According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) in Atlanta, every year nearly 4.7 million people become the victims of dog bites within the United States. Of these bites, almost 800,000 require medical attention, with a small percentage of dog bite injuries resulting in fatalities.

If you live in the United States, it is estimated that you have a 1 in 50 chance of becoming the victim of a dog attack. This chance increases if you are a postal worker, delivery person, or utility worker. This chance also increases if you are a minor, as children tend to attract dog attacks due both to their careless play around animals and their vulnerability in size. In fact, dog bites account for one of the top reasons children are sent to the emergency room each year; and the number of incidents involving children only continues to grow.

Fifteen years old is the median age of dog bite victims within the United States, with boys aged five to nine years old being the most common victims of dog bite injuries. In most cases of severe injury, the victim was 10 years old or younger, with injury focused on the face and neck.

Last year, 32 people died due to dog attacks in the United States. These statistics become more interesting when broken down, as fewer deaths occur in states that have more strict liability laws. In 2007, California in particular only had one fatality on record that was the result of a dog attack. California is one of the strict liability states, meaning that a claimant can hold a dog’s owner liable simply by proving that the owner’s dog bit them. There are very few exceptions, and in most cases, these exceptions exist without the loopholes available in other states.

Examples of such loopholes are the “one bite” laws, in which the courts require evidence that the dog has previously bitten someone before the owner is held liable in a dog bite case. According to statistics, states with “one bite” laws and mixed statute laws generally have more instances of dog bites than states with strict liability statutes, such as California.

If someone in your family has been the victim of a dog bite, it is important to understand the specific laws in your particular state regarding the statutes of limitations and liability for dog bite injuries. A qualified dog bite attorney will be able to counsel you regarding your case, and help you gather evidence that will help the courts in determining liability. This is especially important if you live in a “one bite” state, in which you must gather evidence to prove that the dog has previously bitten someone.

Dog bite injuries are far too common in the United States, and often children are the innocent victims. If you have been the victim of a dog bite, an experienced dog bite attorney can explain your rights, options, and challenges to making a claim. The more highly skilled dog bite attorneys will provide a free consultation, process your dog bite claim efficiently, and effectively resolve your claim through negotiations or litigation, recovering for you the compensation to which you are entitled.