Massachusetts Personal Injury Library
What Dog Breed is Most Prone to Attacking Kids?
Dog Bites and Dog Breeds
Dog bites can result from a number of circumstances, such as when a dog is sick or territorial, feels threatened or is aggressive by nature. There are certain breeds of dogs that have been linked to a greater number of dog attacks as opposed to other breeds.
While there is much debate over whether or not a specific breed is more likely to bite someone or whether a dog's behavior stems from how it was raised by its owner, insurance companies do tend to exclude more aggressive dogs that are considered dangerous from being covered under the owner's policy.
However, the American Humane Association (AHA) reports that any breed of dog is capable of biting a person depending on the circumstances.
Breed-Specific Legislation
Breeds such as pit bulls, Rottweilers, German Shepherds, Doberman Pinschers, Boxers, and others are included in Breed-Specific Legislation (BSL) that has become law in certain areas of the U.S. This type of legislation bans or poses restrictions on these breeds that have a history of violent or aggressive behavior in order to reduce dog bite-related injuries and fatalities.
Dog Bite Injury Statistics
According to the AHA, approximately 4.7 million individuals in the U.S. experience dog bites on an annual basis.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) report that about 885,000 individuals needed medical treatment for injuries stemming from dog bites.
In 2006, the CDC further reports that over 31,000 individuals across the country required plastic surgery due to dog bite injuries. Children ages 5 to 9 face the highest risk of sustaining injuries from a dog bite and are the age group most likely to require medical treatment due to a dog bite.
The range of dog bite-related injuries can vary greatly. The most severe injuries occur when a dog attacks a child and latches onto the child's head or neck, resulting in serious lacerations and puncture wounds. Many dog bite victims may need stitches for their injuries. The worst incidents involve ears or noses being bitten off or partially torn off by a dog.
Other injuries that can result after a dog bite incident involve emotional injuries stemming from the trauma, such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Emotional trauma for a dog bite victim may result in fear or panic when seeing a dog after the incident.
Preventing Dog Bites
The best practice in order to prevent dog bites is to teach your children the following tips from the CDC:
- Don't go near an unfamiliar dog
- Don't run, yell, or scream around a dog
- If your child is approached by an unfamiliar dog, have them stand still
- If your child gets knocked over by a dog, instruct them curl up into a ball and lay still
- Remind your child not to play with a dog unless they're with you or supervised by another adult
- Don't bother or disturb a dog that is tending to its puppies, eating, or sleeping
- Don't pet a dog until it has seen you and sniffed you first
- If your child is bitten by a dog, have them tell an adult as soon as it happens
Massachusetts Dog Bite Law
Under the Massachusetts dog bite statute, dog owners can be held responsible if their dog bites another individual under certain circumstances. The personal injury attorneys with Kiley Law Group can help you seek compensation for the injuries your child suffered from a dog bite.
When to Contact a Massachusetts Personal Injury Lawyer
If your child has been injured after suffering a dog bite in Massachusetts, BEFORE you sign any forms, talk to the insurance company or hire a lawyer, contact a Boston dog bite attorney with Kiley Law Group to find out about your legal options.
Thomas Kiley, also known as The Million Dollar Man, has over 30 years of experience and a successful track record of obtaining seven figure wins for clients in auto accident cases, medical malpractice, child birth injuries, brain injuries, and other personal injury cases.
Call 1-888-208-1695 to receive your FREE legal consultation today. And while the call is free, the information may be priceless.
DISCLAIMER: The Kiley Law Group is not representing any of the parties mentioned in this article at the time the article was posted. Our information source is cited within the article. If you were involved in this accident or a similar incident and have questions about your rights and legal options, call us or another reputable law firm. Do not act solely upon the information provided herein. Get a legal evaluation. We provide a free, confidential consultation to all not-at-fault persons named in this article and to their family members as well.
