Frightening Facts About New York Dog Bites

A dog should be man’s best friend, but often this “friend” is the one who turns on you and inflicts the most painful injuries you have ever experienced. There are some startling statistics relating to dog attacks in the United States, which just goes to show that you never know what to expect when you are near a dog. After all, dogs are animals and their behavior is unpredictable.

It has been estimated that in the United States, every 75 seconds, someone is bitten by a dog. In New York, you can see how dog bites happen. Nowadays, it is common to see these animals comingling with the public, in parks, shopping malls and outdoor events. As more dogs are around people, the chances of being a victim of a brutal dog attack goes up.

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 4.7 million dog bites occur each year across the country. A report by the Animal People News compiled the following statistics regarding attacks by pit bulls, rottweilers and wolf hybrids:

73 percent of dog attacks involved children
83 percent of dog attacks involved adults
77 percent of dog attacks caused bodily harm
70 percent of dog attacks resulted in death
77 percent of dog attacks caused maiming

There has also been research into the breeds that appear to be involved in the most fatal dog attacks. Researchers have indicated that during a 20-year period from 1979 to 1998, at least 25 dog breeds were associated with 238 human dog bite related fatalities. From 1997 to 1998, pit bulls and rottweilers were involved in over half of these deaths.

Another study found that male dogs are more prone to bite than females. However, any dog can bite, no matter the gender or breed.

If you have been the victim of a New York dog attack, you need to contact a Long Island personal injury attorney to explain your legal rights. You could be entitled to compensation.