Most common injuries in a dog attack
Posted: July 3, 2021
Dog bites can lead to serious injury and are far more common than you might think—Approximately 4.5 million Americans experience a dog bite each year, and nearly 800,000 of those bites require medical attention (1). This means that 1 out of 73 people in the United States will suffer a dog bite.
Common dog bite injuries include:
- Puncture wounds: Dog bites can puncture flesh, making wounds prone to infections or severe bleeding.
- Broken bones: Some dog breeds have strong jaws—enough to cause fractures.
- Nerve damage: Deep bites can lead to nerve damage and cause chronic pain or mobility issues.
- Facial scarring: Even if the bite heals, you could be left with permanent scarring, which may affect your quality of life.
- Infections and diseases: Dogs can be covered in soil or carry bacteria that could be transferred to wounds during the attack.
- Stress and emotional damage: This includes nightmares and fear of dogs, especially if the victims are children.
- And more.
Why do dogs bite? How can I prevent an attack?
Dogs usually attack out of fear or stress. Others are extremely territorial and may attack to “defend” a place or something they consider valuable, like a bowl or toy. Children are most at risk of an attack. Thus, it is important that they (and you!) learn how to behave around dogs.
Here are a few tips that can decrease your chances of an dog attack:
- Stay away from unfamiliar dogs, especially stray ones.
- Do not make loud noises or sudden movements.
- If possible, avoid eye contact and try to remain calm.
- Slowly back away from the area as soon as the dog has lost interest.
Remember: Report any stray dogs to your local animal control and always ask a dog owner if it is ok to pet their dog.
Dog attack statistics by breed:
According to a study carried out by Animals 24-7 of data collected between 2014 and 2020, these are the dog breeds that have caused the most attacks in the U.S. (2)
- Pitbull – 3397 attacks reported
- Rottweiler – 535 attacks reported
- German Shepherd – 113 attacks reported
- Presa Canario – 111 attacks reported
- Hybrid Wolfdog – 85 attacks reported
I was attacked by a dog. Can I receive compensation?
Under Florida law, dog bite victims are entitled to compensation. This compensation, however, may vary greatly from case to case—if the victim’s negligence is the cause of the bite, the amount a liable owner must pay will be reduced by a percentage. Also, to recover damages in Florida, a person must “lawfully” have been in the place where the bite occurred. This means that a dog owner could argue that the injured person was trespassing on private property and is not entitled to compensation.
How long do I have to file a Dog Bite Lawsuit?
Dog bite injures are considered personal injuries. According to Florida’s statute of limitations on personal injury cases, you have four years from the day of the bite to file a claim. After this deadline, your case will almost certainly be dismissed.
At Mubarak Law, your safety is our priority. If you were attacked by a dog and think you deserve compensation, contact us! We will help you analyze the circumstances of your case and get the right compensation.
(1) https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/00047723.htm