They say happiness is a warm puppy, but if that dog grows up to be vicious, it’s best to keep your distance! Unfortunately, certain dog breeds are prone to biting and will strike out without provocation and can seriously injure or kill. Most dog attack victims are children and are more likely to perish from wounding bites than adults. But some large breeds are equally willing to attack and injure adults.
Here are some facts you must know about dangerous dog breeds to protect yourself and your loved ones:
How Often Do Dog Bite Injuries Occur?
Every day, over 1,000 people across the US need emergency medical care to treat a dog bite. Nearly one million dog attacks are reported to veterinarians and animal control offices each year and it’s estimated that another one million goes unreported. Young children are the most common victims of dog bite attacks – 60% of bites wound children. Of these, over 70% of the attacks injure a child’s face – often inflicting devastating and permanent damage. And children are most likely to be maimed or killed in dog attack cases!
What Should I Do If I’ve Been Bitten By a Dog – Or My Child Has Been Bitten?
Step one is to seek medical treatment. Injuries and complications from animal bites can be severe. Second, the attack should be reported to the authorities – police or animal control. Third, if the injury is grievous or the animal has a pattern of repeated attacks, you should contact our office for a free consultation on your options for recourse. If you don’t help put a stop to the dangerous animal that attacked you or your loved one, you are putting others at risk.
What Are the Complications of a Dog Bite Injury?
The worst complication of a dog bite is death. Large dogs are capable of biting with a pressure of over 450 pounds per square inch which can crush and tear human flesh, particularly children. Their jaws were made for tearing things much tougher than human flesh. Most deaths result from bleeding out, but for those who survive a dog bite injury, there are many complications to contend with.
Staph infections and bacterial infections can be life-threatening or mean the loss of fingers or a limb. Damage to tendons and nerves can mean permanent impairment and loss of function. Scarring is common with dog bites and can be extensive and a life-long traumatic reminder of the attack. Fear, anxiety and other emotional issues can also result from dog attacks.
Which Dog Breed Is Most Dangerous?
We all know the answer to this one, even though advocates for this breed would want you to believe otherwise. Pit bulls represent 4.4% of the dog population, but are responsible for more injuries than all other breeds combined! This vicious breed is also one of the few just as likely to attack an adult as a child and is responsible not only for a majority of the dog bites in America, but also for the most deaths and maimings.
What Are the Top 10 Most Dangerous Dog Breeds?
Despite the obvious aggression of tiny dogs like Chihuahuas that bark and act ferocious, the fact is they are not much of a danger based on their sheer lack of size. It is larger dog breeds that are the most likely to bite and cause serious injury. Here are the top 10 most dangerous dogs from least to most deadly:
#10 Doberman
#9 Chow
#8 German Shepherd Mix
#7 Akita
#6 German Shepherd
#5 Bullmastiff
#4 Wolf Hybrid
#3 Husky
#2 Rottweiler
#1 Pit Bull
What If the Dog Owner Blames Me for the Bite?
Just as no parent likes to believe their child has been up to shenanigans, few dog owners want to acknowledge that their dog is a bad dog, a biter, and vicious enough to attack someone. They will no doubt want to shift blame to the victim, but that’s not fair, responsible or legal according to Washington state law! If the owner tries to blame you, or your child or whoever the victim is for the bite, that makes it an even more dangerous situation. When dog owners refuse to accept responsibility, they risk the safety of anyone that continues to interact with their animal. In this case, contacting an attorney is your best course of action.
What is Washington State Law Regarding Dog Bite Attacks?
Washington has an excellent dog bite statute that holds the owner of the animal strictly liable for its conduct. While some states mandate that the owner must know the animal was prone to attack or require that the animal had attacked before to be considered vicious, Washington protects dog bite victims as aggressively as a pit bull.
The Revised Code of Washington, Section 16.08.040, (Dog Bites – Liability) states:
The owner of any dog which shall bite any person while such person is in or on a public place or lawfully in or on a private place including the property of the owner of such dog, shall be liable for such damages as may be suffered by the person bitten, regardless of the former viciousness of such dog or the owner’s knowledge of such viciousness.
What Can I Expect If I Hire Your Firm to Help Me?
Depending on the severity of the dog bite injury you or your loved on suffered, damages will vary. As a rule though, the dog owner is liable for medical bills, lost income, property damage and pain and suffering. If they knew their dog was vicious or encouraged the behavior, damages can escalate greatly. Even if you don’t think the dog owner has assets worth pursuing, contact us for a free consultation. Often it is not the owner itself, but their property or homeowners insurance who will have to pay for your damages. And what’s worse, if you don’t report the dangerous animal and pursue recourse, that dog may attack again and next time, the injury could take someone’s life!
Rob Kornfeld is an experienced attorney practicing personal injury law including dog bite cases. You can speak to Rob about the injury you or your loved one suffered by calling (425) 657-5255. Your consultation is free and the advice can be life changing. Visit www.Kornfeldlaw.com for additional information.