As a dog bite injury lawyer in South Carolina, I have the opportunity to give helpful information at no charge to victims and their families. Suffering an injury from a dog bite is more common than some believe.
According to a study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), dog bites occur every 75 seconds. Each day, over 1,000 people seek emergency medical help to treat these injuries. In a 2001 study, 42% of dog bites occurred among children aged 14 years and younger. The types of injuries sustained are most commonly to the arm/hand (45.3%), leg/foot (25.8%), and head/neck (22.8%). Dog bites are the fifth highest cause of emergency medical treatment for children. Pit Bulls, German Shepherds, Rottweilers, Huskies, Bullmastiffs, Akitas, Chow Chows, Wolf Hybrids, and Dobermans cause more bite injuries than other breeds. According to studies there are several reasons why a dog might attack a child:
- the dog is protecting a possession, a resting place, an owner, or an owner’s property;
- the child has done something (often unintentionally) to provoke or scare the dog;
- the dog and child are engaging in rough play and the dog gets too excited;
- the dog views the child as prey because the child is running or screaming near the dog.
To protect yourself and your children, it is important to know how to interact with dogs. The following points are a great place to start.
1. Teach your children to:
- be gentle around dogs;
- never approach a stray dog or a neighbor’s dog, unless the owner approves;
- never run past a dog;
- never disturb a dog that is caring for puppies, sleeping or eating;
- never reach through a fence or cage to pet a dog.
2. If you or your child is threatened by a dog:
- remain calm, never turning your back;
- stand still until the dog goes away;
- do not scream or look directly into the dog’s eyes;
- if attacked, drop to the ground and curl up into a ball with your hands covering your face and neck.
To discuss a dog bite injury, call me at 803-790-2800 or start a live chat with us today. As a Columbia, SC lawyer for dog bite victims, I would be privileged to answer your questions and help you seek a fair result.
