Animal and Dog Bites
Every year there are at least 5 million dog bites reported in the United States, with over 2 million of these resulting in injuries. On average, there is a dog bite every 75 seconds in the United States. In 2007 alone, there were 35 fatal dog attacks. Dog bite injuries can be mild to extremely serious, and can be life altering. Attacks can result in bruises, lacerations, punctures, muscle or nerve damage, facial scars, infections, and psychological or emotional trauma. Young children attacked by an animal are at risk due to the trauma of the attack as well as resulting disfigurement, if any, that can sometimes only be corrected after the child stops growing.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
- How many dog bites are there a year in the United States?
- Which breeds are most prone to cause injury?
- How many fatal dog attacks occur in the United States each year?
- What can I do to prevent a dog bite to myself or children?
- What should I do if I think a dog attack is imminent?
- If I am bitten by a dog or animal what should I do?
- Once I have received medical treatment, should I attempt to negotiate with the dog owner or his insurance company for compensation?
- What must I prove in Missouri to recover for my injuries from a dog bite?
- How much is my case worth?
- When should I call a lawyer?
How many dog bites are there a year in the United States?
According to the most recent information from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there are approximately 5 million dog bites each year with about 800,000 bites requiring medical attention.
Which breeds are most prone to cause injury?
While any dog or animal can bite and cause injury, the combination of pit bulls, Rottweilers, and wolf hybrids account for 77 percent of the attacks causing bodily harm.
How many fatal dog attacks occur in the United States each year?
In 2007, there were 35 fatal dog attacks in the United States.
What can I do to prevent a dog bite to myself or children?
Dog bites most often result from negligent owners. Most dog bites can be avoided if the owners take certain precautions. However, never:
- insert yourself into a dog fight
- never leave a child or toddler alone with a dog
- never approach a chained dog
- never pet a dog without first letting him see you
- never lean your face close to a dog
- never tease a dog, especially when chained
- never bother or harass a dog that is eating
- never turn your back on a dog and run away
What should I do if I think a dog attack is imminent?
- do not scream and run
- do not move but leave your hands at your sides
- avoid eye contact with the dog
- if the dog looks away, slowly back away until the dog is out of sight
- if the dog attacks, give him an object, such as your jacket, purse, or anything else that you can put between the dog and yourself
- if you are knocked to the ground, protect your ears, curl up into a ball, and remain motionless
- do not roll around or scream
If I am bitten by a dog or animal what should I do?
- clean the wound with soap and warm water
- immediately contact your physician for additional care
- report the bite to your local animal control or care agency
- try to gather information on the dog's breed, color, and size, as well as the owner
Once I have received medical treatment, should I attempt to negotiate with the dog owner or his insurance company for compensation?
You may think that you can net more money by not hiring an attorney and by negotiating directly with the insurance company adjuster. Ryan R. Cox & Associates will not take a case unless Mr. Cox reasonably believes his firm can get you more compensation, even after attorney's fees, than you otherwise would have received negotiating the claim on your own. At Ryan R. Cox & Associates, an aggressive and compassionate lawyer will work to achieve maximum recovery for your injuries. When you negotiate on your own, you may make negotiating errors that can lessen the value of your case. For more information, please see my section in the Personal Injury Information Center for "What You Need To Know About Insurance Companies."
What must I prove in Missouri to recover for my injuries from a dog bite?
In Missouri, you can recover on theories of strict liability, premises liability, and/or negligence per se.
Under a strict liability theory, you must prove that the owner of the dog knew it to be of a ferocious and mischievous disposition and had knowledge of the dog's vicious or dangerous propensities.
Under a premises liability theory, what you must prove depends upon your classification. For example, if you are an invitee you must prove that the dog rendered the owner's premises not reasonably safe and that the owner knew or by using ordinary care could have known of this dangerous condition, but failed to use ordinary care to make the area reasonably safe. This is a novel theory of recovery which Ryan R. Cox and Associates has used with success.
Under a negligence per se theory, Ryan R. Cox and Associates will look for any ordinances or statutes that have been violated, such as running at large or harboring a particular breed of dog that has been outlawed. If such an ordinance or statute has been violated, this usually automatically constitutes negligence in itself.
How much is my case worth?
Many factors affect the value of your personal injury claim. These factors include the nature and extent of your injuries; the amount of your medical bills, lost wages, property damage, and other financial losses; pain and suffering; and present and future disability. Even when those factors are considered, there can be significant variations in the value of a claim based on the amount of insurance available or the assets of the defendant, any comparative fault, and more. Unfortunately, there is no mathematical formula that computes the value of your case. However, when your damages become reasonably certain, Mr. Cox will discuss potential values with you.