Dog Bite Statistics
As the number of pet dogs increases in the United States, so do the interactions between dogs and humans. This leads to as many as 4.7 million people being bitten by dogs per year. The Center for Disease Control estimates that of these 4.7 million bites, 800,000 are bad enough to require some medical attention. Dog bites cause over 1000 people per day to visit emergency facilities in hospitals. It is estimated that residents of the United States own over 74 million pet dogs.
Work related bites accounted for over 16,000 bites in 2001. People who are exposed to this threat include dog breeders, veterinarians, pizza deliverers, door-to-door sales representatives, plumbers, and police officers. The US Postal Service reports that 2,800 mail carriers are bitten annually.
Although bites are common, with an estimated chance of being bitten at one out of fifty, fatalities are rare but on the increase. In the 1980s and 1990s an average of 17 deaths per year occurred. The numbers are now 33 deaths in 2007, 23 in 2008 and 30 in 2009. Breeds that are most frequently the cause of fatalities are pit bull type dogs, Rottweilers, Presa Canarios and mixes of these breeds. Although these breeds are responsible for more maulings and deaths than other breeds they generally are not the ones responsible for most bites.
The financial cost of dog bites is anywhere between one billion and two billion annually. Insurance claims for dog bites averaged $16,600 in 2002 and by 2006 had risen to $24,500. Of all the insurance liability claims in 2005, dog bites made up approximately 15 percent of these claims.
Over half of dog bites occur on the dog owner’s property. More than three quarters of bites are caused by a family’s own dog or that of a friend. Children and males are the most likely to be bitten. Dog bites are one of the top reasons a child will be seen in the emergency room. Prevention of many bites is possible with education, increased owner responsibility and adult supervision of children when in the presence of a dog.
This article is not intended as legal advice.
More Information: For additional facts about dog bites, visit the site of Bloom Legal LLC in New Orleans.
