Massachusetts Personal Injury Library
Common Dog Bite Injuries in Massachusetts
According to the American Veterinary Medical Association, 4.7 million Americans are victims of dog bites each year. Sadly, the vast majority of dog bite victims are young children.
These dog bite statistics show that the problem is very widespread, even in Massachusetts.
While Massachusetts dog bite law holds owners responsible for dog bites in most cases, it appears that the threat of legal action has not reduced the number of dog bites.
Dog Bite Statistics for Children
The American Veterinary Medical Association estimates that 2.8 million children are bitten by dogs on an annual basis. Shockingly, some dog bite prevention experts estimate that half of all children will suffer a dog bite by the age of 12.
Common Dog Bite Injuries
Dog bites can be severe, especially for children.
Dogs attacking children typically latch onto the head and neck, which can cause puncture wounds and lacerations.
According to Dr. Stanley Goodman, over 16 percent of dog bite injuries occur to the face and head, while nearly 37 percent of dog bites occur on the hands and arms.
In severe dog attacks, ears or noses can be bitten off or torn. Many dog bite injuries require stitches and some children may even need plastic surgery as a result of a severe dog attack.
Kelly Voigt, founder of PreventTheBite.com, has a common enough story. She was bitten by a dog at the age of seven, and suffered severe injuries to her face and neck. Her dog bite injuries required plastic surgery, and she suffered emotional trauma in addition to her physical injuries.
Emotional Injuries
An often-overlooked consequence of dog bites and dog attacks is the emotional trauma they create in children. Dr. Stanley Goodman has found that many children may suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) after a dog bite or attack, especially if their face was bitten or more than one dog was involved in the attack. Young children, in particular, may be vulnerable to emotional trauma caused by a dog bite or dog attack.
If your child has been bitten by a dog, you know the pain and fear dog bites can cause. Once the physical wounds have healed, it may be a good idea to take your child to a pediatric psychologist if he or she is displaying persistent emotional stress.
In addition, a personal injury lawyer can help you navigate the dog bite laws in Massachusetts. The Massachusetts dog bite law does hold owners liable for dog bites, but there are some exceptions that a personal injury lawyer can help you sort out. For example, the owner’s dog bite liability may be diminished if an older child was trespassing on private property or was teasing or abusing the dog.
If you or your child have been injured due to a dog attack, we can help you determine if you have a case. Contact an experienced personal injury attorney at Kiley Law Group today: 1-888-208-1695.
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