Keep Dogs Restrained to Prevent Dog Bites and Attacks

Dogs are touted as being “man’s best friend,” and anyone who has been the recipient of licks or snuggles from their furry friend knows the happiness the unconditional love from a pet can bring.  However, dogs can be unpredictable and dangerous leading to tragic consequences when they attack a person or another pet.

Over the weekend one Scranton, PA, man found out just how dangerous dogs can be when a pit bull began attacking his German shepherd.  Sadly, in order to stop the attack, the pit bull was shot and killed.

Although no persons were injured in the attack over the weekend, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that about 4.7 million Americans are bitten by dogs each year.  Of those, 800,000 people will seek medical attention for the bites.  The risk of dog bites is highest for children between the ages of five and nine years old.  Approximately two-thirds of dog bite injuries to children four years and younger are to the head and neck.

DogsBite.org, a national dog bite victims’ group dedicated to reducing and preventing serious dog attacks with a focus on educating the public about the dangers of pit bulls, reports each day nearly 1,000 Americans require emergency care treatment for dog bite injury.  In addition, the organization reports there were 31 U.S. fatal dog attacks in the U.S. in 2011. Of those fatalities, 71% were caused by pit bulls. According to the organization, just 5% of the total U.S. dog population is pit bulls.

Serious dog bite injuries require extensive medical care and can leave victims with large medical bills.  A November 2010 study by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) found the average cost of a dog bite-related inpatient stay was $18,200. That cost is nearly 50 percent higher than the $12,100 cost of the average injury-related hospitalization.  In addition, AHRQ reported the average total cost for dog bite-related inpatient stays in the U.S. in 2010 was $53.9 million.

Pennsylvania law protects victims of dog bite injuries.  Dog owners can be held liable for injuries caused by their dogs.  If you have been bitten by a dog, you should not have to bear the burden of the cost of your medical bills alone.  Contact an experienced personal injury lawyer to find if you are eligible for compensation.

Contact Our Dog Bite Injury Lawyers

The Pennsylvania personal injury lawyers at Munley Law make it a point to help those who have been wronged.  Our goal is to provide exceptional legal services to our clients. We strive to achieve the highest standard of excellence for the protection of individual rights through team work and the use of our considerable resources and experience.

The law firm of Munley Law has substantial experience in the handling of dog bite claims.  If you have been bitten or attacked by a dog and feel you may have sustained an injury, contact us online for a free consultation or call us now, toll free, at 1-800-318-LAW1. We can help.