Dog Bite Fatality Study Released

Dog bite fatalities can be found throughout the United States. DogsBite.org, a national dog bite victims’ support group, has released their first three-year report on dog bites in the United States. This report covers the three-year period from January 1, 2006 to December 31, 2008 and analyzes data gathered from 88 fatal dog bite incidents. What did this report find about dog bites in America? Here are the results at a glance:

• Of the 88 fatal dog attacks, pit bulls were responsible for 59 percent or 52 incidents. The data also shows that pit bulls commit the vast majority of off-property attacks that result in deaths.
• Pit bulls are more likely to kill an adult than a child. In this three-year period, pit bulls killed more adults than they did children – 54 percent of those killed were adults.
• Of the six victim age groups documented, the 55 and older group suffered the most fatalities (26 percent) followed by the 2-4 age group (22 percent)
• Based on breed of dog, pit bulls accounted for 59 percent of fatal dog attacks, rottweilers, 14 percent, American bulldog and Husky, 5 percent each.

This dog bite fatality finding is more or less consistent with an earlier report released by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control, which states that pit bulls and rottweilers together account for 60 percent of fatal dog attacks.

Facts and numbers do not lie. It is time that we stop denying this information. California prohibits breed bans. However, a number of California cities and municipalities have started imposing more stringent regulations on pit bull owners such as restraining, spaying and neutering, and requiring liability insurance coverage. Insurance coverage is an important issue because in cases where the negligent dog owner does not have liability insurance the dog bite victim is forced to bear the costs and expenses associated with his or her personal injuries, which is extremely unfair. This study also dispels the myth that pit bulls or dogs in general attack only young children. As California dog bite attorneys, Bisnar Chase is representing several adult dog bite victims who have undergone severe physical and emotional trauma as a result of such dog attacks. We will not rest until we have obtained justice and fair compensation for these injured victims.