly summer-like condtions to Chicago. The temps were in the 80′s, the sun was out and yes— the dogs were running with excitement around every park and neighborhood. While I share the dogs’ excitement to be outside after being cooped up all winter, I was really shocked by how many dogs were allowed to mingle with young children at playgrounds– without any leash! Even to a cautious personal injury lawyer, who has seen the ravages of unleashed dogs, I was really disappointed– and somewhat scared for the safety of my four-year-old son who was busy playing. Though most dog owners, appeared to be within close proximity to their animals, none of them appeared to be the least bit concerned about the possibility of their animal attacking a child playing nearby. Should dog owners be scared about the acts of their dogs? Many states and municipalities… Continue Reading
Children Are Susceptible For Dog Bites While At Homes Of Friends & Family
Posted in Dog Bite AttacksA recent news report regarding a 1-year-old boy who was bitten in the face by a relative’s dog highlights a pattern of problems I see related to children who have been attacked by dogs while in the ‘safety’ of a home of a friend or family. According to the news report in the Fay Observer, the boy who sustained puncture wounds under his eye and chin, was bitten as he played with the dog in the relatives backyard. Unfortunately for many children, parents tend to forget that children should be supervised at all times when playing with dogs– even friendly ones. Statistics tell us that children are more likely to be bitten by a dog belonging to a friend or family than that of a stranger. I’ve noticed that many times children are injured while playing with dogs that they may be familiar with because their parents mistakenly believe that… Continue Reading
Dog Attack: Police Dog Attacks Boy At School Function
Posted in Dog Bite AttacksAnother reminder of the safety that needs to be exercised when children are around dogs caught my attention when a police dog identified at a Belgian Malinois from the department’s K-9 unit, attacked a kindergartner during a demonstration at an elementary school. After a line of children played with the dog without incident, the dog attacked the last boy in line and bit him on the neck and ear. The lacerations were significant enough that the boy required medical attention at a local hospital. Even in situations such as this where dogs have disciplinary training, it is important to remember that dogs can still be considered potentially dangerous—particularly when they are in a foreign environment and with people they may be unfamiliar with. I certainly, hope that this young boy recovers physically and emotionally from this obviously traumatic incident. Hopefully, incidents like this will cause parents to awaken to the… Continue Reading
4.5 Million Children Bitten By Dogs Every Year. How Can We Reduce These Numbers?
Posted in Dog Bite AttacksIn the United States, about 4.5 million people are bitten by dogs every year, most of whom are children. In Chicago alone, almost 2,000 people are bitten by dogs every year. Young children are the most common victim of dog bites, followed by the elderly. About half of all children will be bitten by a dog before they graduate high school. Children ages 5-9 are most at risk for dog bites. Every year, 850,000 dog bite victims require medical attention, of which, 400,000 are children. Many dog bites involves children involve familiar dogs while the children engage in everyday activities, and a higher frequency of dog bites occur in the summer. Dog attacks can be vicious, and often require reconstructive surgery. In 2009, over 30,000 reconstructive procedures were performed on dog bite victims. Young children are more likely to be severely injured by a dog attack. This is because they… Continue Reading