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Fatal Maulings and Dog Attacks Are Rising Exponentially

| Jan 25, 2012 | Dog Bites

A comprehensive thirty year examination of dog maulings and fatal dog attacks has shown an exponential increase in attacks. The study focused primarily on pitbulls who are notorious for the frequency and severity of their bites and attacks. The facts and numbers are indisputable.

During the first ten years of the study there was a total of 103 reported pit bull attacks in the United States. Fast forward to 2002 in which there were 86 attacks in that year alone (almost as much as an entire decade in the 80’s). Ten years later, in the our most recent year of 2011 there was a total of 295 attacks, roughly three times as many dog attacks as there were only ten years earlier. Amazingly, 26% of all attacks during this thirty year study occurred in the last two years alone! 41% of all disfigurements caused by pitbull attack occurred in the last four years of the study.

Consistent with other reports on dog bites and maulings, the majority of these attacks occur to children. Approximately 1/3 to 1/2 of all animal attacks, again confirmed in this report, occur to children. In 2011, 102 children were attacked and/or maimed by a pit bull.

The most serious pitbull attacks can lead to death. Roughly ten percent of all reported dog attacks were fatal. Interestingly, in the first decade of the study from 1982 to 1992 there were only 18 reported fatalities, whereas in 2011 there were 23 reported deaths from dog attack. That is five more in a single year than in an entire decade thirty years ago. In fact 65% of all pitbull fatalities occured in the last ten years of the study.

I know many animal rights activist will take issue with such studies and cite other studies which show that animals are not inherently dangerous animals but are only raised that way. In fact, a very close friend of mine is a pitbull breeder. The numbers, however, seem to paint a very different picture.

Victims of dog bite attacks are entitled to:

  • Past and future medical bills
  • Lost wages and/or loss of earning capacity
  • Pain and suffering
  • Compensation for scarring and disfigurement
  • Compensation for embarrassment and emotional distress caused by the scars
  • Loss of consortium

Most dog bite cases in Rhode Island and Massachusetts will be covered by the owner’s homeowner insurance.

My office has represented many dog bite victims with tremendous success. Clients have included those with minor scars and wounds to arm maulings that required extensive reconstructive and cosmetic surgery. If you or a friend or family member contact an experienced dog bite attorney. Contact my office for a free no pressure consultation.

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