Florida Child Injury Law Blog

Archive for the ‘Dog Bites’ Category

Dogs can be unpredictable. And although fatal dog bite injuries are rare, more than 30 people died from dog bite injuries in the U.S. last year. Dog bite injuries are so common that reports say over a half-million people each year go to the hospital for treatment. Most treatment given for such injuries in the hospital emergency room are to a child bitten by a dog.

 Experts who understand dog behavior say teaching kids how to be safe around dogs can prevent a child from being bitten.

Here are basic tips for kids and adults to remember when around dogs:

•  Never disturb a sleeping dog, or a dog that is eating, or a dog that has puppies
•  Don’t pet a dog unless it sniffs you first, present a closed hand and let the dog check you out
•  When you do pet it, gently rub the shoulder or chest, not the top of the head
•  Avoid making eye contact with a dog
•  If you are approached by a strange dog, stand still and let it sniff you, then slowly walk away after the dog loses interest
•  If you are faced with an aggressive dog and are chased, put something between you and the dog – a backpack or a jacket. Let the dog have it while you escape
•  Children should never approach a strange dog or play with a dog unless an adult is present
•  If knocked over by a dog, a child should pull himself into a ball and remain motionless

 If a child is bitten by a dog, report the incident to animal control immediatley. Do not try to catch the dog. If the wound is serious, get medical attention right away. For additional information, request a free copy of  “When Kids Suffer Big Injuries,” by Clearwater Child Injury Attorney  Jim Dodson.  It is full of useful information about what to do after an injury – including answers to questions about insurance and dealing with an adjuster, how to get medical bills paid and much, much more.

With the incidence of dog bite deaths in Florida, we have  provided a dog bite website link, in an effort to help the public understand why dogs may attack. The article from DogBiteLaw.com outlines some key statistics and answers concerning the subject of  dogs attacks  and dog bites. For additional information visit our website dog bite library section for videos; blogs on news articles related to local dog bites and attacks, as well as safety resources.

It has been accepted that dog bites have become too frequent and too violent to be ignored. The statistics support the view, first articulated  in 1999, that there exists a “dog bite epidemic” in the United States. There are differences of opinion, however, concerning breeds of  dogs which are deemed too dangerous, with some members of the public even refusing to accept that there is any such thing as a “dangerous dog.” 

The most recent nationwide survey of dog bites is over 10 years old. It established that there were approximately 4.7 million dog bites in the USA per year. Since that time, the number of bites clearly appears to have grown faster than the number of dogs.

Over 30 dog attacks per year result in the death of an American. These incidents are referred to as “canine homicides,” meaning deaths of humans that were inflicted by dogs. Although homicides are extremely rare, they are significant primarily because they are investigated closely, and a good amount of detail often is reported, enabling experts to form opinions about a variety of issues pertaining to dog bites. In the 1980s and 1990s there were about 17 fatalities in the USA per year, but 2006 and 2007 saw more than 30 per year.

A close look at the dispute over dangerous dogs, however, leads to the conclusion that the disagreement often is about how we talk about them, what makes them dangerous, and how we should curtail the danger. Many believe that we should not talk about a dog as being dangerous, but rather the owner being dangerous. Others say that no breed is inherently dangerous, and that we should regard a dog as dangerous only if it has behaved in a dangerous manner. Many strongly resist any proposed solution that would involve any distinction whatsoever among the breeds. The approach advocated by Attorney Kenneth Phillips and most experts is multi-focal, in recognition of the fact that there are many causes of the dog bite epidemic, requiring many corrective measures.

If you or a loved one has been injured by a dog bite attack in Florida, you need an experienced Florida Dog Bite Lawyer on your side.