Did you know that there are over 800,000 victims of dog bites that need medical attention each year in the United States?

Did you know that over 300,000 of those victims have injuries so severe that they need to be taken to hospital emergency rooms?

Did you know that children are the most likely victims of dog bites?

There are over 50 million dogs in the United States. Most of these dogs are well-trained and lovable pets. However, the above-statistics show that badly trained and poorly kept dogs have caused widespread damage. Over 30 million dollars are spent each year for medical care alone.

Insurance company officials say dog bites cost them about $250 million dollars a year in claims payments. As a result, insurance companies are seeking to limit their losses on dog bite claims by eliminating coverage on certain types of breeds. The breeds most likely to be involved in dog bite cases are Pit Bulls, Rottweilers, German Shepherds, Huskies, Alaskan Malamutes, Doberman Pinschers, Chow Chows, Great Danes, Saint Bernards and Akitas.

It is estimated that 65% of the reported bites take place while the animal is being played with, fed, teased, abused or separated from another dog. Only 35% of the bites are classified as being unprovoked by the victim.

Parents should be aware that children less than 10 years of age are usually the most severely injured. Of those children, facial injuries occur frequently. Those types of injuries, unfortunately, can result in severe disfigurement and the need for future surgeries to remedy the injuries. Not to be minimized is the psychological trauma to the child with the potential of a lifetime fear of dogs.

How are victims compensated? Dog bite victims are compensated similar to other injury victims. The dog owner and their insurance company may be responsible for the following:

1. Personal property loss, such as clothing, glasses, etc.;
2. Medical expenses for such things as emergency room, hospital stay, doctor visits, psychological counseling, past and future;
3. Medical expenses for corrective surgery, past and future;
4. Wage loss of a parent caring for an injured child and potential lost earning capacity of the child;
5. Pain and suffering;
6. Other damages incurred as a result of the dog bite, such as permanent scarring, disfigurement, or loss of function; and
7. Loss of society and companionship.

Dog bite cases vary from state to state. In Wisconsin, any contributory negligence of the victim will lessen the final award or settlement. We not only work hard to minimize any contributory negligence of our clients, but under certain circumstances, damages for our client can be doubled.  This is the legislature’s way of stressing to dog owners that they are responsible for the actions of their animals.

If you or someone you know has been a victim of a dog bite, you should review the details of the injury with an attorney experienced in handling dog bite claims to learn of your rights.

Please call us for a no cost – no obligation review of your specifics at 1-262-547-2611.