Massachusetts Personal Injury Library
How to Prevent Dog Bite Injuries to Children
A dog is man’s best friend, but could be a child’s worst companion.
Children, warm weather, and dogs don’t always mix well. A study from the University at Buffalo’s School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences clearly shows that there is indeed a link between cases of dog bites and rising temperatures.
Who Is Most at Risk of a Severe Dog Bite?
Children of all ages, but especially young children are at risk of serious and oftentimes life-threatening dog attack injuries. While older children may escape with a severe dog bite to the leg or arm, a younger child is extremely vulnerable to dog bites in the head and neck areas.
The most severe dog bites can even lead to a child's death.
Young children are naïve when it comes to dogs. They do not yet understand that a dog can seriously injure them and often do not distance themselves on time to avoid a dog attack.
Thanks to their small size, they may even look like prey to an aggressive dog. Even if they run, young children cannot outrun a dog or defend themselves.
According to the study,
- The average age of children injured by dogs is six years.
- One-third of the bites occur on the cheeks, 21 percent of the dog bites occur on the lips, and 8 percent of dog bites occur on the nose and ears.
- 64 percent of children attacked by dogs suffer more than one facial wound, and around 40 percent of the total injuries have to be repaired in the operating room under general anesthesia.
Beware of Dog
Dangerous dogs are not always easy to spot. Even family dogs can cause harm. In fact, 27 percent of the injuries to children were caused by a family dog.
However, certain breeds are more prone to attacks than others. Pit bull terriers, for example, are a notorious breed most commonly reported or identified as the attacker.
And as the weather warms, the occurrence of dog bites increases.
When to Seek Legal Help
If your child has suffered a vicious dog attack, you may have the right to sue to dog's owner for negligence and seek rightful compensation for your child's injuries. The Massachusetts dog bite law states that owners can be liable for the dog bites, but there are a certain exceptions that only a personal injury lawyer can help you sort out.
Talk to an experienced Boston child injury attorney today to determine if you have a case.
Call 1-888-208-1695 today. Free Consultations.
