Can Dog Bites Be Deadly?

Any attack by an animal can be terrifying. While dogs are often affectionately thought about as man’s best friend by many, there is a certain segment of people that are terrified of them, and for good reason. Experiencing a dog attack can cause physical harm and emotional trauma that has the potential to be quite scarring and as a result, can stay with a person for the rest of their life.

If you were the victim of a dog attack in Las Vegas, you may be able to file a claim for compensation for all of the harm you suffered. If you lost a loved one from a fatal dog bite incident, you may also be able to take legal action against the negligent party to obtain compensation on behalf of your loved one. The Las Vegas wrongful death attorney at the Aaron Law Group can help.

How Often are Dog Bites Deadly?

Every day throughout the country, there are approximately 1,000 dog bite incidents that cause victims to have to seek emergency care for the physical bodily harm they cause. Every year, there are just under 12,500 people that will have to be hospitalized due to these scary incidents.

In 2021 alone, there was $882 million paid out by homeowners insurance companies across the nation to pay for damages that victims of dog bites suffered. For one out of five victims bitten by a dog, their wounds will become infected. And dog bite injuries were the reason why 27,000 people in 2018 needed to have reconstructive surgery.

And while a dog bite experience can be physically debilitating and mentally taxing, there are some victims that never are able to overcome their harm because they do not survive it. And when it comes to dog breeds, the statistics show that the type of dog matters for these deadly incidents. Pitbulls are responsible for the majority of deadly dog attacks that happen. In 2020, out of all the deaths that occurred after a dog bite, 79% were pitbull attacks. Also that year, there were 15% of deadly dog attacks on more than one victim. All of those attacks where many victims died, happened by way of the pit bull breed. As many as 86% of them were pit bulls that were home pets where the dog turned on their family/owners.

Children are the highest risk group for dog attacks. While anyone can suffer a dog bite, in 2019 of all of the dog bite incidents reported, every other dog breed combined kept to that trend and mainly attacked and killed youngsters age two and younger as well as those aged 50 and older. However, pit bulls were equal-opportunity attackers and they killed people across all age groups.

Speak with a Las Vegas Dog Bite Attorney Today

Fatal dog bites can be a painful and traumatic way for a victim to lose their life. Families that suffer such loss may be able to obtain compensation for the harm they endured in the aftermath of such a terrible incident. To learn more, please call the Las Vegas dog bite attorneys at Fulgencio Law at (702) 550-1111 to schedule a free consultation.