By Personal Injury Lawyer on December 3, 2010
Man’s best friend is getting a little too snippy. The number of dog bites that send humans to the hospital is increasing, according to a new report.
From 1993 to 2008, the number of dog bites that require people to visit the hospital increased by 86 percent, according to the data compiled in 2008 by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. There were approximately 5,100 cases of hospitalized dog bites in 1993 and 9,500 in 2008.
Every day, approximately 866 people who are bitten by a dog visit the hospital, out of which 26 are admitted to the hospital, based on the extent of their injuries.
Those most likely needing hospitalization include seniors and children, especially those aged five-to nine-years-old. Where you live also increases the probability of a serious dog bite, according to the report. People who live in rural areas visited the hospital four times more than those who live in cities.
Nearly half of hospitalized dog bite victims required a skin infection treatment and 58 percent needed stitches, skin grafts, wound debridement or other similar procedure. The average cost for a dog-bite hospitalization totaled $18,200 in 2008.
As a North Charleston personal injury attorney, I am shocked to see the number of dog bites requiring hospitalization increase. Every year, nearly 4.5 million people are bitten by one of the 77.5 million dogs in the U.S. I urge dog owners to train their animals to be non-aggressive toward non-threatening humans. If you have been seriously injured by a dog bite, contact a dog bite injury attorney.
Nearly 5 million Americans are injured in dog bites each year. A majority of dog bite victims are young children. However, a number of adults are also victims of animal attacks. There are certain breeds of dogs such as pit bulls or Rottweilers that we often see on the news in connection with dog attacks. However, the reality is that any dog can bite, no matter what breed and whether or not it is known to be well-behaved. In many cases, the injuries can be extremely serious.
Recently, WSPA News Channel 7 reported that a man in Spartanburg, South Carolina, was bitten by a rabid dog. Eight others may have also been exposed to rabies, a deadly viral disease, through the dog’s saliva. The report did not mention who the owner of the dog was.
South Carolina has a “strict liability statute” when it comes to dog bite cases. This basically means that dog owners are responsible for their pets. If an owner’s dog bites someone, he or she may be held completely liable and financially responsible for medical expenses, loss of wages, cost of hospitalization, pain and suffering, and even cosmetic surgery that is warranted in many dog attack cases. The only exception to strict liability is when the dog is provoked or if the dog attacked a burglar or unlawful intruder. Dog owners are liable even if their dogs have never bitten anyone before or have not exhibited prior vicious behavior.
Dog bite personal injury claims and lawsuits can vary from state to state. The South Carolina dog bite injury lawyers at George Sink, P.A. Injury Lawyers have years of experience representing victims of dog bites. If you or a loved one has been attacked by a dog, contact us for a comprehensive evaluation at 1-800-849-SINK. We will come to you and help you through what can be a complex legal process so that you can focus on your physical and emotional recovery.
The information relayed in this blog is for educational purposes only and is not legal advice. The cases referenced and explained by the blog’s author(s) are for informational purposes only and are not intended to imply that certain, or similar, results may be achieved in each client’s case.
