Of the estimated 4.7 million people who were bitten by dogs in 1994, 800,000 sought medical care. Of these, 332,000 needed treatment in emergency rooms, and 6,000 were hospitalized. The average hospital stay for a dog-bite injury was 3.6 days. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention document that a chained dog is 2.8 times more likely to bite than an unchained dog.

Dog attacks account for one-third of all liability claims on homeowners’ insurance policies. According to the Western Insurance Information Service, the insurance industry paid out more than $1 billion in dog-bite claims in 1998 alone. The majority of dog bites to adult humans are inflicted to the lower extremities followed by bites to the upper extremities including the head, face and neck. For children, 77% of dog bite injuries are to facial areas. Injury rates were highest among children aged 5–9 years.

Source: CDC: Narrative comments in the medical records note common circumstances in which children and adults incurred dog bite-related injuries. Examples among children included a girl aged 18 months who was attacked by the family dog in the backyard and sustained an open depressed skull fracture, mandible fractures, and avulsion of an ear and part of a cheek; a boy aged 4 years who was bitten on the lip by a dog that was guarding her pups; and a girl aged 3 years who was bitten on the face when trying to take food away from the family dog. Examples among adults included a man aged 34 years who sustained an avulsion laceration to his left thumb while trying to break up a fight between his dogs; a woman aged 27 years who sustained multiple puncture wounds to her forearm, thumb, and chest while trying to help her dog, which had been hit by a car; and a woman aged 75 years who was bitten while she was trying to prevent her dog from attacking an Emergency Medical Technician who was attempting to transport her from home by ambulance.

California Statutes clearly state that the dog owner is liable for all injuries incurred by his dog, including all attacks, mauling, knock-downs, jump-ups, bites, and fatal wounds, whether on his own property, private or public property or not; whether on a leash or not; contained or not; if the owner is to own a dog, he is liable in all circumstances for the actions of that dog.

If you or a loved one have been bitten by, or have had other dog bite incidences happen; first, go to the ER and get treatment for your wounds. Secondly, report the dog bite incident to law enforcement or the animal control authorities; preferably both. Next, an experienced dog bite attorney and consult in regards to your legal rights.

Reconstructive surgery is often necessary for recovery of dog bite victims, not only because of disfigurement, but for nerve and tissue damage sometimes bitten right down to the bone. As well as a victim’s physical injuries, come the emotional injuries, which need to be addressed equally, as emotional trauma can follow a victim for the rest of his life, in the form of nightmares, night-sweats, irritability, mood swings and personality changes. Intensive counseling and/or long-term medication may be needed in these cases.

See our website for more information on dog bites and attacks and to speak with an experienced dog bite attorney. Free Consultation available by Dog Bite Lawyers in California.

Slaughter & Slaughter dog bite lawyers in California represent people who have been seriously injured by dog attacks.