Chiacchia & Fleming LLP: Attorneys at Law

Thousands of innocent people every year suffer from Dog Bite Injuries, some seriously injured and even killed due to dog bite injuries or animal attacks. Each year there are more than 850,000 dog bites requiring medical attention and over four million dog bites ranging from minor injuries to serious dog maulings resulting in bodily injury and even death.

In the United States alone, approximately 100 children are bitten by dogs every day and approximately 92 of these children will need medical attention. Dog bite statistics show that once a dog has bitten, the dog is more likely to bite again. Statistics also show that the dog bites that people usually sustain occur in their own neighborhoods. While dog bite fatalities are rare, statistically 15 to 20 people are killed in vicious fatal dog attacks every year. Most dog bites are to the face, causing infection, trauma and scarring. Wounds can be classified as cuts, lacerations, abrasions, crushing wounds or punctures. These wounds can often result in fractured bones and/or disfiguring scars. Frequently surgical repair is needed and eyesight or hearing is sometimes damaged permanently. If you were injured or a family member was injured or killed by any animal, you can sue the person who has, or should have had, control over the animal. A dog owner is required to control/restrain his or her animal in order to ensure public safety. The dog owner may be held responsible if you are on public property or if you are legally on private property. Dog owners may be held accountable for injuries sustained by their animals if the animal was not properly secured on their premises, (under premises law) on a leash, or if the owner knew that the animal was prone to violence.