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Dog Bites Can Result in Pain, Scarring, and Disfigurement
Dogs live with us, play with us, help decrease our stress, and increase our happiness. Americans own an estimated 70 to 80 million dogs as pets. However, sometimes man’s best friend will bite. Millions of Americans are bitten by dogs each year, and some of these dog bites cause serious injuries. Physical injuries from dog bites include:
- Cuts and lacerations
- Scarring
- Bruising
- Loss of limb
- Broken bones
- Disfigurement
- Wound infection
- Rabies
- Tetanus
- Death
Emotional and mental trauma can be incurred during a dog attack as well. These injuries oftentimes outlast physical injuries caused by the dog bites.
Dog Bites and Children
Unfortunately, due to their small size and lack of knowledge about the dangers of a dog, children are especially susceptible to dog bites. In addition, when children are bitten by a dog, their injuries are oftentimes more severe due to the location of the injury occurring in sensitive areas such as the throat and head.
In addition to physical pain, children are much more likely to suffer long-lasting mental and emotional trauma following a dog bite which can last well into the child’s adult years.
Dogs Breed Most Often Associated with Serious Bites
No matter the breed, every dog is capable of biting and injuring you or a child. However, some dogs have caused more fatal injuries than others. Here are the top six most dangerous breeds, with the number of deaths caused between 2005 and 2015:
- Pitbull (232 deaths — 64.4% of total dog bite fatalities in the 11-year period)
- Rottweiler (41)
- German shepherd (13)
- Mastiff/Bullmastiff (12)
- Husky (12)
- American bulldog (11)
How to Prevent Dog Bites
Many dog bites can be avoided if proper action is taken. Here are some safety tips for avoiding a dog bite:
- Remain motionless when approached by an unfamiliar or aggressive dog.
- Curl into a ball and cover your head and neck with your hands if you are knocked to the ground.
- Let other adults know about stray or strange dogs in the area.
- Never let small children play around dogs unsupervised.
- Do not approach unfamiliar dogs.
- Let a dog see and sniff you before petting it.
Victim of a Dog Bite? Contact an Experienced Texas Dog Attack and Dog Bite Attorney
If you or your child are a victim of dog bites, you may be entitled to compensation for your physical, emotional, and mental pain and suffering. Negligent property owners and dog owners could owe you damages. Our experienced dog attack lawyers and personal injury attorneys are available 24/7 to hear your case. Our firm of lawyers that handle dog bites has offices in Corpus Christi, San Antonio, Dallas, Austin, and Houston serving clients across Texas and nationwide. If you were injured by a dog, contact Thomas J. Henry’s dog bite lawyers for a free case review on your lawsuit in Texas.
