Dog Bites on The Rise

Dog bites can be a major public health concern and potentially life threatening or even fatal-resulting in maiming of extremities or serious facial damage. Because these attacks can be fatal, it is important to know that dog bites are on the rise locally. 

The Bradford County Health Department recently reported that since January 2009, more than 40 dog bites have been documented-which is unusually high.

As an experienced personal injury attorney who has helped victims of dog bites get justice and get compensation for injuries, I have seen the devastating effects of these attacks-many of which are unprovoked and involve friends, family, and even the family dog. 

It is interesting to note that the local rise in dog bites appears to mirror a national trend in increasing numbers of attacks and dog homicides nationwide in the past 20 years.
    
It also appears that Florida was one of the top five deadliest states for dog bite related fatalities in 2007, trailing Texas, Georgia, and Tennessee, even though Florida imposes strict liability for dog bites.

Children are especially vulnerable to attacks-more than half of dog bite victims with serious injuries are kids-most of whom are bitten in the face. Shockingly, more than 1,000 people are treated in emergency rooms for dog bites every day.

Dog bites can have major financial implications. These attacks cost insurers $365.2 million in 2007, which was a 10.5 percent increase from the previous year.

While it is important to remember that any dog can become deadly-the breeds considered the most fatal are Pitt bulls and Rottweilers-accounting for 74% of attacks in one study.

For more statistics about dog bites, please visit www.dogbitelaw.com.

For more information:

What could happen if my dog bites someone?